Commuting to Denver from HR (Lakewood, Arvada: house, safe neighborhoods, to buy)

[jclem]

My husband and I (along with our three children) are moving to Denver this summer. My husband's company is on 38th Ave (kind of near Zuni?) and the school our kids will go to is on Quebec near the County Line Rd. We have identified Highlands Ranch as a possible area to buy a house, possibly Castle Pines North. I am concerned for my husband's commute though. People we know who live in HR say they take Santa Fe or the Light Rail. He usually leaves for work around 7 a.m., but the evening he will probably be with everyone else. How bad is it from HR to Denver?

[maximusmgm]

Not sure of the commute times, but there is a good sandwich place at 30th and Zuni. Not sure if they are still open though.

[JenUlasewich]

Many do that commute. Not the greatest, but as long as his office is near a light rail station, having light rail as a viable back-up is a real plus.

[2bindenver]

I would change the kids school and focus on the NW section of town.

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

I would change the kids school and focus on the NW section of town.

Whether it's a public or private school will determine how easy it is to change. My first impression is that it must be private since they have the school picked out but not a place to live?

[2bindenver]

St. Thomas Moore is at Quebec, just north of County Line.

[jclem]

We considered looking at the NW side of town like Arvada and Westminster, but didn't find a school we liked up there as much. It is still a possibility if anyone has any thoughts or comments about life/community in those two places. We are interested in a Catholic school and there seem to be more south of Denver, along with two Catholic Highschools. North of Denver, the only Catholic HS is in Broomfield.

[2bindenver]

Broomfield would be a better commute.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by jclem

We considered looking at the NW side of town like Arvada and Westminster, but didn't find a school we liked up there as much. It is still a possibility if anyone has any thoughts or comments about life/community in those two places. We are interested in a Catholic school and there seem to be more south of Denver, along with two Catholic Highschools. North of Denver, the only Catholic HS is in Broomfield.

There is another Catholic High School in North Denver. It is Arupa Jesuit Arrupe Jesuit High School. It is in the former building of Holy Family High School which the Catholics abandoned to build Holy Family in the more moneyed area of Broomfield The same issue happened with Regis High School, on the Regis University Campus. These Catholics closed the school and moved to the Southeast Suburbs, off County Line.

It is a shame because the Northwest Area is very strongly traditional Catholic with the Italian and Mexican ethnic groups. There are so many fine Catholic Institutions in this area: St. Vincent's Home, Sisters of the Poor, Franciscan House, Regis University, Knights of Columbus and many old and established parishes like Holy Family. For grade school and a Big Parish there is Shrine of St. Anne in Old Town Arvada.

I grew up in a very tradition Catholic Neighborhood in New York and North Denver is very appealing in the characteristics of the good of Roman Catholicism. I am saying that as an Atheist and someone who is very familiar with this area. I have respect for many of the good values and works of the Catholic Church.

I think you would be making a big mistake in ruling out the northwest area to live and having a terrible commute to work. That would certainly add stress and reduce your quality of Life. The northwest part of Denver, called locally "North Denver" is now becoming the "in" place to live with thriving renewed neighborhoods. The adjoining suburbs of Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and Arvada can provide you with a good quality of life in well established and safe neighborhoods.

Livecontent

[ucbedge]

My wife commutes from the very southern edge of Highlands Ranch (Quebec and MacAruthur Ranch Rd....near CPN) to kinda-near downtown Denver (where the I-70 and I25 intersect) daily.

If she leaves the house by 7AM, she hits a very small amount of traffic and it takes her 40 minutes. If she leaves her workplace by 4PM, she hits some traffic and it takes her 50 minutes.

Unfortunately, leaving any later than 7AM means hitting alot more traffic....both in Highlands Ranch and up the 25. If you are planning on your husband dropping your kids off at school at 7:20AM, for example, his commute to work will take around an hour.