Heidi Schaffnit

Canterbury Lane is a tiny culdesac that branches off of Canterbury Cirlce and is located within the neighborhood of Hiwan Country Club, also known as Hiwan Golf Club. There are just two homes here and each is very different from the other. One is a two story; the other a ranch. One was built n the 90s; the other in the early 70s. One lot is about 0.74 acres; the other slightly over an acre. The lots are gently sloping, though the street itself is sloping. The size range of the homes here is between 3300 and 3900 total square feet.

Canterbury Lane offers nice views and sun exposure. The traffic level will be extremely low and most people don't even walk on this street. You do have neighbors behind you here, but the setting feels more private. This is a nice street on which to live.

Canterbury Circle is located in the neighborhood of Hiwan Country Club, also known as Hiwan Golf Club. Hiwan is located in the north part of Evergreen between downtown Evergreen and Interstate 70. Here, you will find public water/sewer, paved streets, and very easy access to open space parks, downtown Evergreen, Evergreen Lake, the newer Rec center, Hiwan Golf Course, Bergen Meadow and Bergen Valley Elementary Schools, Evergreen Middle School, shopping and the "high country" where many locals will partake in skiing and other outdoor winter and summer activities.

Canterbury Circle consists of approximately 18 homes ranging in style from ranches (main level living) to bi-levels or multi-levels to two stories. It is important to note that while most homes are actually on the circle part of Canterbury Circle, there are a few that reside on the main feeder street into this section of the neighborhood. Those in this section will have more traffic than those on the circle portion of this street.

Canterbury Circle is a quiet peaceful street which offers a nice setting. Many of the lots are flat to gently sloping, but there are a few on the back side that are sloping to steep and back up to or over look Pebble Beach Drive down below so you will get some traffic noise on these lots. Some of the homes on the front side get great sun exposure and have a peek-a-boo view of Mt. Rosalie. Others are more shaded and offer more of a setting than a view.

On average, home sizes on this street are a bit larger. They range in total from 2300 square feet to over 7200 square feet, with the majority being in the 4000 to 5000 square feet range. Lot sizes vary as well, ranging from about 0.78 acres to 1.19 acres. There is one homeowner with two adjacent lots bringing the total lot size of that one to about 1.63 acres. The majority of the homes here were built in the late 60s to early 70's with a couple being built in the 80s and one built in the 90s.

Canterbury Circle was one of the streets in Hiwan where we saw some homes have some SIGNIFICANT remodeling before the market downturn in 2007, with some adding about $100K to about $400K in upgrades, additions and/or improvements at that time. Many of the homes here have great street appeal and some have had stucco added to update their looks. Overall, Canterbury Circle is a very nice street, but if you like sun or want a flatter lot, then not all properties here will work for you.

Olympia Circle is located within the neighborhood of Hiwan Country Club, also known as Hiwan Golf Club. It consists of approximately 23 homes with lots ranging in size from about 0.7 acres to about 1.1 acres. The majority of lots are flat for mountain standards and get plenty of sun.

A few homes here were built in the last 60's era, but the majority were built in the 70's with one or two being built in the early 80's. Don't let that fool you though as a number of these have been very nicely remodeled. The floorplans here vary with some ranch-style (main level living) homes; some bi-level homes and some two story homes. The style also varies from traditional to mountain contemporary. At the time of this review, expect that prices for any homes for sale on this street to range from the $400s (a home in this price range will need some remodeling/updating) to the low to mid $600s, depending upon the home and the extent of updates or remodeling that's been completed.

Traffic is minimal and walkers like to walk the circle. It is a quiet section of Hiwan. Some homes have some views, but the "setting" here is a bigger attraction. With the nice flatter lots and nice spacing of trees, this makes for a nice street. A few lots are not as treed and therefore may feel a little more "exposed" with respect to privacy, but overall, this is a very nice street and one worth checking out!

Merion Lane is a wonderful street on which to live. It is located in a very nice neighborhood of Hiwan Country Club, also referred to as Hiwan Golf Club. Hiwan is located in the north part of Evergreen between downtown Evergreen and Interstate 70. Here, you will find public water/sewer, paved streets, and very easy access to open space parks, downtown Evergreen, Evergreen Lake, the newer Rec center, Hiwan Golf Course, Bergen Meadow and Bergen Valley Elementary Schools, Evergreen Middle School, shopping and the "high country" where many locals will partake in skiing and other outdoor winter and summer activities.

