Westwood

Westwood is more culturally diverse than many areas in and surrounding Denver. As you drive along Federal Blvd. you can see the various shops and restaurants catering to ethnic populations. The area is overwhelmingly hispanic with over 75% of the population being latino. Many of the stores and restaurants are Asian or cater to the Asian population in the surrounding areas.

This neighborhood has traditionally been one with a higher crime rate than many of the surrounding areas. One good thing about living here though would be how close it is to not only major roads but to the Interstate as well.

Homes here are cheaper than most in Denver which is due to the crime rate.

The stretch of South Federal Boulevard that passes through Westwood exemplifies the diversity that this road is known for. You can do all your marketing here, whether what you need comes from Mexico, India, Vietnam, or China. The same goes for all your eating. South Federal isn’t upscale, but offers some of the best kind of hole-in-the-wall ethnic eateries. Many of these places have strong local support and reputations that draw people from all over the metro area – despite the fact that South Federal doesn’t feel like the safest area ever. (Visitors be assured: it is extremely unlikely that anyone will bother you while you’re going out for Pho on South Federal.) And once you’re done eating, you can look. There is a high concentration of Asian businesses here – you’ll know where to look for this stretch of South Federal when you can no longer read the signs. Checking out the shops and markets can be a fun and interesting cultural experience, as can the dining. Elsewhere on South Federal, it’s an odd and interesting mixture of Asian and Mexican restaurants and businesses.

Now, for the Westwood neighborhood itself. It would be great to say that this diverse street was backed by a thriving, diverse, happy community, and that the bars on the windows of many of the businesses on South Federal are there for no reason, but unfortunately that is not the case. Westwood is known for poverty, crime, and being a center of Denver’s gang activity. Many of the primarily Latino families are struggling. The neighborhood itself reveals an interesting mix: bright owner-occupied homes, boarded-up buildings, low-rent houses that look it, low-rent houses that look well taken care of, and tire shops. It can be hoped that at some point the neighborhood will be a healthier and safer place, but in the meantime, aside from a visit to South Federal, there’s not much reason to come here – or, if you are planning a move to Westwood, research your block carefully.