Woodmar Square, Littleton? (Highlands Ranch, Columbine, Pierce: sales, crime rates, home)

[bob32]

Hello all,

My wife and I are tentatively planning on putting in an offer on a home in the Woodmar Square neighborhood (roughly between Columbine High School and Wadsworth) in Littleton. We have 3 young kids and we liked the street and immediate neighborhood when we drove around. We are moving from Highlands Ranch and we like the yard size and lot size in Littleton compared to what tends to be available for that price in Highlands Ranch.

1. Our kids (oldest in 1st grade) will be attending Leawood elementary, so any feedback on that school is appreciated.

2. Is there much crime in that area?

3. How bad is rush hour traffic going down Wadsworth to the 470?

4. My understanding is that the Columbine area is actually unincorporated Jefferson County and not Littleton. What practical implications does that have?

Anyway, if anyone has any insight into that neighborhood---pros or cons that may not be obvious---please let me know! Thanks in advance for any input

[davidv]

Originally Posted by bob32

1. Our kids (oldest in 1st grade) will be attending Leawood elementary, so any feedback on that school is appreciated.

I know where the school is, but I don't know much about it. Most of the parents I know that sent kids there were happy with the school, but your experiences may or may not be different.

Originally Posted by bob32

2. Is there much crime in that area?

No. Pretty standard suburban crime rates.

Originally Posted by bob32

3. How bad is rush hour traffic going down Wadsworth to the 470?

First of all its is 470 or C-470, here in Colorado we don't put "the" in front of highway numbers.

You can find out to speak like a native here.

Traffic to and from C-470 is easy. Getting on to the highway can take a while with metered ramps, and traffic on the highway can be a mess depending on the time of day. But, to and from C-470 is easy.

Originally Posted by bob32

4. My understanding is that the Columbine area is actually unincorporated Jefferson County and not Littleton. What practical implications does that have?

Highlands Ranch is also unincorporated, so you already know what that is like.

Law enforcement = Jefferson County Sheriff. There is no municipal police force. After Columbine, however, the county did put a Sheriff sub-station on Chatfield Ave, just west of Kipling (about 4.5 mi away).

Fire protection = City of Littleton east of Wadsworth and South Metro west of Wadsworth. For you, the nearest station is on Coal Mine and Pierce.

Lower Taxes! The sales tax rate is lower in the area, and on large purchases, you pay the sales tax of where you live, not where you buy. Think: saving 3% on taxes for a new car purchase.

Snow removal = Jefferson County. They are actually very good about plowing the main streets as well as residential. Streets near schools get plowed first.

[bob32]

Thanks! Lots of useful info. there, especially the tip (and link) about how to speak like a native