Since it is a culdesac street, Merion Lane does not get much traffic. There are only four homes on this street, one of which actually has an Inverness Drive address.

Merion Lane sits upon somewhat of a ridge, thereby allowing homes on this street to have beautiful panoramic views. Some of the views seen from here include views of Conifer Mountain, Bear Mountain, and even a peek-a-boo view of Mt Rosalie, depending upon which home or lot you're on. Of course, you can see much more than this. Additionally, at night you can see some pretty lights from homes/streets on neighboring hills.

This street gets plenty of sun and the homes have southern exposure. Lots are very flat for mountain standards. This also allows for flat driveways. Lots range in size from about 0.75 acres to .86 acres. The homes here are more of a "mountain contemporary" design with vaulted ceilings and lots of windows. At the time of this review, expect home prices on this street to range from the mid to high $400s (for the smallest one) up to high $700s into the low $800s for a larger, remodeled home.

Elk, deer and fox frequent this street and like to lie in the sun. There are also a few rock outcroppings here.

Due to the position of the street and lots, each home has nice sunrises and a full day of sun. I lived on this street for 10 years and absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend this street.

Sedgwick is a small farming and ranching town of less than 200 people on the plains of northeastern Colorado about 15 miles from the Nebraska border. Sedgwick is one of three towns in Sedgwick County. The entire county is agricultural based growing mainly corn, wheat, alfalfa, beans and sugar beets. Livestock is predominantly cattle, though hogs can also be found. Sedgwick is also home to a large bison ranch owned by the Price family.

Due to the small size, Sedgwick combines students with the neighboring town of Ovid to form Revere High School, located in Ovid. Revere High School accomodates grades 6 through 12 and combines with another neighboring town, Julesburg, for athletics. Together these three towns form the "Sedgwick County Cougars." School enrollment for Revere High School and for Platte Valley Elementary School located in Sedgwick is about 120 students.

Overall, residents here have strong values and are very supportive of the schools and of each other. When a farmer gets injured or falls ill, another will step in and help. There is a strong sense of "community" and the community centers a lot around the schools. It is not uncommon to have many locals attend school events, even if they don't currently have children in the school system. Many will show up for a Friday night football or basketball game or even a school concert. There are community events, the largest being the "Sedgwick Harvest Festival" which occurs over Labor Day weekend each year. During this event which draws people from neighboring towns, you can see a parade, and then attend the rodeo and demolition derby followed by the street dance. There is a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning in the park.

Life here is much slower paced and people wave when they see each other on the road. There is a strong work ethic; farming and ranching are hard.

There are two main businesses in Sedgwick: RDs, the local pool hall/bar, and Lucy's Place, a cafe with delicious food out by the interstate. The nearest grocery store is in Julesburg, a town about 15 miles away. More major shopping is usually done in either Sterling, about 45 miles to the west of Sedgwick or in Ogallala, NE, about 50 miles to the east.

Jumbo Reservoir is a recreational venue for this area. It is located approximately 5 miles west of Sedgwick and provides hunting, fishing and boating opportunities. For other activities, there is a golf course located in Julesburg as well as in Sterling. There are movie theaters located in Julesburg, Sterling and in Ogallala, NE.

Most of the homes in the area were built many, many years ago and can take some time to sell due to the limited growth in this area. Housing costs are minimal in this portion of the state compared to other areas.

I think this was a nice place to grow up. It was more of a "sheltered" lifestyle stressing good values and a strong work ethic.

Evergreen is a wonderful place to call home. Not only is it spectacular in beauty, but it offers the "best of both worlds". It gives you that small town feel while providing very easy access into the Denver Metropolitan area as well as easy access to the "high country" where you can ski, camp, and snowmobile, among other things.

The views in Evergreen are quite stunning, particularly for those who have panoramic views or a snow-capped view of Mt. Evans, Mt. Rosalie or Longs Peak. Most of the terrain is gently sloping to steep and when you compare homes here, I like to say it's like comparing "apples to pizzas" as most homes are not the cookie-cutter type and every lot is different.

Hiking and mountain biking are prevalent in the Evergreen area. With access to thousands of acres of open space and forestry land, it is easy to get out into nature. Evergreen Lake is often the hub of many outdoor activities. Here you can fish or rent a canoe or paddle boat in the warmer months or ice skate, play hockey and ice fish during some of the winter months. You can also walk around the path that encircles the lake.

