One our way, need help with areas (Denver, Colorado Springs: houses, movie theater)

[jgarretson]

I'm bringing my family to Colorado after years of sniffing around. We could be moving in a month or possibly six, it all comes down to finding a job first.

The pertinent facts: I'm mid 30's, wife is late 20's, 2 and 3 year old.

My wife and I looked around Parker a few years back on a trip and really liked the area. It's similar to the place we live in SoCal. We like the small town type atmosphere with new schools for the kids and a variety of housing options. Our home budget will be up to about $350K and we'd like something newer or really old with character; 50's brick ranch is not really old; I'm talking turn of the century old.

The first question is, are there areas north of Denver that resemble Parker or have small town character and decent home prices? Good schools are a must and of course a Target store nearby for the wife.

The second question is, I'm making progress on a position in Commerce City in the Dahlia Industrial Park. Is commuting to Parker tolerable? I'm used to a solid 40 minute commute but I'm also used to moving on the roads. Is the 470 prohibitively expensive to use daily? If Parker is off the table, where to the north would be good? I've not heard much good about Aurora. Stapleton looks nice but it's a bit high for my price range and also a little too urban.

Thanks for your help and if you know of a company looking for a project manager with a consumer product background, let me know!

[Snikt]

Originally Posted by jgarretson

I'm bringing my family to Colorado after years of sniffing around. We could be moving in a month or possibly six, it all comes down to finding a job first.

The pertinent facts: I'm mid 30's, wife is late 20's, 2 and 3 year old.

My wife and I looked around Parker a few years back on a trip and really liked the area. It's similar to the place we live in SoCal. We like the small town type atmosphere with new schools for the kids and a variety of housing options. Our home budget will be up to about $350K and we'd like something newer or really old with character; 50's brick ranch is not really old; I'm talking turn of the century old.

The first question is, are there areas north of Denver that resemble Parker or have small town character and decent home prices? Good schools are a must and of course a Target store nearby for the wife.

The second question is, I'm making progress on a position in Commerce City in the Dahlia Industrial Park. Is commuting to Parker tolerable? I'm used to a solid 40 minute commute but I'm also used to moving on the roads. Is the 470 prohibitively expensive to use daily? If Parker is off the table, where to the north would be good? I've not heard much good about Aurora. Stapleton looks nice but it's a bit high for my price range and also a little too urban.

Thanks for your help and if you know of a company looking for a project manager with a consumer product background, let me know!

Don't know anything about Parker, but yes 470 is retarded expensive. It's the first or 2nd most expensive toll road in the US I believe.

Some areas of Aurora are OK, I think more south near 470

[gmm_24]

From Commerce City to Parker I would not make that drive, especially in the Winter.

Henderson is a suburb, newer houses off of Highway 85, not too far from Brighton which has a Target, Penny's, Kohl's and etc. They have pretty good school according to a friend of mine. Granted it is not as pretty as Parker but it is a far better commute.

Some areas of Brighton are good too and while it does not have lots and lots of things to do there is enough to keep your family entertained with a rec center, movie theater, lake and such.
Either area you will not be horribly far from Denver or other larger cities with more activites. You can take 85 down to the Denver zoo and museum in less then 30 mins.

You were in that area you would just travel up and down 85 which is not as traveled and trafficy as I-25. Lots of trucks and there are traffic lights. It is 55 MPH in some places and 65 in others.
I am on that highway daily and it can be annoying but I rarely just sit and not move.

[2bindenver]

If your job is in the northwest section of the Denver Metroplex, try looking for housing within 10 miles of that location - either padmapper.com or recolorado.com.

I once had a family relocate here from SoCal. He thought he could commute from Colorado Springs to Thornton, because they were this close on a map. He bought in Reunion, a subdivision in Commerce City. Then 6 other coworkers and one sister in law bought there too.