Housing rentals in walkable neighborhoods in North West area? (Denver: fit in, apartment complex)

[Allie84]

Hello,

I am moving with my husband and 20 month old son to the Denver area next month. I will be commuting to the Broomfield/Interlocken area. My husband is still looking for work so we don't know where he will be.

I went to college at CU in Boulder but I don't know the area outside of Boulder that well. I was hoping for some neighborhood/apartment complex suggestions.

We are looking for:
1. rental house or townhome, apartment if necessary
2. close to public transport (though we have one car)
3. walkable (with a toddler and a dog...to parks, at least)
4. trees and sidewalks (as in, not living right off the interstate at Interlocken)
4. Rent less than $1400 a month for a 2 bedroom.
5. Urban feel over suburban feel

Areas I've been researching include
Sunnyside
Highland
Arvada
Lakewood
Broomfield
Wheat Ridge
Lafayette
....but we're open to whatever.


I feel like we'd fit in best in Denver proper, but we might be priced out with our budget. What are areas like Arvada, Lakewood, Broomfield and Wheat Ridge like in terms of an 'urban' feel. If they are sprawling suburbs that feel like Colorado Springs (where I grew up) I hope to avoid them.

Thanks for any suggestions

[davebarnes]

1. The vacancy rate for single-family houses is 2.5%.
2. Rents have increase 6% in greater Denver in the last year.
3. Many rentals in northwest Denver only appear as a sign in the yard. Landlords don't have to list them anywhere.

[Allie84]

Okay, thank you davebarnes.

I see you live in Berkeley...that's one of the neighborhoods I've been looking into.

I don't mind living in an apartment or duplex at all, but I would prefer an older, established neighborhood.

Do you know of any neighborhoods that may fit my criteria, basically good for a late 20s couple with a toddler who want to live near public transport and be able to walk to parks or green space? Commutable to Interlocken but not right in suburbia.

[Katarina Witt]

Areas I've been researching include
Sunnyside
Highland
Arvada
Lakewood
Broomfield
Wheat Ridge
Lafayette
....but we're open to whatever.

Sunnyside: In Denver
Highland (actually Highlands): In Denver. Hip, expensive.
Arvada: Has an old town (Called "Old Towne"), but it mainly suburban. Maybe you'd have better luck than my daughter and her fiance did in finding an apt/house near OT.
Lakewood: More suburban than Arvada. Has no real "downtown". Has a Lifestyle Center area called Belmar that has apts in a walkable area, though it's not real big. Kinda far for driving to Broomfield.
Broomfield: Suburban. No downtown. Big mall. Good community feel, this from personal experience of having a kid on a HS team there for 7 years. Probably your best bet to look at first.
Wheat Ridge: Suburban. No downtown. Larger population of elderly, smaller population of kids than many other areas. Also a bit of a drive, not as bad as Lakewood.
Lafayette: Mostly suburban, has an old town, has a sort of downtown w/restaurants, a big lawn/garden center. Close to Broomfield.
Wheat Ridge (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Allie84

prefer an older, established neighborhood. ... neighborhoods that may fit my criteria, basically good for a late 20s couple with a toddler who want to live near public transport and be able to walk to parks or green space?

The major east-west bus routes are:
38th ave
44th
32nd
in that order
North-south are:
Federal
Sheridan
Wadsworth
RTD-Denver.com

Padmapper.com and use the filters.

I think for single-family rentals, you really need to be here. But, what do I know. I own a house and only vaguely pay attention to the rental situation.

Useful maps for finding parks
Map Gallery - PDFs: City and Community of Arvada
Denver Maps
Wheat Ridge, CO - Official Website - Maps

[Allie84]

Thank you both!

I appreciate the links.

It's also good to know that Wheat Ridge is an older community....I really want a younger area, as I'm in my 20s, but also an area that's good for small children (and a dog).

What about Erie and Louisville? The only bits I know of Louisville are right off of US36.

It'd be nice to live near Boulder again....probably will be priced-out to live in it, though.

I wish the light-rail went further north ( I know it will eventually) because that's how we'd prefer to get in and out of the city center. Does the western line go through any 'nice' neighborhoods? Lakewood, I guess? It seems like the only area of Lakewood I'd like is the Belmar area. I'd love to be able to walk to a light rail line to get into Denver for concerts, restaurants, etc.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Allie84

What about Erie

"sprawling suburbs that feel like Colorado Springs"

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by Allie84

Thank you both!

I appreciate the links.

It's also good to know that Wheat Ridge is an older community....I really want a younger area, as I'm in my 20s, but also an area that's good for small children (and a dog).

What about Erie and Louisville? The only bits I know of Louisville are right off of US36.

It'd be nice to live near Boulder again....probably will be priced-out to live in it, though.

I wish the light-rail went further north ( I know it will eventually) because that's how we'd prefer to get in and out of the city center. Does the western line go through any 'nice' neighborhoods? Lakewood, I guess? It seems like the only area of Lakewood I'd like is the Belmar area. I'd love to be able to walk to a light rail line to get into Denver for concerts, restaurants, etc.

Erie has an old town, plus lots of suburban area.

Louisville, ditto, but its old town is more developed and actually the "in" place to go on Friday nights.

The rail line (heavy rail, not LR on this piece) is expected to be done in 2042. I am not making this up. It will be a long time in coming.

[Allie84]

Wow. That's good to know!!

Are the neighborhoods along the current light rail heading west any good? Are they close enough to Broomfield?

I know it seems a weird thing to think about when I'll be commuting by bus or car anyways, but public transport is important to me.

[Katarina Witt]

I can answer your second question. The LR west line basically parallels Colfax Ave. So no, it's not particularly close to Broomfield.