Evergreen offers you a true sense of "community" with many local events and festivals being held throughout the year. These are not only fun, but help bring people together for that "small town" feel. The Summer Concert Series offers a free concert every other Wednesday throughout the summer. Evergreen also hosts a local Jazz Fest, an Arts Festival, a rodeo, parades (a Homecoming parade and a Rodeo parade) and a Holiday Walk. There are other events and activities as well.

Speaking of the sense of community, if you live here, you will very likely run into someone you know while shopping in the grocery store or specialty stores, at Home Depot or Wal-Mart or while dining in a restaurant. You usually don't have to wait for a table when dining out and there are rarely any lines in which you have to wait. Road rage is practically non-existent. The peaceful lifestyle lends itself to relaxed and happy people. Traffic jams are more often caused by a herd of elk standing in the middle of the road.

It is not uncommon to have local "guests" in your yard. These guests usually include a herd of elk or deer or a fox or two, but there are also coyotes, raccoons, bears and mountains lions which you might see on occasion. After all, it is mountain living and most locals just prefer to co-exist with the wildlife. It is a good idea to read the "Living with Wildlife" publication, distributed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This information can also be found on the internet.

People are friendly and laid back. The lifestyle is casual and relaxed, but many are also into health and exercise. Evergreen is pretty "green" and takes recycling pretty seriously. The air quality seems to be better than in the Denver area and Colorado is known for its over 300 days of sunshine per year.

You can easily shop in the Evergreen area as it offers two grocery stores, plus Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and many restaurants and specialty shops. Downtown Evergreen is a favorite with tourists with its cute shops and "old Evergreen charm". You do need a vehicle, especially if you live outside of the main corridor and northern portion of Evergreen. There is a local "Call and Ride" bus, as well as RTD/public transportation, but it is limited. Depending upon the area in which you live, a 4x4 could be a must, though many people get by with either an AWD or a front-wheel drive vehicle.

The climate in Evergreen more closely matches that of the Denver area versus the high country. Evergreen averages about 10 degrees cooler than Denver, though there are days when the temperature in each area is closely matched; days when Evergreen is in the sun and Denver is dreary and vice versa. On a sunny day though, you will see several locals only wearing light jackets or sweaters, even if temperatures may be in the 30s. Here, you are closer to the sun so you may feel warmer even when it's cold outside. However, it does get chilly when the sun goes down, even on some summer nights. Most homes do not have air conditioning. Many locals merely open their windows at night to let in the crisp cool mountain air. The amount of snow varies each year, but is more closely matched with the Denver Metro area than the high country. Evergreen will get more snow than the Denver area though.

The elevation in/around Evergreen ranges from about 7200 feet up to over 9000 feet. Due to the elevation and cooler temperatures, Evergreen has a shorter "growing season" than that in the Denver area. The soil is very rocky and therefore, gardeners need to amend the soil to get things to grow well.

You will not find a lot of well-manicured and thick lawns in Evergreen for many reasons. The soil does not lend itself well to those, the lots sizes are larger and many prefer not to waste water, and the wildlife can wreak havoc on a lawn. Some homes are on a well and many well permits do not allow irrigation. Some on public water or with watering rights choose to have a small area of nice lawn as a compromise. Many prefer to leave their landscape more natural. Fences, especially privacy fences are not common. Many will use either a split rail or an invisible fence to contain pets.

If you have an Evergreen address, you may live in one of two counties: Jefferson County or Clear Creek County. There are two high schools in Evergreen: Evergreen High School and Clear Creek High. There are both public and private schools running up through 8th grade. Many of the schools have won awards.

At the end of October, 2012, the average price of sold home in North Evergreen was $482,327, and the average price of a sold home in South Evergreen was $402,356. Generally speaking, "North Evergreen" is the area north of Evergreen Lake and includes parts of Kittredge and Clear Creek County while "South Evergreen" is further south. It is important to note that due to the varying prices of homes throughout the Evergreen area, a monthly average sold price could end up very skewed depending upon what has sold. For a more detailed boundary map of North and South Evergreen, please contact me or RE/MAX Alliance in Evergreen.

Evergreen was my home for 15 years. I raised children here and love the area. I loved the small town environment, the beauty and wildlife, and the lack of lines and heavy traffic. Plus it is closer to the high country so many of the locals ski and snowboard. The drawback is that the summer season is shorter than in the Denver area.