Old Englewood (Denver, Aurora, Lakewood: mcmansion, apartment, condos)

[HobbsResident]

Can anyone share some information on Englewood (the city, not the other areas with an Englewood postal address).

How are the schools? What is the atmosphere like? (the people, the vibe, whatever you want to call it) How about general personal safety and crime? Shopping?

We are looking for an area in Denver (will be working on 16th St. Mall) that has some character - no cookie cutter homes, friendly and family oriented neighbors, lots going on or happening nearby. It seems that every time we ask for areas with good schools we're given information on high end 'McMansion' type neighborhoods that are far out of our price range (Cheery Creek, Boulder, etc).

Surely those places can't be the only areas in Denver to offer a good education? Schools and safety (for our children and home) are a priority, but we also want to make a home out of the neighborhood - a place where we could sit on the front porch and wave hello to the neighbors (assuming we'd have a porch, but you get the idea).

[2bindenver]

What type of housing are you looking for? Englewood has mostly turn of the century 1900 homes up to 1970's stock.

Englewood proper could be defined (broadly) as Dartmouth to Littleton Blvd - and Sheridan to University.

Maybe consider Littleton - near light rail for better schools?

[HobbsResident]

We're looking for housing under 200k - something well built. Some updating needed is okay with us, but nothing major that we can't diy. Not having to do any work would be perfect, but I'm trying to be realistic

No 'stock' homes...

Littleton could be a possibility, if someone could tell me more about it.

[yodi]

Englewood has a downtown area which is on Broadway between Hampden and Yale with mom and pop type of restaurants and a stores along with "The Gothic Theatre" and "Swallow Hill" for live music and "Falcon Bowl" for bowling and live music. It also has a newer town center where you can hop on the ligtrail, go to the library or shop at more strip mall type of places and Walmart. That is around Broadway and Hampden.
We haven't lived here a long time but people seem friendly. Englewood has a high number of renters which can make some parts of it feel more run down. The area right around Swedish Hosital has a lot of older apartment buildings. It can vary block to block. Some blocks are well kept and others are not. Englwood has a working class, blue collar type of feel. People seem very down to earth.
Englewood has a nice rec center and some parks such as Bellview Park which borders Littleton. Englewood even has it's own water park, "Pirates Cove". From my house I can walk to Harvard Gulch park which is a very nice park in S Denver.
I don't know a whole lot about the schools so I can't tell you anything about them, other then it is a small district.
The location is awesome and housing is inexpensive. You can easily find something in your price range in Englewood although you'd have to do at least some fix up. I'm very happy living here.

[HobbsResident]

I was told that crime is high in Aurora, Thornton and Lakewood. But then I wonder if it's possible that those ENTIRE areas are bad?

Was told Evergreen, Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village have great schools, but too expensive for us and generally not the type of neighborhoods we want. Specifically was told that the Cherry Creek 5 school district is great.

Was also told the unincorporated parts of Englewood with zip 80111 has good schools - and the places which feed into the Boulder Valley School District: Superior, Louisville, Lafayette and parts of Broomfield.

Highlands Ranch - too cookie cutter with houses on top of each other.

[HobbsResident]

Yodi, thanks for all that great information, it sounds very much like what we want. Can you tell me the zip code for the area you're speaking of? It makes searching for houses and school districts easier.

[2bindenver]

Originally Posted by HobbsResident

Highlands Ranch - too cookie cutter with houses on top of each other.

The houses under $200 in Englewood or Littleton would be on similar lot sizes as the $200 houses in Highlands Ranch. Please don't say you need a third of an acre for under $200, for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, full finished basement and an attached two car garage.

I think you are using too broad of a brush in defining areas. Houses are not on top of each other anywhere, Condos are.

By "stock" are you referring to cookie cutter? I hate to tell you but frame ranches and brick ranches tend to look alike too.

[HobbsResident]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

The houses under $200 in Englewood or Littleton would be on similar lot sizes as the $200 houses in Highlands Ranch. Please don't say you need a third of an acre for under $200, for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, full finished basement and an attached two car garage.

Not a 1/3rd of an acre and we can finish the basement ourselves, but the rest sounds nice

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

I think you are using too broad of a brush in defining areas. Houses are not on top of each other anywhere, Condos are.

We'd like to have to walk a few feet before peeking in our neighbors bedroom window.

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

By "stock" are you referring to cookie cutter? I hate to tell you but frame ranches and brick ranches tend to look alike too.

By "stock" I was answering someone else's question, but what I think it means is homes that were built shabbily, quickly, and simply to earn a quick buck. We want good 'bones' in our new home. A ranch style wouldn't be our ideal home, but we'd consider it. My husband does like brick.

[yodi]

I've heard from a friend that "Charles Hays" Elementary has the best reputation in Englewood. I've also heard that the district has open enrollment so you can pick the school where you want your children to go no matter where you live in that district.
:: Englewood Schools :: Englewood, Colorado ::

The zip codes in the area of the town center would be 80110, 80113. Bellview Park is 80110 also but about 2 or three miles south of the town center. 80113 will all be near the town center and just south of the Denver line.
City of Englewood : Home

[HobbsResident]

Btw, to make it clear - I have no personal experience with anyplace listed below, I've never even seen the places or visited the schools - it's only what I was told by people who live in Denver and offered their opinions. If you have a different opinion I would love to hear it so that we can be well informed when we make our housing and neighborhood choice.

Originally Posted by HobbsResident

I was told that crime is high in Aurora, Thornton and Lakewood. But then I wonder if it's possible that those ENTIRE areas are bad?

Was told Evergreen, Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village have great schools, but too expensive for us and generally not the type of neighborhoods we want. Specifically was told that the Cherry Creek 5 school district is great.

Was also told the unincorporated parts of Englewood with zip 80111 has good schools - and the places which feed into the Boulder Valley School District: Superior, Louisville, Lafayette and parts of Broomfield.

Highlands Ranch - too cookie cutter with houses on top of each other.