Grants Ranch vs Highlands Ranch (Denver, Lakewood: houses, neighborhoods, buying)

[ucbedge]

Hello everybody,
My wife and I visited Denver this past weekend (we currently live in Los Angeles) with the purpose of finding a neighborhood to concentrate our "home search". We mustve seen 30 homes around the Denver area, but liked Grants Ranch and Highlands Ranch the best.

I know that they share many similarities, such as they are both master-planned communities. Since my wife and I are new to Denver though, I'd like to hear everybody's opinion on their differences (if there are any). Schools? Walking trails? "Type" of neighbor/community feel? Ease of "getting around" to shopping and work?

A little about us - we're in our late 20's, buying our first home. No kids, but plan to in the next 5 years. We like outdoor-type activities and my wife is still trying to convince me to have 2 dogs once we move.

Thanks in advance!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Where is Grants Ranch?

[2bindenver]

Grant Ranch is a Shea Community and so is Highlands Ranch. TrailMark & Reunion are other Shea built communities.

Grant Ranch is in Lakewood, Denver and unincorporated Jefferson County (Littleton) - just north of Bowles and east of Wadsworth.

Where is work?

[ucbedge]

Thanks 2bindenver!

Work will probably be either at the Lockheed plant in southern Littleton or at the Denver Tech Center. My wife and I are struggling because of two main factors, mostly:

1) Grant's Ranch is in Denver county. Thus, our kids will be going to Kennedy HS, which I hear isnt as good as Douglas Co. high schools (where Highlands Ranch is).

2) Highlands Ranch seems to have a negative stigma here.....

3) Concerned about resale values also. Just from my limited knowledge of the area, it seems that Highlands Ranch homes will appreciate faster than more "central" Littleton homes, especially if they are served by a better school district.

Thanks in advance!

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by ucbedge

Thanks 2bindenver!
1) Grant's Ranch is in Denver county. Thus, our kids will be going to Kennedy HS, which I hear isnt as good as Douglas Co. high schools (where Highlands Ranch is).
Thanks in advance!

Grant's Ranch is about evenly split between Denver County (Denver Schools) and Jefferson County (Jefferson County Schools).

I personally like Highlands Ranch and think that it has a lot to offer. There are some great neighborhoods (and some not as good ones).

[formercalifornian]

Where will you both be working?

[bouldergranola]

If I worked in the south metro area, I would definitely live in Highlands Ranch. Yes, it has a bad reputation but it's a great area for families. Good schools, good amenities, and lots of housing stock. The only thing I find concerning, as a parent of school-aged children, is Douglas County voters did not pass a school bond or mill levy last November that would have expanded a high school, built several new elementary schools, and improved school technology.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by ucbedge

2) Highlands Ranch seems to have a negative stigma here.....

Only if you listen to the angry, vocal, snooty, urbanistas who hate any and all suburbs.

[Mike from back east]

If this thread detours into the usual "highlands ranch cookie cutter sprawl" hatefest, I'm going to issue infractions. Enough.

We've beat that topic to death here for years.

[formercalifornian]

If the choice is between those two communities, I would go with Highlands Ranch for the commute. Despite the school levy failure, the schools are generally very good in that part of Douglas County.

Littleton (for Lockheed) and western Centennial (for DTC jobs) would also be good. Take a look at Ken-Caryl Ranch and the neighborhoods just north of the Park Meadows mall (Willow Creek, Hunters Hill, Homestead, Fox Ridge). The houses are older, but the communities are absolutely fantastic, and the schools can't be beat. For young families, both areas are wonderful places to live.