What parts of downtown Denver should I avoid?? (apartments, hospitals)

[the_koolkat]

Thank you! I am so excited about moving to Denver. All the feedback here has been very helpful !!

[tfox]

Originally Posted by the_koolkat

tfox,
Thanks for a great breakdown of the neighborhoods. I am liking the looks of some of the high rise lofts in Central Downtown and Chessman Park area. I have heard that the Five Points area has allot of gang activity. I havn't looked into Curtis Park yet but I am going to. Thanks again for the great info !!
Kat

I think that Cheesman Park would be an excellent choice. Living in the central business district would be fine too, but I'm guessing kind of expensive.

[DENVERBULLDOG]

Denver is safe, but that doesn't mean some areas are safer relative to other areas (i.e. Cherry Creek is safer than 5 points or Colfax).

A quick side note for your search...many apartments in Glendale will say they are in Cherry Creek. The neighborhood of Cherry Creek in Denver has a completely different feel than Glendale.

Another area to consider is Country Club/North Wash Park. It is considerably cheaper than anything than Cherry Creek, still nice, and closer to downtown. I really like the area and it has reasonable rentals.

[NickMan7]

As far as I am concerned, I wouldn't consider any parts of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods "bad" by the terms used in much larger metros like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. There are areas to the north and northeast of downtown (between Park Avenue/23rd and I-70, south to north, and between Walnut and Colorado, west to east) that are less desirable (though I know several people who live in this area and love it), but I wouldn't consider them neighborhoods to avoid. Five Points has been improving over the years and does not contain the notoriety it did even 10 years ago. There are many lively people who live in this district and there are many hard working families who go about their daily lives just as the rest of us do.

There are also less than desirable places on Colfax east of downtown, although it is more aesthetic than anything (i.e. not very attractive, shady characters, etc.). Denver is working on improving this corridor and, as I understand it, has been quite successful in some areas. I am not totally familiar with the more significant changes, but someone else on this board may be.

As much as I gloat on Denver, I will say that some of these areas feel completely different at night - which is not to say they're dangerous, per se. Colfax, especially on warm summer nights, is a haven for drugs and prostitution. The area nearest downtown has been cleaned up a little over the years, but the further east you go, the grittier it gets.

Just keep your eyes open and stay in busy areas (at night, that is) and your chances of feeling uncomfortable should remain low.

[steveindenver]

Somehow after 14 years on Colfax I have managed to miss the drugs and hookers.

The reality of Colfax is simple. People who live in the county see it as dangerous. We who live on Colfax are happy for such people to never visit us in their oversized SUV's as they have no clue about parallel parking and generally take at least two parking spaces when they attempt such actions.

The hookers were run out 10+ years ago -- even on way far east Colfax. Drugs were and somewhat are sold within a 2 block area near the capitol -- but then again this same stretch has some of the best food and drink joints to visit.

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[flyingbuffalos]

Steve, I love that little evil streak!

[flyingbuffalos]

Does anyone know anything about Boutique Apartments? I'll be moving ahead of the family, and will need a small apartment for a few months. These look interesting, but I wondered if anyone here has any first-hand info or word-of-mouth.
Thanks, as always,
flyingbuffalos, doing loop de loops today

[the_koolkat]

I am no longer concerned about finding a good neighborhood downtown. It seems I would have to work much harder to find a bad one !! I am so happy to hear from people who live there that the neighborhoods really are great. Now I can focus on cost. You might be surprized that I have given up on shopping for an appartment on line. I still look but not as seriously. The posts here have convinced me that I really need to just come there and find the neighborhood/appartment building that "feels right" and fits !! (Planning a road trip Febuary 22nd!!) I am also wondering about "Boutique Appartments". I have never heard of them before and I am intersted in a smaller living space since it is going to be just me...and a cat !

[steveindenver]

Do you have an address? I believe I am familiar with what you are referring to; a couple of guys have been buying old apartment buildings and redoing them with a theme. The one near where I lived until a few months ago had an old cinema projector out front.

Then again I could be way off base.

[DenverAztec]

I think those are the same apartments I have seen also Steve, off of 18th. They look okay from the outside, but they are close to the hospitals and there could be ambulance sounds? That is if they are by Saint Joe's?