Southwest Denver offers home buyers a diverse array of neighborhoods and types of homes. Most of the neighborhoods in this part of the Mile High City are just a few minutes away from downtown, but offer peaceful, suburban-like settings. Southwest Denver real estate runs the gamut from 19th century restored Victorians to mid-century modern ranch homes to modern luxury high-rise condos.
Neighborhoods
Those shopping for Southwest Denver real estate have a variety of neighborhoods from which to choose. Just a few of the most popular ones are detailed below:
- Althmar Park – Althmar Park, bounded by Federal Avenue, Alameda Avenue, the Platte River and Mississippi Avenue, is an older Denver neighborhood, filled with mid-century brick ranch homes and bungalows. The area is noted for its many green spaces and as home to some of Denver’s best Asian restaurants.
- Baker – Located east of Althmar Park, the historic neighborhood of Baker is bounded by the Platte River, Mississippi Avenue, West 6th Avenue and Broadway Street. This area features hundreds of 19th century brick homes, some of which were designed by noted architect William Lang. A portion of this neighborhood has been designated a National Historic District. Today, the Baker neighborhood successfully combines residential, commercial and industrial properties.
- Barnum – As one may guess this neighborhood is named after the famous P.T. Barnum of Barnum and Bailey Circus. Barnum purchased over 750 acres in 1882 and used the property to house equipment and animals for the circus during the off-season.
- Golden Triangle – Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood is a small area near downtown, northeast of Baker. One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, the Golden Triangle boasts many 19th century single-family Victorian homes plus late 19th century and early 20th century bungalow-style homes in addition to 21st century condo developments and loft conversions. The northern end of the neighborhood is called Civic Center and is home to many public buildings and institutions, including the Central Library, the new Justice Center, the Denver Art Museum and the Colorado State History Museum.
- Harvey Park – The Harvey Park neighborhood, bounded by South Sheridan, Hampden, Lowell, and Jewell Streets, was developed in the 1950s and the housing here reflects the ranch-style and California cottage-style homes that were the hallmark of that era. Harvey Park is noted for its quiet, tree-lined streets, parks and close proximity to downtown.
Education
Most southwest Denver real estate owners send their children to Denver’s Public Schools. The Denver Public School District, one of the fastest growing and most improved districts in Colorado, manages 162 schools with an enrollment of nearly 82,000 students. The Denver region is also home to a number of post-secondary schools, including the University of Colorado at Denver; the University of Denver; Regis University, a small liberal arts college; and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Transportation
Getting around southwest Denver is easy. I-70 to the north connects the area with the city of Golden and the ski areas to the west. I-25 provides easy access to Colorado Springs and Pueblo to the south. Denver’s public transportation system operates more than 1,000 buses and five light rail lines. Buses stop in all of the neighborhoods of southwest Denver and connect residents to downtown and to outlying areas such as Boulder and Aurora. For trips outside of Colorado, Denver International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States, offers non-stop flights to dozens of destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and abroad.
Recreation
One of the best things about owning southwest Denver real estate is the nearness to a huge variety of outdoor recreation and fun. Denver residents are within an hour’s drive from challenging ski resorts like Copper Mountain, Winter Park and Vail as well as abundant hiking trails, climbing rocks, fly-fishing spots and biking trails. It’s only a 1.5-hour drive to Rocky Mountain National Park.
The city of Denver runs more than 200 municipal parks, many of which are located within southwest Denver neighborhoods. Among those closest to southwest Denver real estate are Vanderbilt Park, Garfield Lake Park, Huston Lake Park and Ruby Hill Park. Facilities include hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, picnic tables and ball fields.
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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; and the Ballpark District, home to Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies play, 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.