Questions about Brighton area... (Denver, Lafayette: mortgage, apartment, rental)

[amichele6]

Any "bad" parts in Brighton? I visited a few weeks ago and am moving up there in a couple of months. Should I avoid any areas? And, I will be working in Brighton, any other decent towns close by to live in? I'm looking at renting either an apartment or house until I can find something and get to know the area. Thanks!

[livecontent]

I am very glad that you asked this question as I was going to start a thread on Brighton. I think Brighton is going to be a really good growth area because it is north of Denver International Airport and is along major transporation routes and is in an ideal spot for the services that will grow up around this huge airport. In addition, it is the County Seat of Adams County--one of the big growth counties in this area.

I llive in Adams County on the far west and periodically, I take a drive to pay my taxes a the county office and for other services. To tell you the truth, I am always impressed by how friendly these people are at these government office--even when a loud New Yawker, like myself, complains about his assessment.

Everytime I go up there I see new development. It has built a new hospital and new county government building. I have saw a new large Staples Warehouse. It is actively trying to redevelop the old town--it actually has an old town area because it developed as a separate farming community.

I just got interested in a new development in the area call "Prairie Center" just west of Barr Lake--a large state recreation area. The Website is Prairie Center. It is on the southeast part of town, near the new Justice Center. I think it looks like an exciting place to live.

I like Brighton for many reasons. First, it is in the Regional Transporation District and has and will get more transportation services. Second it is a big growth area. But most of all--it is real Colorado on the Great Plains with substantial farming. It is somewhat separate from the Denver Metro area--yet a part. It has unique identity.

I know some of you would say it is run down and has problems but you got to look deeper. Yes, it has been hit hard by the mortgage crisis; Yes, it has many poor. Yes, it is a little rusty around the edge--but to me that is rustic. It is a town that if I was younger, I would move and be a part of the growth. It has a great potential and already new businesses are locating there. I like the idea of it not being a overly wealthy area because it retains many the charms of the eastern plains. In addition, it has a large Japaneses Communty which is responsible for much of the algricultural growth.

It is now time, to pay my taxes again. I may take a drive and check out this Prairie Center and see what is new in Brighton. Everytime I go up there, I feel more a part of the real authentic Western experience with the plains, the cattle, the crops, the silos, the smell of manure---ahh--the odors of Colorado. Yea, I think there, I can
Livecontent

[Katiana]

I'm not intimately familiar with Brighton, but I can say this, in general about any city: "Bad" is in the eye of the beholder. If it looks bad to you, don't rent it! I do think renting for a while is a good idea; it's much easier to get out of a rental than a house you buy.

Towns close by? Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, though that's getting a ways out. I work in a pediatrics office in Louisville, and we have a lot of patients from Brighton, so it's doable. I don't know what's east/south of Brighton as well. Look at a map, too.