Which older areas would be good for a family with kids? (Fort Collins: houses, neighborhoods)

[texasdiver]

My wife is considering a job offer in Fort Collins and we will probably make a short scouting trip when she interviews. I won't have much time to really check the place out but I'd like to some quick driving around to check out possible neighborhoods.

We have 3 girls ages 5, 8, and 13 and would like to be close to schools. My wife is a physician and I'm not exactly sure where she is looking to work. She has several prospects. I currently teach HS science and from what I've read that may not be a viable option for me in Fort Collins so I may be exploring other ways to keep busy including buying an older house to renovate while we live in it.

Ideally I'd like to find an older neighborhood with large houses and mature trees that is within easy walking and biking distance of schools, shopping and other amenities. But not one that is within the university bubble where we will always be fighting parties, late night noise, students peeing in the yard,etc.

Our price range will probably be in the $400-500 grand range assuming we can buy what we want with that. I understand prices are higher in FC compared to the suburban TX area we currently live in. I'd prefer to get something older and more historic to renovate rather than a newer house in a new subdivision like where we currently live.

Any suggestions for neighborhoods to drive through and check out during a quick recon trip with the kids?

Also any great parks with playgrounds that we can visit? My kids will have a low tolerance for aimlessly driving around looking at neighborhoods unless there are playgrounds we can stop at and explore.

[Mike Weber]

Fort Collins was designed on a one mile grid, with at least one park in each square, so you should be able to satisfy that requirement. Fossil Creek park on the south end of town has a cool playground.

Neighborhoods that might work for a renovation home in that price range include Old Town for the older homes. Mid-century homes and 60's and 70's ranches on larger lots are found in the popular Indian Hills, Parkwood, and University Acres subdivisions, all of which are near Lemay and Prospect. While in that area, you can visit Edora Park.

Good luck with your search. Feel free to post up any further questions you may have.

Mike Weber

[texasdiver]

Thanks...

Any areas to avoid because they are too close to the University? I grew up in Eugene Oregon which I'm guessing is a similar college town and lived near the UW in Seattle for a number of years so I'm well aware that there is something of a "bubble" around most big universities that one wants to avoid if not a student.

At this point I'll probably just do a drive around using the realtor.com app on the iPhone and see what I see until the kids get sick of it then find some parks. Just to get a flavor of the place. If my wife decides that this is her dream job and dream location then we will get more serious. Ideally what we'd want would be an older house on a big lot with lots of trees perhaps backed up against a park or ravine or other wild area. But something still in town and now way out in some exurban area. We've done that before and I'm never again going to spend the majority of my time shuttling kids around to all their distant activities for hours every day.

[Mike Weber]

Typically the areas within .5 mile of the university house a majority of the student population. Of the single family neighborhoods in town, those with the largest student population are mostly west of campus and some directly north of campus. Old Town used to have more students, but as fixing up older homes and living close to the action in Old Town has become more popular, students are being priced out of that area.

There are some homes in the area that back to open space or a park. In order to see locations of these open spaces and parks, you can look at the city's website here Parks: City of Fort Collins and Natural Areas: City of Fort Collins As you see addresses online, you can use Bing maps to see an aerial photo and see the surrounding area.

The homes in Village West and Lexington Green that back to Rolland Moore Park have a nice feel to their back yards.

The neighborhoods to which I referred in this and the other reply are centrally located, with reasonably easy access to shopping and activities. They are also in close proximity to bike trails for easy bike access to other parts of town.

Mike Weber