Relocating from UK to Denver - advice on neighbourhoods (Lakewood: sales, house)

[PurplePansy]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Congress Park. It's near downtown Denver and is conveniently located to all of the stores on both Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue (major commercial streets) but is surprisingly quiet for a neighborhood in the middle of the city. The houses are older and mostly well-kept. It's a lot of young families and older, retired empty-nester types.

I don't have kids so can't help you much with schools. Congress Park would put you in the Denver Public School district and sadly I've mostly not heard good things about DPS. However the high school, East High, is a good school, I believe, and is in a drop-dead gorgeous historic building.

Oh, also, to give you another opinion on Highlands Ranch...just speaking for myself, but I hate it. It is THE stereotypical American suburb - row after row of identical houses, lots of big gas-guzzling SUVs being driven from one strip of national chain stores to the next. If you're looking for a city feel I think HR would disappoint you. And the commute on I-25 and C-470 from downtown Denver can be a long nightmare.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by PurplePansy

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Congress Park. It's near downtown Denver and is conveniently located to all of the stores on both Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue (major commercial streets) but is surprisingly quiet for a neighborhood in the middle of the city. The houses are older and mostly well-kept. It's a lot of young families and older, retired empty-nester types.

I don't have kids so can't help you much with schools. Congress Park would put you in the Denver Public School district and sadly I've mostly not heard good things about DPS. However the high school, East High, is a good school, I believe, and is in a drop-dead gorgeous historic building.

Oh, also, to give you another opinion on Highlands Ranch...just speaking for myself, but I hate it. It is THE stereotypical American suburb - row after row of identical houses, lots of big gas-guzzling SUVs being driven from one strip of national chain stores to the next. If you're looking for a city feel I think HR would disappoint you. And the commute on I-25 and C-470 from downtown Denver can be a long nightmare.

You mean like this store?:

Highlands Ranch Store | Tattered Cover Book Store

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Katiana

You mean like this store?:
Highlands Ranch Store | Tattered Cover Book Store

and you know it.
One independent store.
And, yes, I know there are few others.
But, let's face it: Applee's and Olive Garden are the restaurants.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

and you know it.
One independent store.
And, yes, I know there are few others.
But, let's face it: Applee's and Olive Garden are the restaurants.

Applebee's? Not many of those left. Anyway, that's no different than most other burbs; also some city areas.

I just have an issue with stereotyping.

[RWR2012]

I think the IB will be the way to go, particularly for the 16 year-old.

What is Lakewood like to live in? Is there a community feel? I presume it would be wise to look for a house near the school to make sure we get a place.

Is there an IB elementary school anyone can recommend in that area so I could have one child at Lakewood High School and the other close by? Looks like Patterson might be a possibility.

Thanks for all your help, friendly Denver people!

[RWR2012]

Originally Posted by PurplePansy

Oh, also, to give you another opinion on Highlands Ranch...just speaking for myself, but I hate it. It is THE stereotypical American suburb - row after row of identical houses, lots of big gas-guzzling SUVs being driven from one strip of national chain stores to the next. If you're looking for a city feel I think HR would disappoint you. And the commute on I-25 and C-470 from downtown Denver can be a long nightmare.

I'm not sure the rows of identical houses appeals..... Is Lakewood similar, in that sense? Or a bit more character?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by RWR2012

I'm not sure the rows of identical houses appeals..... Is Lakewood similar, in that sense? Or a bit more character?

Well, the rows of identical houses is quite the exaggeration.

[davidv]

Modern housing is the same all over the world. A builder offers 4-5 different floor plans and 2-3 variations of each plan. It is the industrial model of home building. People in Denver like to bash the suburbs because they believe that everything looks the same. There is no more or less diversity of housing in the older parts of Denver (see Wash Park, City Park West, and Congress Park.) Some houses may look slightly different because of additions, or very different because they have been scraped off and replaced (which is not allowed in newer neighborhoods), but basically everyone lives in the same basic house with a few tweaks.

[Katarina Witt]

^^Agreed, davidv! My best advice to the OP would be to get out here and look around. If the DH's company will not finance a house-hunting trip, come out when the job starts and stay in an extended-stay motel and explore the area.

[PurplePansy]

Lakewood has more diversity in terms of housing styles. Some parts of Lakewood (closer to Denver) are older homes from the 60s/70s/80s and then as you go further west there is more new construction. It's a pretty nice suburb and you'd have easy access to the Western foothills and associated recreation.

No need to get so defensive about Highlands Ranch, Katiana. Yes, there is one large independent bookstore. There are also dozens of stores that are exactly like dozens of stores in dozens of other suburban strip malls across the country. I prefer supporting locally owned and independent small businesses with character, history, and ties to the neighborhood, vs. the mega-corporate national chains.