Capitol Hill - a good place to start? Alone and Relocating... (Denver: for sale, real estate)

[jenxx]

Without sounding too pitiful, I'm ending a very horrible relationship and am trying to give my young life a new start. I was planning to move to CO 7 years ago. Then you think your plans are worth giving up on for some one else. So, trying this again. I was trying to decide between Denver and Boulder and Boulder seems a little pricey for me right now - since, well my whole financial security has crumbled. I'm a young woman, looking to make a fresh start, make new friends, new job, etc., and Capitol Hill seems to be a vibrant, ecclectic neighborhood with some affordable places that would make for a good starting base while i establish myself career and self wise, learn and explore the city and the rest of the state.
Is my thinking correct here?

much appreciated

[BlueWillowPlate]

I like Capitol Hill.
If you could find a place more in the Cheesman Park (it's still part of Capitol Hill) area, between the parameters of 12th and 8th and Logan and Corona, you would have everything you need. Look up Westword.com, check out rentals and real estate. Good luck.

[jenxx]

Is it just as it sounds? It seems like you can get a little bit bigger of an apartment for the same money as a tiny place in Capitol Hill/Cheesman so I'm presuming the Hospital Zone area (Colorado Blvd at 12th) is less interesting/hip of a neighborhood?

Thanks so much for the help.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Hospital Zone area isn't that bad, it's just that Colorado Blvd (where all the hospitals are) is big and noisy and rather ugly; lots of strip malls and chain stores. Capitol Hill/Cheesman is more funky, has more character. When we were getting ready to move, I noticed a huge apartment complex going up at about Colfax/14th and Colorado Blvd. I wonder if it might offer reasonable rent.
But obviously I prefer Capitol Hill.
Cheesman Park is a huge, lovely park, but the Hospital Zone does have Hale Park on 12th.
Now both of these neighborhoods can be a bit iffy after dark, but if you just take the usual precautions you should be fine.

[2bindenver]

Hospital Zone is a great place to meet young medical students and professionals.

I had a condo for sale 1121 Albion earlier this year a 2 bedroom for $117,000...didn't sell, but rented it to a CCSD middle school teacher who wanted a taste of urban life without the yuppies...

[tfox]

I think Capitol Hill would be just what you're looking for. It's not very expensive by central Denver standards, and it's close to everything. The only problem is that it's hard to get a big place there (mostly studios and 1br places), plus parking is a pain since a lot of places don't have parking (but many do and you can rent parking).

As the previous poster said, Cheesman park is not bad either if that's your preference. That would be a little further away from downtown, so maybe quieter, and you have the amenity of the park.

There are about a dozen other excellent Denver neighborhoods you can look into as well in addition to the previously mentioned Cheesman: Wash Park, Highlands, Jefferson Park, Golden Triangle, Baker, City Park, etc. All are a bit rough around the edges in spots, but most are on the up-and-up (depending on your point of view on the whole gentrification thing.)

So, to summarize, I think Capitol Hill would be a fine place to start -- then you can check out all the neighborhoods and find the one you like best.