Commute Question, Downtown Denver to NW Westminster (Boulder, Sheridan: 2014, apartment)

[OHW]

After a lot of thought, I've decided to leave Austin for the Denver metro area for work (can't wait to get back to a dry climate!). My company is opening a new office in the NW part of Westminster. I'd work from home about 70% of the time, so I'd only commute about 1 day a week, maybe 1 day every other week.

Beings as I'll work from home, I'd really like to live downtown, or at least a walkable neighborhood due to my dislike of car culture. Is that commute doable? Google Maps puts it at about 20-25 minutes, but I'm concerned about rush hour.

Of course if you have any suggestions for places to live, I would much appreciate a link! Thanks!

[Bradburn1]

Check out my neighborhood, Bradburn Village which is a walkable neighborhood in Westminster. You can walk to many shops, restaurants, bars, services, the Dry Creek Open Space, and they are going to break ground soon on a Whole Foods in the neighborhood (to open fall/winter 2014). Not sure if you are looking to buy/rent but prices here are much higher than TX. If you are looking for an apartment though we have a nice complex called Bradburn Row that's worth a look.

Bradburn is not all that happenin' though, so if you are looking for a ton of nightclub choices, then downtown, especially the LoDo area, is a better choice. The commute is about 30-45 minutes from downtown in rush hour to Westminster depending on where in Westminster.

[OHW]

Originally Posted by Bradburn1

Check out my neighborhood, Bradburn Village which is a walkable neighborhood in Westminster. You can walk to many shops, restaurants, bars, services, the Dry Creek Open Space, and they are going to break ground soon on a Whole Foods in the neighborhood (to open fall/winter 2014). Not sure if you are looking to buy/rent but prices here are much higher than TX. If you are looking for an apartment though we have a nice complex called Bradburn Row that's worth a look.

Bradburn is not all that happenin' though, so if you are looking for a ton of nightclub choices, then downtown, especially the LoDo area, is a better choice. The commute is about 30-45 minutes from downtown in rush hour to Westminster depending on where in Westminster.

Thanks for the reply! Looking at that area, it is very close to where our office will be - just a few miles.

[Katarina Witt]

There are a lot of nice neighborhoods in Westminster. While I can see the appeal of DT Denver to a young person, don't entirely rule out Westy till you've seen it.

[robertgoodman]

The reverse commute on 36 typically isn't that bad until you get closer to Boulder since Boulder has it's own commuter traffic, but recently they have been doing construction on 36 so it will vary until that is done.

If you are taking I-25 I have never seen the reverse commute that bad unless a major accident happens, or bad weather.

I have lived in both Westminster and DT Denver, and value walk-ability. I think living near the center of Denver is more than worth it, especially if you are only commuting that often. Bradburn is nice, and I hope most suburbs in the future look like that, but Bradburn is an island of walk-ability in a sea of auto-dependence. To put Bradburn in Austin terms it's kind of what it would be like if they built the Mueller neighborhood just south of Round Rock. If you think you are okay with that isolated walk-ability great, but if not in central Denver you have more continuous walk-ability.

Also living near central Denver you will have numerous other destinations within biking, transit, and cabbing distance. I do not go clubbing, but I do value having the numerous restaurants, art shows, concerts, microbreweries, sporting events, and theaters close enough that I can take alternative transportation to get to them. You are just not going to get that variety without driving significant distances if you live in a new-urbanist development in the middle of an auto-dependent suburb.

[Bradburn1]

Totally agree with Robert. Bradburn may be walkable and walkable to the adjacent shopping area, but the surrounding area is not. Although it is close to many things so when I do drive, it's rarely more than 5 miles round trip. But still, is driving. Which I hate. We live here because of proximity to Boulder and needing good public schools. Well, that and I'm a design snob. So it works for us right now. I'm hoping the Whole Foods will bring in more retail along with it and think that likely, which will finish our downtown. That will take a few years though. More walkable retail the better IMO.

[OHW]

What are the major rush hours between the 2 areas?

[Bradburn1]

7:30-9:30 am, 4-6 PM

[spaceace414]

I live in Westminster and love the area. Not sure exactly where your office will be located...but there are several "Express" Buses that go from Market Street Station to Westminster (BV, X86 are two that go to Sheridan/36). I know there are others that go to the area....so that could be a good way for you to commute from DT to Westminster.

[scrapper105]

OP didn't mention a family, so I'm guessing you are single ? If so, live downtown. I love living in the Denver suburbs, but it is very, um, suburban. I haven't met ANYONE without children.