ONE day to look at apartments - Help me weed out candidates (Denver: rentals, condos)

[michaelarey]

Hi everyone,

I'm relocating to Denver from New Mexico and love the city. Unfortunately I have ONE day next week to visit apartments and hopefully sign for some housing. One, single day of about 6 hours to secure a place to live. I don't want to waste my time or any landlords time so I need a little help weeding out neighborhoods. Some information that may apply: I'm a legal secretary and will probably be working downtown or centrally. Unless there is a glut of law firms in some other location. Is Capitol Hill a good candidate for a neighborhood? I'm early 30's and recently lived in NYC. Loved the transit system, loved the energy, hated the rents, love Denver transit and Denver rents. I'm liberal and single, but not rich. I don't require a "hip" or trendy neighborhood, I probably can't afford one, and I'm not an NYC snob. But I don't want to live too deep in suburbia, and I definitely DON'T want the exhausting 30-45 minute daily car commute I've lived with in the past, so I hope to be on one of the light rail lines or otherwise in a good transit path. Any reccomendations? I've read a lot about Stapleton, but the whole area around it seems pretty industrial, and I don't want to live around too much industry. Also, it's very new. I'm trying to compile a list of neighborhoods I can hit in a good 6 - 7 hour run of interviews over the city. ANY help is appreciated! Thanks!

[rybert]

Budget?

[ladyfish]

We often drive or bike to the park and ride at the Englewood light rail station and there are some apartments there right next to the light rail that get you downtown quick, it's just south of the city, and rents would probably be affordable for you. They are called Alexan City Center ... or something like that. You'd be right next to the library, civic center, and one of the best coffee shops around ... Mile High Coffee. Safe, clean, good community orientation, easy access to downtown.

[jcfg]

I had the same awful situation a few years ago, but actually only had about four hours to find a place before my flight back home. It was really stressful, particularly when I went to the place my husband had picked out online and it turned out to be a dump (and the office staff had lied to him a lot on the phone!). Thankfully the last one I looked at was good enough and we survived living there until our lease ended.

I would also recommend Alexan near the Englewood light rail station. That seemed to be a safe, convenient area to me.

I might also take a look at some of the apartments in the DTC, like some of the ones near the light rail.

[rybert]

Does anybody have prices on the Alexan City Center?... can't seem to find them on their web site.

[dj32]

also, did you look at Craigslist or individual owner rentals? There are some things around Platt Park and Englewood that may fit your budget/on light rail but still walkable to things. Also, Highlands area may work depending on location.

[DenverAztec]

Originally Posted by michaelarey

Hi everyone,

I'm relocating to Denver from New Mexico and love the city. Unfortunately I have ONE day next week to visit apartments and hopefully sign for some housing. One, single day of about 6 hours to secure a place to live. I don't want to waste my time or any landlords time so I need a little help weeding out neighborhoods. Some information that may apply: I'm a legal secretary and will probably be working downtown or centrally. Unless there is a glut of law firms in some other location. Is Capitol Hill a good candidate for a neighborhood? I'm early 30's and recently lived in NYC. Loved the transit system, loved the energy, hated the rents, love Denver transit and Denver rents. I'm liberal and single, but not rich. I don't require a "hip" or trendy neighborhood, I probably can't afford one, and I'm not an NYC snob. But I don't want to live too deep in suburbia, and I definitely DON'T want the exhausting 30-45 minute daily car commute I've lived with in the past, so I hope to be on one of the light rail lines or otherwise in a good transit path. Any reccomendations? I've read a lot about Stapleton, but the whole area around it seems pretty industrial, and I don't want to live around too much industry. Also, it's very new. I'm trying to compile a list of neighborhoods I can hit in a good 6 - 7 hour run of interviews over the city. ANY help is appreciated! Thanks!

You will find the highest concentration of law firms in downtown, the Denver Tech Center and in Capitol Hill, but they are in every area just like 7 Eleven. Your larger and better firms are in the areas above and easily accessable by light rail.

Metropolitan Lawyer Referral Service (MLRS) 899 Logan Street, Suite 408 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 831-8000 Hours: 8:30 – 5:00, Monday-Friday ...

www.mlrsonline.org

However, you don't want a suburb and you like the energy of NYC, so I would say to stay as close to the core of downtown as possible. South Capitol Hill would be my first recommendation. I have been her for over 20 years, Governor's Park, and it is very convenient and safe. Closer to Colfax will find more street traffic, less parking and less of a safe feeling. Colfax is like Central in Albuquerque in the University area, but times 10 with the traffic and businesses. Colfax is techincally 15th street and the longest commercial road in the country. You will find better areas of Capitol Hill from 12th south. Great energy here and tons around for you to do. I am on 7th and only 1/2 mile from the State Capitol building. Other great areas are Baker, Highlands, Central Platt Valley, south Park Hill and Washington Park. DTC and Englewood are surburban.

Many more renting options as folks are renting out condos, especially in the Governor's Park area. Not sure if the economy is causing this but it is evident. DJ32 has a great suggestion with Craigslist and if you find something on the hill and want a personal opinion of the area, DM me. I think your work should be a strong factor in where you end up living, but you should also enjoy what your neighborhood has to offer. Check out these links that others have discussed on this site, each site has multiple pages, so be sure to follow the page numbers:

Where to Live - Within Capitol Hill

best areas to live in Denver

Condos around Cheesman Park

Baker area -- Photo Tour

Colfax?

What is there to do besides outdoor activities?

What can people tell me about Highland

Highlands in Denver

Platte Valley & Highlands -- Photo Tour

Denver Vacation!! What to do and see????

Use the search feature on this site for additional information. I hope this helps!

Denver Aztec

[Dorthy]

Originally Posted by rybert

Does anybody have prices on the Alexan City Center?... can't seem to find them on their web site.

A 2BD is about $1,000/month.

[Katarina Witt]

There are also a number of law firms in Boulder. On the whole, I agree with Denver Aztec. Since you haven't secured a job, a central location is probably best. The worst you will have to do is sign a year's lease, but you may get lucky and only have to commit to a six month.

[vegaspilgrim]

If you're looking for cheap rents that will most likely get you in without extensive paperwork and waiting periods, one idea to consider (other than downtown, which is probably your best choice given what you're looking for) is the area by Colorado Blvd & I-25 (especially in the corner bounded by Bellaire and Mexico Ave. There are a bunch of old high rise and mid-rise apartment towers in this area, some of which market themselves as low rent. If you walk around you'll find some 2-3 story apartment buildings as well. This is an extremely centrally located area. If your job is downtown, there's a light rail station on the south side of I-25 and Colorado Blvd that will take you to downtown. If you happen to get a job in the Cherry Creek area (there are a number of law firms there too) you would be fairly close to work, just one bus ride away along Colorado Blvd. If your job happens to be in the Denver Tech Center (another possibility), you'd be able to jump on the light rail going south. Colorado Blvd is a somewhat ugly street, but it has EVERYTHING you could ever need when it comes to daily conveniences all within a short distance. The part of Colorado Blvd south of Evans for that mile or so stretch as it goes through University Hills is actually pretty cool-- you'll find indie record stores, Middle Eastern restaurants and hookah bars, and a sort of college town-y/ alternative scene (since its sort of close to DU).