Evanston, IL to ? (Denver, Center, Dinosaur: travel, job, housing)

[hobari]

I'm looking for some suggestions from anyone familiar with Evanston, IL, where my wife and I reside. We will be moving to Denver area for a job in the Denver Tech Center area, and I would like to live in an area with an older suburban "feel", not unlike Evanston. What do we like about Evanston? Northwestern University, diversity, recreation (lakefront and parks), lots of good restaurants, and our own downtown. Is Washington Park nieghborhood a close match? Is it a reasonable commute? The area around Denver University? Any other suggestions?

[south-to-west]

I'm not a current Denver resident, but am planning to move there and have been travelling there constantly over the past year. Also, I was raised originally in Milwaukee, so I'm quite familiar with Evanston (a few of my friends are ETHS alumns!).

But to answer your question, Wash Park is very comparable to Evanston. Although it's a neighborhood that is part of the city of Denver, it has the look and feel of a streetcar suburb like Evanston with treelined streets, ornate brick homes built in the first half of the 20th Century, and parks. Also, there are quaint neighborhood commercial centers located throughout the neighborhood. It's very walkable and is within arm's reach of downtown.

[hobari]

That sounds like my image of Evanston -- but better than the reality of actually living there. Any idea of commute times? Is there a reverse commute benefit in Denver, ie, is the ride from the city to the suburbs in the AM appreciably easier than the commute in? My guess is that there is no longer much of a difference.

[south-to-west]

Again, I don't live in Denver, so I can't say for sure. But what I can say is that the renovations on I-25 are complete with more capacity. Also, they have extended the light-rail line along I-25,which goes to the DTC I believe. If traffic is too bad, the light rail line may be a good alternative. Go to the RTD website for a system map as well as details of the Fastracks program, under which the projects on I-25 and the light rail lines were funded. I wish I could help more. Good luck!

[tfox]

Commute times to the DTC? From Wash Park?

It depends, but it wouldn't be long at all, maybe 15 minutes to the proper DTC (I-25 & Belleview), more if you actually mean points south from the DTC. The reverse traffic is a factor working in your favor, though the DTC has its own commute headaches.

The big choke-point right now in I-25 traffic is right around Santa Fe where the highway loses a lane for about 1/4 mile; this mostly affects you on the afternoon south-north commute. This would not affect you living in Wash Park, Platte Park, Observatory Park, DU, or other points nearby but would affect you if you live in one of the other neighborhoods toward downtown.

[hobari]

Hey thanks. I would actually be south of the DTC, near County Line Rd. I think there is a light rail stop there so maybe worth exploring? What would be the closest commute time to that location that would consitute an older, established neighborhood? Wash Park or DU area?

[tfox]

Originally Posted by hobari

Hey thanks. I would actually be south of the DTC, near County Line Rd. I think there is a light rail stop there so maybe worth exploring? What would be the closest commute time to that location that would consitute an older, established neighborhood? Wash Park or DU area?

Okay, so you're going to be commuting a bit further then. Checking out RTD light rail is a good idea -- IMO they did a great job on it. It would be especially attractive if your office is an easy walk from the light rail station at County Line. They also have a great service called Call & Ride where RTD will pick you up in a minibus at your office doorstep and drop you off at the nearest light rail station -- most people get themselves on the RTD schedule and do it that way.

I think the commute between Wash Park vs. DU/Platte Park/etc is going to be roughly around the same, though the latter might give you a few more options. Wash Park is north/east of the highway while the latter is south/west.

As for comparing the areas, I think the main motivation for the latter options is simply cheaper housing. Wash Park was "discovered" a long time ago and is more expensive than other neighborhoods, though I think everything we've talked about on this thread has been "discovered" to one extent or another.

[dj32]

Light rail would be ideal.

I'd also check out Observatory Park/University Park- you can typically get a slightly larger lot than Wash Park however, you wouldn't be able to walk to wash park itself- which is awesome. I live in Wash park, feel free to ask questions. The area around DU is rapidly developing and may be good investment.

Also Southmoor area is slightly more suburban (ranch homes, bigger lot) and also appreciating fast but feels a bit less urban.

[hobari]

Originally Posted by dj32

Light rail would be ideal.

I'd also check out Observatory Park/University Park- you can typically get a slightly larger lot than Wash Park however, you wouldn't be able to walk to wash park itself- which is awesome. I live in Wash park, feel free to ask questions. The area around DU is rapidly developing and may be good investment.

Also Southmoor area is slightly more suburban (ranch homes, bigger lot) and also appreciating fast but feels a bit less urban.

We are very accustomed to living in established, older neighborhoods. DU, Observatory Park sound promising as well. How would locals describe the difference?

I'm a dedicated train commuter now, and I believe my new office will be close to the County Line stop, so I'm definitely going to investigate. How would I guage the travel time by rail, say from U of Denver stop to County Line? BTW, I'm glad I discovered this forum, it's great!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by dj32

Light rail would be ideal.

I'd also check out Observatory Park/University Park- you can typically get a slightly larger lot than Wash Park however, you wouldn't be able to walk to wash park itself- which is awesome. I live in Wash park, feel free to ask questions. The area around DU is rapidly developing and may be good investment.

Also Southmoor area is slightly more suburban (ranch homes, bigger lot) and also appreciating fast but feels a bit less urban.

heh
Outside of one year on Madison in University Park, Southmoor is basically where I lived during my high school years, though I attended East High.
I know it's hot now. It was almost comatose when I was there.
The area *between* Observatory/University Park/DU and Southmoor, I have no idea if it has a name or if it considered Southern Observatory--it might be the next big thing. There have been a lot of tear-downs in Observatory, maybe the same thing will happen south of there, or already is.
Maybe you don't have Wash Park there, but not only do you have Observatory Park (with a real,working observatory) at Evans, you have McWilliams (most call it Dinosaur) park with the Highline Canal at Yale, and Eisenhower Park, with the walking trail and canal, just a little bit further on the southern edge of the shopping area.
On the other (west) side of University, there is the Harvard Park neighborhood.
They too have the canal. But that's getting into a completely different area of Denver.