Places in the Denver-area with few zoning rules? (Highlands Ranch, Englewood: real estate, apartments)

[bouncing]

Hi. I'm a Colorado native but I've been thinking of buying a home now that prices have gone down so much. The thing is, if I invest in property, I want to avoid HOA's, deed restrictions, and in general, zoning. I'm not saying I want to live in a free-for-all, but I want to be on the side of unrestrictive zoning.

Any recommendations for communities in the Denver area that have no HOA's and relatively few deed/zoning restrictions? I'd ideally like a less cookie-cutter neighborhood that will evolve instead of always looking like a Highlands Ranch subdivision.

[denverkid]

Denver's in the final process of redoing the entire zoning codes for the whole city. They'll be voting on June 21st whether to adopt the new zoning plan (the current zoning plan was instituted in 1956). It's pretty much a given it will pass.

Denver's New Zoning Code - Home

Happy Hunting (both through the new zoning proposals, and for a house)

[bouncing]

Originally Posted by denverkid

Denver's in the final process of redoing the entire zoning codes for the whole city. They'll be voting on June 21st whether to adopt the new zoning plan (the current zoning plan was instituted in 1956). It's pretty much a given it will pass.

Denver's New Zoning Code - Home

Happy Hunting (both through the new zoning proposals, and for a house)

Yeah, that's making me wary of living in Denver-proper. Any recommendations outside of Denver?

[robertzimmerman]

Originally Posted by bouncing

Yeah, that's making me wary of living in Denver-proper.

What is? The fact that a jumbled mess of a zoning code is being brought up to date and rationalized or that there is zoning at all?

[Dorthy]

What is your price range? Where is work? Any other criteria to help narrow things down?

[bouncing]

Price range: $150-$250k.

I work from home.

Hmmm... Other criteria-wise, I'm thinking relatively walkable, amenities close-by, laid-back area.

[bouncing]

Originally Posted by robertzimmerman

What is? The fact that a jumbled mess of a zoning code is being brought up to date and rationalized or that there is zoning at all?

Well, I could get by with an area just zoned for residential or zoned with a building height limit. I don't want to buy a house and turn it into apartments, either.

But aesthetic requirements on anything I do to "maintain the character" of a neighborhood make me wary. I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid.

I've been saving up money for years and have a decent downpayment. I'm a first-time buyer and I want to be able to add a porch, have an organic garden instead of a yard, and maybe add solar panels if I can afford it. A friend of mine had an organic garden in Denver and the city sent him nasty-grams because his herbs weren't "mowed."

I talked to a real estate agent who seemed utterly mystified that I wouldn't want an HOA or deed restrictions. Thought I'd poke around on this forum.

[Dorthy]

double post

[Dorthy]

Originally Posted by bouncing

Price range: $150-$250k.

I work from home.

Hmmm... Other criteria-wise, I'm thinking relatively walkable, amenities close-by, laid-back area.

Englewood comes to mind. I don't know what the zoning laws say but they are certainly not strictly enforced. You'd have plenty to choose from in your price range and it is a very walkable area. It's on the light rail line and on the 0 Bus line which goes from Highlands Ranch to downtown.

[shukertj]

Hi Bouncing,

The place that I thought of immediately after reading your description is Park Hill. It's a wonderful, diverse community with lots of creative, unconventional and even granola-y types. We lived there for years and only moved after we had kids because we needed a much bigger house. No one there would frown on your overgrown herb/veggie garden. In fact, our old next-door neighbor grew WHEAT in his front yard. He was cool.

Anyway, there are no covenants, and I remember strolling the very walkable streets and seeing a house whose front yard was covered in birdhouses. Other homes have very unique (and often homemade) architecture such as added sunrooms. While South Park Hill is a little pricey and yuppified, mid to north Park Hill may suit your tastes and is in your price range. As a first time home buyer, you'll be eligible for the 1st time homebuyer credit (which can be as much as $8000) if you close by April 30. Lots of luck in the house hunt!