Denver, the capital city of Colorado and home to around 620,000 residents, has enjoyed a downtown renaissance in the last few years. This resurgence has brought housing along with new restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues to the city center. Denver, dubbed the “Mile High City,” is also the gateway to the Rockies, within a short drive of skiing, hiking and some of America’s more memorable scenery.
Shopping and Dining
There are plenty of places to shop and window shop in downtown Denver. The 16th Street Mall offers 16 blocks of shopping with wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, a free shuttle and free wireless Internet access. Larimer Square, one of Denver’s first downtown revitalization projects, still thrives and offers more than two dozen unique retailers, including Arabella for one-of-a-kind jewelry, Apricot Lane for men’s and women’s fashions, and Nest for children’s clothes and accessories.
Just 3.5 miles outside of downtown is the Cherry Creek mixed-use shopping and dining complex. Here downtown Denver real estate owners will find more than 160 stores and eateries in a tree-lined park-like setting. Cherry Creek is connected to downtown via the Cherry Creek bike and hiking path.
Downtown Denver is known for its diverse selection of restaurants and nightspots, and downtown real estate owners have plenty of eateries from which to choose. In addition, there are nearly 100 bars, nightclubs and pubs within the downtown area, offering everything from live music to a shot and a beer.
Parks and Recreation
Downtown Denver real estate owners are blessed with an abundance of nearby outdoor recreational opportunities. The “Gateway to the Rockies,” Denver is less than an hour’s drive away from world-class skiing at resorts such as Vail, Winter Park and Copper Mountain, and it’s blessed to have hiking, biking, fishing and wildlife viewing nearby at Rocky Mountain National Park.
The city of Denver manages more than 200 municipal parks, including the massive City Park, located just north of downtown. Denver prides itself on its many community parks and downtown residents will find ample playgrounds, hiking trails and places to sit and enjoy Denver’s generally sunny climate.
Living
Downtown Denver is divided into several distinct neighborhoods. The trendy LoDo (lower downtown) area was the first area of Denver settled by non-Native Americans. Today, the historic neighborhood features a vibrant nightlife scene, several museums, the restored Union Station and the Wynkoop Brewery.
Other downtown Denver neighborhoods include the Theater District, which centers around the 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe Street; Spire, a new, 41-story high-rise complex near the convention center; the Ballpark District, and a variety of interesting loft and warehouse condos and apartments.
Downtown Denver real estate offers a number of unique living spaces. Residents can choose from converted warehouses and lofts, repurposed office buildings and traditional, high-rise condo buildings. Living downtown is easy without a car, as the area offers most services within walking distance.
Schools and Transportation
Children of those who own downtown Denver real estate attend the Denver Public Schools. The district, which has an enrollment of around 82,000 students, operates 162 schools, including pathway, charter, magnet and traditional schools.
For higher education, there are eight major universities and colleges within easy driving distance of Denver. Among these are the University of Colorado at Denver and at Boulder, the University of Denver, Colorado State University and Regis University.
It’s easy to get around downtown Denver. Many restaurants, shops, attractions and services are within walking distance of downtown residences. In addition, Denver’s Regional Transportation District operates more than 1,000 buses and five light rail lines that connect downtown with other parts of the city as well as to nearby Boulder and Aurora. For trips further away from home, Denver International Airport, located 25 miles northeast of downtown, offers non-stop flights to dozens of destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan.