what is Sloan Lake area like? (Denver, Lakewood: renting, high crime, loans)

[sus182]

I'm moving to Denver from Chicago at the end of august and was wondering what Sloan Lake area was like. (crime/neighbors/ugly houses/etc). I'm 25/single/f

thanks alot,

[Fuzz]

Continuing in the vein of adding mostly useless information this morning, I can't really tell you much about what living in the area is like. I've heard Colfax is supposed to be a sketchy area, but not sure if THAT part of Colfax is or not. You'll have St. Anthony's Central hospital as a neighbor. They do hold some festivals on the lake in the summer (e.g. a Chinese boat race).

[Katarina Witt]

LOL, Fuzz. I can add some more semi-useless info. I lived in that area from 1980 - 82, left to buy a house in Louisville. We were renting at the time. Anyway, nice central location; you can work almost anywhere if you live there. I lived there beffore Highlands to the NE became so hip, so it may be quite different now. We didn't get to know the neighbors too well, but all seemed nice, and it wasn't a high crime area. Housing is older. We did most of our shopping in the Wheat Ridge/Arvada/Lakewood area.

[tfox]

In the past, Sloan's Lake was kind of iffy, depending on your point of view. However, times have changed.

The north shore of Sloans Lake is only blocks to Highlands Square at 32nd and Lowell, so it has changed significantly -- lots of scrape-offs, new construction as well as restoration of homes.

The south shore has always suffered a little bit because of its proximity to run-down West Colfax, but on the other hand the south shore of Sloan's Lake has a very high concentration of Orthodox Jews, and always has (because of shabbat regulations; they need to be within a certain walking distance of synagogue). Their community is modest but well-kept and watched.

St Anthony's is relocating to Lakewood, and so that area is planning on being completely redeveloped, which should trigger some redevelopment around Colfax.

In summary, Sloans Lake is not quite as gentrified as other areas of north Denver, but is rapidly catching up, provided you're north of the 1600 block or so. West Colfax itself will be longer in transition, but once the St Anthony's property is redeveloped, it will probably change for the better as well.

[dj32]

great investment at this point. Berkeley is the best up and coming area in terms of development at this point.