Wade Torbenson

Washington Park is one of Denver's most desirable and popular neighborhoods. The neighborhood has tree-lined streets, great community shops and restaurants and a diverse housing styles that ranges from luxury high-rise apartment buildings to quaint cottages, Craftsman-style bungalows, sturdy Denver Squares and Tudor Revivals. In the Middle of of the neighborhood is 165-acre Washington Park, which is one of Denver's largest and most beautiful open spaces. The park has two lakes, tennis courts, soccer fields, jogging paths, picnic areas, and a full-service recreation center.

The Old South Gaylord and South Pearl districts have a great mix of retail shops, restaurants, galleries and studios.

One of the best assets of the neighborhood is its central location, a 10-minute commute to downtown and with easy access to Interstate 25, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, the revitalized Broadway corridor and the Cherry Creek and Platte River bike paths.

The housing in this area is a bit pricey for what you get but that is due to the demand in the area.

LOHI or the Lower Highlands neighborhood is one of the more exciting neighborhoods in the Downtown Denver area. This area is definitely on the rise due to its proximity to Downtown and the popular neighborhood restaurants, bars, Coffee Shops and night clubs.

During the summer this area is a hot spot. Everyone outside on the patios, having there drinks and socializing.

This area has good walkability due to the pedestrian bridge that cross the highway to the downtown area.

There are many different styles of properties in this area from Traditional Bungalow to the new Modern lofts being built. Prices are affordable compared to the properties in the downtown area.

One of the drawback of this area is parking. During the summer, I have found it difficult to find parking when dining in the area.

Overall it is a hip, modern and young area.

Montclair is a quaint neighborhood with a few architectural surprises. Many don’t know that it is the home of one of Denver’s Castles. The Richthofen Castle. Richthofen Castle was begun in 1883 and completed in 1887, and modeled on the original Richthofen Castle in Germany. I try to show it to my friends whenever we are nearby. I am surprised that more people don’t know about it. Anyway, the Montclair neighborhood has a great mix of different style properties. Victorian, Queen Anne , Bungalows, Cottages, Tudor and modern Ranch-style houses. The Neighborhood is quiet and family friendly. There are neighborhood restaurants and parks nearby. Supermarkets are less than 5 minutes away. I would recommend this neighborhood to anyone who likes the older charm. It has a similar feel to its neighbor, Park Hill.

Park Hill is a diversified neighborhood full of character, charm and history. Park Hill has some of Denver’s most magnificent old , from large Tudors and Denver Squares to Victorians and sturdy brick bungalows. The streets in Park Hill are lined with beautiful mature trees and residents take great pride in maintaining their lawns and gardens.
The neighborhood is 10 minutes from Denver Downtown and Cherry Creek Neighborhood, and most of its residents work nearby.

Park Hill Neighborhood Highlights:
• City Park Jazz – Free summer concert series
• Denver Zoo – Among the best zoos in the nation
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science – The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education
• City Park Golf Course – 18-hole regulation golf course with spectacular views of Denver
• Spinelli’s Market – providing gourmet foods and Italian specialties.
• The Cherry Tomato – a local favorite for authentic Italian cuisine

Highlands Ranch was first homes were built in the early 1980’s but was developed slow due to the lack of amenities. In 1985 the State finished C-470 and the area then started to expand rapidly. Masive growth began of the Next several years.

Properties in the area vary from modest home to high in homes. There are Parks, Golf Courses, and Community centers . Now Highlands Ranch contains four rec centers, and six high schools, and continues to grow.
Highlands Ranch has experienced growing pains. Traffic continues to be a major issue on the town's arteries as well as SH C-470. Developers have engaged in battles for water rights throughout Highlands Ranch.
Overall this a great community for raising a family. There are limited night life activities and the Shopping areas tend to be a commute.

The Berkeley neighborhood, bounded by 38th Ave, I-70, Federal and Sheridan, is anchored by Tennyson Street, lined with some of Denver's most popular restaurants and galleries. Two dramatic parks with lakes provide lots of open space and greenery. Convenient access to I-70 makes for easy access to downtown or the mountains. An eclectic mix of homes, from brick bungalows to simple cottages to new townhomes, make this neighborhood come alive with more than a hint of artistic, funky character.

The Lowry area used to be an airforce base but closed in 1994. I remember when I was a kid taking the bus through the military base and not being allowed to get off. The areas where once you were surrounded by deteriorating military buildings such as housing and hangars, you now see large homes and buildings that have been converted to condos and townhomes. The area still maintains some of its former glory with the “Wings Over The Rockies” Museum. Even the B-52 still remains outside the Museum.

There’s a town center with a tavern and a few cool places, like the Beer Garden and several Resturuants. The area also has several large parks.

Stapleton has reformed the the site of Denver's old airport into a new neighborhood with lots of opens space. Infact the developers have set aside nearly 30 percent of Stapleton's 4,700 acres to parks and recreation facilities, open space and trails. Bounded by Quebec, Havana, Montview and I-70, its new shopping and restaurants are conveniently located so residents don't need to leave the area. Downtown is still close enough to downtown to make commuting a breeze. New lofts, townhouses, detached single-family homes and mini-mansions in a variety of architectural styles provide character in this family-friendly neighborhood.