Highlands, Wash Park, Cap Hill, etc? (Denver, Englewood: apartments, to rent, lofts)

[MitchellFriedman]

Greetings everyone. I thank you in advance for your help!... We are mid 20s, looking for a 2br place. Or a large 1 or 2 br loft...a Cheap Loft if possible, or a 2br apt in a good location to get downtown easily...rent should be around 800, bc utilities will additionally need to be added...

if you know any specific lofts, apartments, etc that i should look into to, as to narrow my search next month i would really appreciate it. Location is most important to me. I would prefer to be in a walkable town...mind you, access to light rail is mandatory in surrounding denver areas, as i dont mind using that to commute....

I really am liking the Highlands, Golden Triangle, Wash Park, and Cheesman areas...Cap Hill cant be too bad either. I like Highlands bc it is easy to get to downtown denver, but it may not exactly be downtown denver? I was also thinking Englewood, as i think that is a cool town also and it has access to light rail. Is it possible to find what i am looking for with a ~800 budget? Which area is "quietest" if that makes sense... laid back..

Is Englewood easier to find a job than Denver?

Gratsie

[80skeys]

All cool neighborhoods. I would think you'd like any of them.

[freudgirl]

I moved to Denver in August of this year and looked at all of those neighborhoods, except for Evergreen. I settled on Capitol Hill (most of cap hill is pretty close to cheeseman). I love capitol hill and it's really easy to walk or bike downtown.

In my experience, it would be hard to find a nice 2br for 800 in these neighborhoods, although your best bet would be in the Highlands. Also be aware that in capitol hill it's difficult to find parking, so I would look for a place with parking if you plan on having a car.

hope that's helpfulQ

[steveindenver]

You named some diverse areas. Personally I would avoid the Highlands like the plague. There is a lot of hype for that area as a result of prices having been cheaper than the rest of the area. Think through it, prices are cheaper for a reason. That area is almost entirely devoid of anything you will be making use of save for some eateries -- and is a total PITA to get into and out of from the areas you will be visiting.

Living east of I-25 costs a little more -- it is TOTALLY worth it.

Your price is low; Denver is not the middle of Iowa. You might have luck in Uptown or City Park West, but at that price point it is going to be nearly impossible to live anywhere that is anything approaching nice and convenient in the city limits of Denver.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

You named some diverse areas. Personally I would avoid the Highlands like the plague. There is a lot of hype for that area as a result of prices having been cheaper than the rest of the area. Think through it, prices are cheaper for a reason.

I was viewing Highlands from google maps, it looks kind of cool. Small housing though, which I like, and a bit condensed, which I like, and it seemed like neighborhood stuff like restaurants were interspersed in there, which I liked.

Is it mostly driving in and out of that is an issue? Particularly when it comes to big grocery shopping type of stuff?

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Is it mostly driving in and out of that is an issue? Particularly when it comes to big grocery shopping type of stuff?

Well, there's a Safeway at 26th/Federal.

As long as you can get to Federal (there is no doubt that you can) you can totally grocery shop.

The "rep" Highlands has is a fairly new one. 10 or (more?) so years ago that area was considered quite bad, and homeowners that have sold and moved out over the last few years may have done well for themselves in the process. It's the new "hip" spot, IMO primarily for the density and old houses (though sadly many are being scraped). However, Highlands is a bit detached from the more urban parts of Denver.

[HighlandsGal]

The Highlands area is great -- I have no idea while steveindenver is so down on it. We use to rent a loft at 32nd and 18th street. We could walk to Rockies games, over the pedestrian bridge to 16th street mall, ride our bikes to 32nd and Lowell and the Tennyson neighborhoods, ride our bikes along the canal to our friends in Cap. Hill, etc. We have great restaurants, cool bars, good shopping, etc. It is located directly off I-25 -- not like it is miles and miles west of it. I-70 and 36 are also very close. I think it is an excellent place to live -- more spread out and neighborly. Capitol Hill and Cheeseman are too congested for me ....... park on the street is a P.I.T.A. and the streets are so narrow, too many one ways, etc.


We now live in a house in the Sunnyside area -- just north of the Highlands. This is also a great area but we are more car dependent.

[MileHiGolfer]

Originally Posted by HighlandsGal

The Highlands area is great -- I have no idea while steveindenver is so down on it. We use to rent a loft at 32nd and 18th street. We could walk to Rockies games, over the pedestrian bridge to 16th street mall, ride our bikes to 32nd and Lowell and the Tennyson neighborhoods, ride our bikes along the canal to our friends in Cap. Hill, etc. We have great restaurants, cool bars, good shopping, etc. It is located directly off I-25 -- not like it is miles and miles west of it. I-70 and 36 are also very close. I think it is an excellent place to live -- more spread out and neighborly. Capitol Hill and Cheeseman are too congested for me ....... park on the street is a P.I.T.A. and the streets are so narrow, too many one ways, etc.


We now live in a house in the Sunnyside area -- just north of the Highlands. This is also a great area but we are more car dependent.

Agreed - I live in Sloans Lake just south of Highlands. I'd actually claim the opposite of what steveindenver says, it actually has more convenient access to I-25, less than 5 minutes from downtown, and I'm 8 blocks from the grocery store and 10 blocks from top notch restaurants. Also as you mentioned, parking is easy and friends can always park right in front of my house.

As for the OP's question, I think if 800 is a hard budget and you want something nice, you might want to consider the near suburbs, and Englewood might be a good one to look at among others.

[KateG7669]

I would suggest Cap Hill, from what you said it has everything you are looking for. Re Jobs: it kind of depends on what you are looking for and what your experience is in, the job market is still a little low from what I have noticed. Good luck with your search you will love CO

[DachsieLover]

I've lived in the Highlands area for about a year and really love it. There is plenty to do within walking distance, close to downtown, and less headaches driving and parking. Wash Park is a cool neighborhood, but you may be hard pressed finding a decent place in your price range. Not to mention it is a bit of a pain to drive around and park. Cap Hill is nice and close to downtown and many apartment buildings have parking lots. So if you don't mind the traffic and noise, it could be for you. And I'm certain you could find something for $800.