Urban living in Denver (Columbine: crime, homes, neighborhood)

[TexaCo Mom]

This site may be of help in determining the "walkability" of an area.

Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address

[2bindenver]

Website lets Realtors talk the walk, an article from The Denver Post, reports that area Realtors are taking advantage of a new online tool that ranks neighborhoods based on their "walkability." The Walk Score system (Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address) awards points on a scale of 1 to 100, weighing distance to nearby stores, schools, parks, restaurants and more. Scores of 90 or more indicate a "Walkers' Paradise." Denver ranked #11 among the "most walkable" cities in the U.S., with LoDo, Golden Triangle, Cherry Creek and Capitol Hill neighborhoods ranking 90 or higher.

[DenverAztec]

I still don't get how LoDo ranks so high as there are no grocery stores, theaters or gyms in the area. You can walk to the 16th Street Mall or into Curtis Park/Five Points but not sure I would give it a score above 90.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

JProg, your "ideal" hood sounds like somewhere in Miami. You should read some posts (or send a direct message) from "wanttomoveeast," she wants to move from Denver to Miami for a lot of same things you are seeking. I'll let her speak for herself. .....

Young grasshopper, you are wise despite your youth . . .

[JProg305]

Vegaspilgrim, please believe me when I say that my ideal neighborhood is nothing like most of Miami. What I'm trying to get away from is the super high cost of living, high crime rate, rude people, horrendous traffic, suicidal drivers, 99% humidity in the summer, and cockroaches the size of chihuahuas. I understand that Denver probably has its share of some of these problems (probably not the humidity problem) but I am hungry for a different type of experience alltogether. I like the mountain vistas and dry climate of Colorado. That being said, I'd be happy to give advice to anyone wanting to move from Denver to Miami. I was born and raised there and there is plenty to like about the greater Miami area. Every city has its pros and cons as I'm sure all of you know.

Denver Aztec, thanks for the lowdown on south Capitol Hill. My mouth is watering thinking about Pho and Korean food. I haven't had a good bowl of Pho in a really long time . It's nice to know that walking from Cap Hill to other areas of the city is feasible. What's the deal with LoDo? I've heard so many mixed reviews of the area. Is Cap Hill close to the Cherry Creek/Platte River Valley bike paths? I'd like to start cycling for health and leisure and I love the way those paths look.

Also, it doesn't matter to me that there is a small or non-existent Cuban community in Denver. I've lived the majority of my life in Cuban American enclaves, eating Cuban food, listening to Cuban music, hanging out with Cuban people. I want to meet lots of different types of people. I figured the majority of Denver's hispanic population was Mexican and Central American anyway.

[DenverAztec]

Cost of living is decent and rent can be found in all ranges, and all conditions, on the Hill. We have buildings dating back to the late 1800s, in fantastic condition and some that are not. I often tell folks that you will get what you pay for, but there are many deals to be found from private owners renting out their condos or second floor of an large home. Movies at the theater are cheaper then then NYC or SF but you will need cable for home TV. Groceries will vary on items, fish may be pricier then the coastal areas, but the fruits and vegetables that are grown here will be cheaper if in season. I often get two for one at King Soopers (Kroger) on fruit and veggies, but in the winter the fruit comes in from south America and can go up in price. You will learn what to buy and when to meet your vegan lifestyle.

Folks are more cautious on the Hill because it is more urban, but they are not rude and enjoy the variety of people that live here. You have to enjoy it or you will move.

Horrendous traffic and crazy drivers can be found on the highways but we have almost no humidity and few to no roaches. If you do find them, they are tiny and nothing like the five inch palmetto bugs in Florida that can eaily snatch your first born. Crime is at or even slightly above the the national average in some areas, similar to Miami in that it is where the best food can be found. Little Havana is our Westwood, at least that is what I felt, both away from the core but you are willing to risk your life for great food!

There are scores of Pho bowl restaurants throughout the Denver metro area in strip malls and most are decent as it isn't too hard to mess up the ingredients to add yourself!

I am 1/2 mile walk to the State Capitol and the beginning of the 16th Street Mall free shuttle that runs the lenght of downtown. The shuttle connects to the lightrail stations. LoDo is walkable to downtown as well but it is a developing area with more residents living in lofts and condos above restaurants then having actual necessities near by. The appeal is the entertainment with sports as Coors field is there and great if you work downtown. However, at night it is full of Alpha Males and can be noisy with bar kids roaming all the clubs and sports bars. Riverfront and the Central Platt Valley have more of an appeal to me with more fine dinning and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

I am two blocks to Speer Blvd. and the Cherry Creek bike path. I use it frequently in the summer, fall, the 70 degree days in Nov and Feb that seem to happen more often then not, sadly on some levels. My favorite ride is out 7th/6th to Quebec (Lowry), then through the Fairmount historic cemetery to the Highline canal to the Cherry Creek resivor, then back along the river home. Less then 20 miles round trip but you don't feel it as there is a ton to look at and check out.

Denver is not known for having a significant variety of ethnic backgrounds and some think it too vanilla. The second largest ethnic group is Mexican American, mostly because most of Colorado was Mexico at one time. However, being fourth generation native here, don't expect Spanish to be spoken like it is in Florida. My parents and their parents were punished for speaking Spanish in school in the moutain towns and only spoke Spanish in the home. They did not force me to learn Spanish because of this. The largest concentration of immigrants currently are from Etheopia and Russian Jews.

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

I still don't get how LoDo ranks so high as there are no grocery stores, theaters or gyms in the area. You can walk to the 16th Street Mall or into Curtis Park/Five Points but not sure I would give it a score above 90.

I've found the site to be pretty liberal about how it categorizes certain amenities. I have trouble justifying 7-11 as a "grocery store" and yet it seems to come up in some places that way. Other, less used retail establishments also seem to drive the score up. Anyone shop for clothing like you shop for groceries?

I suppose it's close enough to get a rough idea, though.

[5280milehiguy]

Originally Posted by TexaCo Mom

This site may be of help in determining the "walkability" of an area.

Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address

I like this site. Gave you rep. Denver #11, that's awesome.

[5280milehiguy]

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

I still don't get how LoDo ranks so high as there are no grocery stores, theaters or gyms in the area. You can walk to the 16th Street Mall or into Curtis Park/Five Points but not sure I would give it a score above 90.

If you click on the map the different neighborhoods will be outlined, I believe they are putting Lodo up to about Broadway, including 16th st.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

I've found the site to be pretty liberal about how it categorizes certain amenities. I have trouble justifying 7-11 as a "grocery store" and yet it seems to come up in some places that way. Other, less used retail establishments also seem to drive the score up. Anyone shop for clothing like you shop for groceries?

I suppose it's close enough to get a rough idea, though.

I too, have found this site to be a little "off", at least in my own neighborhood. My 'hood's score is 32 (I think), but really, I can walk to many more places than they list.