Thornton?

[newbie2co]

I am back from my trip to Denver and absolutely loved it! The mountains are so beautiful! It actually snowed on the first day there, I had never seen it snow before. I looked at 30+ houses in the areas of Arvada, Westminster, Northglenn and Thornton. I saw one I really love. It is located near 128th Ave and Colorado Blvd in Thornton. Would have liked to buy in Westminster but the house that fits my needs the most is in Thornton. I really would like to hear about the area: traffic to downtown and the mountains, safety, convenience to shops, etc. I have looked at crime stats and everything checks out fine but need to know from someone who has lived or lives in the area and has first hand experience. This is my first time buying a home and will be moving from FL so I need all the help I can get. Thanks for your time. I appreciate any information.

[jumpshooter]

Originally Posted by newbie2co

I am back from my trip to Denver and absolutely loved it! The mountains are so beautiful! It actually snowed on the first day there, I had never seen it snow before. I looked at 30+ houses in the areas of Arvada, Westminster, Northglenn and Thornton. I saw one I really love. It is located near 128th Ave and Colorado Blvd in Thornton. Would have liked to buy in Westminster but the house that fits my needs the most is in Thornton. I really would like to hear about the area: traffic to downtown and the mountains, safety, convenience to shops, etc. I have looked at crime stats and everything checks out fine but need to know from someone who has lived or lives in the area and has first hand experience. This is my first time buying a home and will be moving from FL so I need all the help I can get. Thanks for your time. I appreciate any information.

You would become my neighbor if you move to 128th and Colorado. Traffic to downtown is a problem during rush hour, but at other times you can make it downtown in less than 15 minutes easy. Rush hour can add significant time but it varies. The part of town is completely safe, I have lived here all my life and never experience crime. Areas just to the north are very new, while 128th and Colorado is fairly new. What do you mean in terms of convenience to shops? As far as malls go it is about 15 minutes to both the flatirons and westminster mall, while there are many new shopping developments in the area that I'm sure you saw on your visit. Thornton is one of the fastest growing cities in America and new developments are planned to the north and east.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by jumpshooter

You would become my neighbor if you move to 128th and Colorado. Traffic to downtown is a problem during rush hour, but at other times you can make it downtown in less than 15 minutes easy. Rush hour can add significant time but it varies. The part of town is completely safe, I have lived here all my life and never experience crime. Areas just to the north are very new, while 128th and Colorado is fairly new. What do you mean in terms of convenience to shops? As far as malls go it is about 15 minutes to both the flatirons and westminster mall, while there are many new shopping developments in the area that I'm sure you saw on your visit. Thornton is one of the fastest growing cities in America and new developments are planned to the north and east.

Something I've wondered, does Thornton have a downtown? I work in Thornton, but never noticed anywhere that looks like an original downtown. Same with Northglen.

[newbie2co]

Originally Posted by jumpshooter

You would become my neighbor if you move to 128th and Colorado. Traffic to downtown is a problem during rush hour, but at other times you can make it downtown in less than 15 minutes easy. Rush hour can add significant time but it varies. The part of town is completely safe, I have lived here all my life and never experience crime. Areas just to the north are very new, while 128th and Colorado is fairly new. What do you mean in terms of convenience to shops? As far as malls go it is about 15 minutes to both the flatirons and westminster mall, while there are many new shopping developments in the area that I'm sure you saw on your visit. Thornton is one of the fastest growing cities in America and new developments are planned to the north and east.

Thanks for your input. Actually, someone's offer came before mine and they got the house. I was really disappointed but I guess that just means that the right house for me is still out there. I wasn't sure if there was a mall nearby in Thornton, thanks for clarifying that.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by denverian

Something I've wondered, does Thornton have a downtown? I work in Thornton, but never noticed anywhere that looks like an original downtown. Same with Northglen.

thorntons downtown is roughly 120th and grant street. just east of I-25. It is where the police station, the rec / town hall, and the city park is.

[tzieba]

I'm real curious about the whole Thornton thing! My husband, son and I were there last April 2007 and we liked it. We were on the Washington Center Parkway strip though, by the shopping centers so it didn't seem bad. But then, I'm from NY and here it's so congested... We are moving to Colorado in July and now I'm wondering if Thornton is the right thing! As a young girl said, safety is key! We have to look out for our child. We are starting a whole new life and it's very nerve wracking! Anyone got any suggestions?

[chris80233]

I've lived in Thornton for the past 10 years, renting an apartment on 120th Ave and Colorado next to Eastlake. Never had a problem with crime and never had my car messed with (no garage either). Most of the area north of 120th Ave is newer and cleaner. I like how the city keeps up with the road repairs and repaving. Westminster (right next to Thornton) is nicer I think, and I like certain parts of Broomfield too. I picked Thornton because it's a little closer to the airport where I work at. Rents have been going up. I'm currently paying $725 for a one bedroom apartment, but check around for specials.

[tzieba]

Hi Chris:

Thanks for the info. I could look into Westminster and Broomfield, as well. We never did get there in July. Stuff happening here in NY with family. Believe me, $725.00 for a one bedroom does not happen here in NY. In my neighborhood, a one bedroom goes for about $1200.00. I love the idea of so much activity in Colorado. My son is very active and I think it would be great for him. They say Colorado is the fittest of all 50 states! With all the hiking, biking, skiing, etc., I'm not surprised. Again, thanks and I'll look into the two towns you mentioned.

[zionvier]

Chris, you brought this thread back from the dead.

I bought a house in Thornton because it would give me easy access to both Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield. Since I work with computers I wanted to be able to select from all areas in case the tech industry repeated the dot bomb era with the current economy.

With access to those areas being a high priority for me and of course a good neighborhood I found that I was able to afford a newer home in the Thornton area in my price-range than I was going to be able to find in Westminster/Arvada/Broomfield. Thornton had a good balance for me on location, price, neighborhood, and being "outside the city". I still like to be close to everything, but don't want to live in amongst it all, so I chose the eastern side of Thornton that stil has a lot of farmland and open areas.