Live with mountain view, work in Lone Tree (Denver, Aurora: sales, apartment complexes)

[bostongreg2002]

Hello All,

I am strongly considering transferring with my job and working in Lone Tree. I am asking for help with what communities to live in. I want to live in a town/area where I really FEEL like I am living in Colorado - mountain views out my front door, immediate access to trails, and just awesome geography in general. I want something affordable (willing to pay up to $700.month including utilities for an apartment), and I am willing to commute up to 30 minutes each way. Do most towns have great mountain views out your front door? Which ones would you recommend? Thanks so much!!!

[2bindenver]

Only if your door faces west. I'm gonna guess you'll like Parker. $700 including utilities might be a little low.

There are plenty of mountain view to be had. Generally places with awesome mountain views get a premium.

[80skeys]

Anywhere in Denver has mountain views. You can see the mountains all the way from the airport which is on the opposite side of the city.
So it depends on how close you want to be to the mountains. you can live near the airport and be as far away as possible (while still in Denver metro). Or you can live in Littleton and literally be in the mountains.

[formercalifornian]

As far as I know, the only part of Littleton actually in the foothills is Ken-Caryl Valley, and it's single-family only. Also, the trails in the K-C Valley community are officially limited to homeowners only. If you want to live just outside the hogback in Ken-Caryl Ranch (better views, IMO), there are lots of apartment complexes in the area.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

Anywhere in Denver has mountain views. You can see the mountains all the way from the airport which is on the opposite side of the city.
So it depends on how close you want to be to the mountains. you can live near the airport and be as far away as possible (while still in Denver metro). Or you can live in Littleton and literally be in the mountains.

The City of Littleton is not in the mountains---literally or figuratively. It sits on the east side of the Platte River and is definitely on the Plains and is the Arapahoe County Seat. Many areas of the high plains you can see the mountains; many areas of the foothills and the mountains nearby you can see The Great Plains.

Most of the cities of the front range sit on the plains. So, plainly speaking, the Great Plains are the predominate topography in the life of most Coloradans, so the real "Feel" of Colorado is the Plains not the the Mountains. So, pick your view but I think that the Plains also offer an outstanding view.

Livecontent

[formercalifornian]

The post office thinks otherwise. Houses in the Valley have Littleton addresses.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by formercalifornian

The post office thinks otherwise. Houses in the Valley have Littleton addresses.

That does not mean that it is in Littleton. Many areas of unicorporated Jefferson County, west of the Platte and south of Lakewood have a Littleton address---so what??? Again, that is not in the small municipal boundaries of Littleton.

Many areas near Inverness Park have a Englewood address--that does not make them Englewood. It is all in the manner of Postal Logic--if such a concept exist. I once lived closer to Boulder in Boulder County but I had a Longmont address--and at that time, it was a separate calling area code and Boulder was long distance telephone call.

I thought I add the map of the Littleton City Limits. http://www.littletongov.org/maps/default.asp Notice that Ken Caryl is not in the City Limits. Ah, but there is small enclave just west of Chatfield that is part of the city. Interesting! Even, the Southwest Mall on Bowles is in unincorporated Jefferson County. Not even a part of Lakewood or Littleton. You would think that these municipalities would love to get a part of that tax revenue.

It is also interesting to note that Denver has acquired land in these area and it is Denver County. Of course, they are restricted in their growth today. Many of these areas of Denver have the newest homes and I remember about 15 years ago buyers were bidding up the price to acquire these homes in Denver, near Marston Reservoir.

Livecontent

[bullfish15]

Originally Posted by livecontent

Many areas near Inverness Park have a Englewood address--that does not make them Englewood. It is all in the manner of Postal Logic--if such a concept exist.

Postal logic is an oxymoron.

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by livecontent

That does not mean that it is in Littleton. Many areas of unicorporated Jefferson County, west of the Platte and south of Lakewood have a Littleton address---so what??? Again, that is not in the small municipal boundaries of Littleton.

Many areas near Inverness Park have a Englewood address--that does not make them Englewood. It is all in the manner of Postal Logic--if such a concept exist. I once lived closer to Boulder in Boulder County but I had a Longmont address--and at that time, it was a separate calling area code and Boulder was long distance telephone call.

I thought I add the map of the Littleton City Limits. Littleton City Limits Notice that Ken Caryl is not in the City Limits. Ah, but there is small enclave just west of Chatfield that is part of the city. Interesting! Even, the Southwest Mall on Bowles is in unincorporated Jefferson County. Not even a part of Lakewood or Littleton. You would think that these municipalities would love to get a part of that tax revenue.

It is also interesting to note that Denver has acquired land in these area and it is Denver County. Of course, they are restricted in their growth today. Many of these areas of Denver have the newest homes and I remember about 15 years ago buyers were bidding up the price to acquire these homes in Denver, near Marston Reservoir.

Livecontent

I agree with Livecontent - this is a pet peeve of mine. To the post office, every address has to have a city name attached to it. That doesn't mean that the address in question is in that city, or even a city at all. A good example is Sheridan. If you went by the post office it wouldn't exist at all - it has an Englewood address. Same with Edgewater, Glendale and some other smaller communities.

A big area where this comes up is in the area around SE Aurora. People post that they live in Aurora then say they live in the city of Centennial or in unincorporated Arapahoe County. Those are mutually exclusive - you can't do both!

Anyways parcels of land owned by a single owner (such as SW Plaza mall) have the power to veto annexations and I think the owners of SW Plaza realize that one of the major things it has going for it over the newer malls is that it has the lowest sales tax of any area mall so they better keep it that way (think buying hundreds or thousands of dollars of merchandise such as appliances at Sears or jewelry). Notice that most of the surrounding retail areas north of SW Plaza are in either Lakewood or Denver.

[bostongreg2002]

Thanks guys. Here is another question. Are some towns better for runners than others? I want to be able to walk out my door and have awesome trail running with views of the mountains