Any suburbs that aren't so desolate? (Denver, Aurora: neighborhood, subdivisions, live in)

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by BrettE

...Denve...newer suburbs looks like they were desolate wastelands where someone decided to build some houses close together. I live in southwest Ohio right now, and everything here is lush and green. I live on a .25 acre lot, but I have so many trees that I can barely see my neighbors houses.

Annual precipitation
Denver 15.81 inches (What is the average annual rainfall in Denver, Colorado?)
Cincinnatti 42.6 inches

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by BrettE

I'm thinking about taking a job in Denver, but looking at houses on realtor.com makes me hesitant. All of newer suburbs looks like they were desolate wastelands where someone decided to build some houses close together.

welcome to the southwest.

I live in southwest Ohio right now, and everything here is lush and green. I live on a .25 acre lot, but I have so many trees that I can barely see my neighbors houses.

Is there anywhere within a reasonable distance (30 minutes would be great) from Buckley AFB where I might be able to find something more than .25 acres and maybe some trees? I can spend up to about $500k.

The older neighborhoods in denver are the ones with the trees. you'll have look not in the suburbs but in the central parts of the city

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

The older neighborhoods in denver are the ones with the trees. you'll have look not in the suburbs but in the central parts of the city

Disagree with the above a bit. It's true the older neighborhoods have the trees, but those 'hoods are not just in Denver. Many suburbs have older areas with trees. Anything more than about 20 years old will have mature trees. Lots are small out here, for the most part. .25 acre is a pretty big lot in most of the suburbs.

[dmiller91]

so I have two questions...

does everyone plant lawns in the suburbs just to water them? Are there alternatives?

Which ARE the neighborhoods with the best views of the front range - NW of denver, within a reasonable distance from Boulder?

[woody74]

BrettE, I went to college in Ohio and then moved back out west afterwards. Unfortunately there is nothing out here that will match the lush green neighborhoods that you are used to living in. You may want to consider living in one of the older parts of town if you want street that are more heavily treed. Possibly the Gov Park, Cherry Creek area, ect but living costs will be higher.

[denverian]

Denver is not a wet, humid area, so "forest" doesn't just sprout up if you leave a plot of land alone like it will in Ohio (or pretty much anywhere east of here). And if you have a large lot, it's going to cost you a lot to water it all summer. It doesn't usually rain enough here to keep a lawn green and everything is irrigated by underground sprinkler systems.

I've lived in Denver and L.A. for the past 20 years of my life so when I go back East, the trees seem odd, if not annoying. It feels almost claustrophobic because you can't see very far.

But rather than looking for the exact same thing you have in Ohio, why not embrace Colorado for its own unique qualities?

[julian17033]

Originally Posted by woody74

BrettE, I went to college in Ohio and then moved back out west afterwards. Unfortunately there is nothing out here that will match the lush green neighborhoods that you are used to living in. You may want to consider living in one of the older parts of town if you want street that are more heavily treed. Possibly the Gov Park, Cherry Creek area, ect but living costs will be higher.

I fully agree that nothing will match the lush green of the midwest and east.
Denver is desolate looking for a reason, it's built on a treeless desert.

Finally after twenty plus years of brown, treeless landscapes I moved back east where once again I'm surrounded by the lush green I so desperately missed.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by dmiller91

... does everyone plant lawns in the suburbs just to water them? Are there alternatives? ....

Short version: HOAs typically have specified at least ~50% grass and the rest xeriscape (rocks, native grasses, etc) but COLO state law has changed and people now may plant zero grass if they choose. The grass does require watering and is a growing expense as water rates rise.

[dmiller91]

I just think growing grass in a low water area seems lame. I personally wouldn't want to use my water that way. Here they regulate you and make you plant grass in certain subdivisions. It's nice to have the option to have a native yard = brown

[Count David]

Originally Posted by dmiller91

Which ARE the neighborhoods with the best views of the front range - NW of denver, within a reasonable distance from Boulder?

It depends, do you want a close-up, or a panorama?