Husband and wife in early thirties relocating to Denver...Does anyone have advice of an area in Denver to live which will be safe, fun, and family friendly? An easy commute into the city area is preferable. We would appreciate any advice. Thanks

There was a rather lengthy thread awhile back on this but I cannot find it. I have lived in Denver for 12 years and love it! We live in the Park Hill neighborhood. It is about 5 min to downtown, Right by City Park, the Zoo and Science museum. I would not live anyplace else. It is a diverse neighborhood, I like that! I have always felt safe here. Lots of kids a real community. Everyone knows everyone kind of place.
Good luck to you.

Friends of mine (who had relocated to Denver for a few years) lived in the Highland Ranch master planned community. They really liked the area and found it to be a friendly neighborhood.

Do you have children? If so, Highlands Ranch would work. If not...here goes...

If you are a fan of nice older neighborhoods, I would recommend Washington Park. The homes are pricey, but there are some very cute brick bungalows there. I always wanted to live there! The park itself is nice and big and full of people. You're close to Cherry Creek (shopping & dining, Bonnie Brae (more dining) and not too bad of a commute to downtown.

Highlands Ranch is pretty sterile, and the commute would be long. I would check out the neighborhood of "Highlands" (different place) in North Denver near downtown. It's got neat restaurants, and has a yuppie neighborhood feel to it.

My husband and I lived in a part of Littleton called "Ken Caryl Ranch" that has beautiful homes, great hiking trails, and other ammenities.

I'm a Denver native and absolutely agree about the Washington Park area. There's also a nice area called Observatory Park with nice houses, conveniently located, and an easy commute to downtown. Personally, I would avoid Highlands Ranch...it is pretty sterile and a long commute.

One more thought, if you prefer new, you might take a look at the Stapleton Development, Many of my neighbors that lived in Park Hill but needed something bigger due to growing families have moved there. The cost per sq foot is much less than in many of the older areas. It is still near downtown and frankly is the only new development that I could see myself in. http://www.stapletondenver.com It is filled with people your age with young kids.

Good luck and let us know what you decide, we are a curious bunch.

Denver native recommends:

Washington Park, Park Hill, for sure, if you have lots of $$. Congress Park is a nice area, too, very close to downtown. Safe.

I'd also recommend lowry, a redeveloped area of new homes in a great community about 10-15 minutes from downtown.

Highlands Ranch is definitely out, as construction on our main highway is slated for the next few years and the commute is not fun.

SMH,

We lived in Highlands Ranch for one year and could not get out fast enough. If miles and miles and miles of "cracker-box" characterless homes jammed in together are your idea of a good community, then help yourself. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague that it is.

On a more positive note, most of the other neighborhoods mentioned here are pretty good (Park Hill, Wash Park, Highlands, Ken Caryl--Ranch or Valley, etc.).

The Denver Chamber of Commerce has individual information on specific neighborhoods that can be pretty helpful. It might be a good place to start.

Good Luck,

ALC

topping because someone asked again

To the long time Denver residents - what do you think of all the new development? Last November I went to Denver for the 1st time in 10 years and I was shocked. It seems that Denver has spread almost all the way to Colorado Springs.

I'm not all that familiar with Denver but do have friends that live in Highland Ranch and wanted to add my 2 cents. It is not a cosmopolitan/city area-it is the burbs at their best, strip malls, chain restaurants, subdivisions. If that's ok with you, then you'd probably like it. If you are looking for something with a little more character, than I'd keep looking.