Moving back home (Denver, Lakewood, Arvada: sales, 2013, house)

[NC to CO]

Hi everyone. I'm originally from the Denver area (grew up in Thornton, then lived in the Mayfair area of Denver for awhile). I have been living out in North Carolina for 4 years, and am moving back next summer. I'll be working at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, my husband will start looking for a job in the spring.

We had originally planned on moving back to Denver proper, near my work. However, I have been doing some research on the pit bull ban in Denver, and am afraid that one of our dogs might be at risk there (she's a mutt we got here in NC, but definitely has some pit-bull looking characteristics).

We are pretty bummed, because we had our hearts set on Denver, but now have started to look at surrounding areas. We'd like an area that is walkable with lots of shops and restaurants nearby and near lightrail (or slated for future lightrail expansion) or on bus lines to downtown with a short-ish commute to work for me. I've looked at Old Englewood and Downtown Littleton. Are there any other areas anyone would recommend that I'm not thinking of? We'd like to spend up to $450,000 (would be willing to renovate, but don't want to price ourselves out of the neighborhood), though for the perfect house in the perfect location would spend more.

Thanks!

[2bindenver]

I'd start by looking north or west?

West is where heavy rail is going (light rail is what normal people will still call it)

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

I'd start by looking north or west?

West is where heavy rail is going (light rail is what normal people will still call it)

The West Corridor, through Lakewood, will be Light Rail; the same type units that are currently operating. It is now under construction and will be completed in 2013. The first and perhaps the only commuter rail built under Fastracks.

No other rail corridors have started construction. The next rail corridor will be the east line, running to DIA. That will be heavy rail, specifically EMU (Electrical Multiple Units). After that we may see the Gold Corridor through Arvada to Wheat Ridge with a station near Old Town Westminster. That will again be heavy rail, EMU.

These corridors will depend on grant money from the feds for the Public Private Partnership--if it is not forthcoming then the we will only have the East Corridor and the Gold Corridor will be very questionable.

Unfortunately the rest of the Corridors under Fastracks are not doable without additional funding or voting a new tax. We were sold a mirage by snake oil salesmen because there was never any possibility of building these corridors under the false projections of sales tax revenues--even when the economy was running good.

I was a big former supported of commuter rail; now I am disgusted and disillusioned.

Livecontent

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by livecontent

.... Unfortunately the rest of the Corridors under Fastracks are not doable without additional funding or voting a new tax. We were sold a mirage by snake oil salesmen because there was never any possibility of building these corridors under the false projections of sales tax revenues--even when the economy was running good. I was a big former supported of commuter rail; now I am disgusted and disillusioned.

Livecontent

Don't be.

Asking taxpayers in this country for money to do anything is a waste of time. It's like the Army; if you have to ask, the answer is NO. To get anything done here, even the "right" things, requires guile, cunning, deceit, promises and sleight of hand. Shame, but that's the American way. In countries with real government, they do the right things without being forced to by the courts, or by emergencies like gridlocked highways or submerged cities. Fast Tracks is a huge asset to Denver and the metro area.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Don't be.

Asking taxpayers in this country for money to do anything is a waste of time. It's like the Army; if you have to ask, the answer is NO. To get anything done here, even the "right" things, requires guile, cunning, deceit, promises and sleight of hand. Shame, but that's the American way. In countries with real government, they do the right things without being forced to by the courts, or by emergencies like gridlocked highways or submerged cities. Fast Tracks is a huge asset to Denver and the metro area.

Yes, I agree Fastracks is a huge asset and should be supported. However, I have been to many meetings and what I have seen was much deceit; not enough cunning that leaves guile begging; lack of skills for sleight of hand.

I have seen many promises that were fulfilled in overabundant salaries and a compensation packages for the questionable abilities of RTD management, supported by sycophantic toadies of the RTD board. Certainly promises were kept to the mass of subcontractors who have benefited even if nothing is built; and will make much more with the delays caused by the deceit, with more costly studies and evaluations.

Livecontent