? On spots to live

[QuickDraw94]

So if a guy was to work in Denver like right downtown by the civic center park where would you live!? I know nothing about the area for commute times or getting out to ride spots
Considering taking a job but would need to relocate

Single 30 dog 65k-70k more into sledding as in every weekend, days off and vacations but dirt bike as well.

 

[donbrown]

Never lived there but a couple recommendations to look at online.

http://www.city-data.com

little more housing / crime detailed

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/denver

Call Chamber of commerce and ask for a welcome package.

http://www.denverchamber.org/

go here for food

https://www.zagat.com/denver

and of course GOOGLE EARTH

 

[joetroop30]

I honestly don't envy anyone that has to live in the Denver area. The traffic and congestion down there is a nightmare. I lived on the west side of Lakewood for a year, near Green Mountain High School and it wasn't so bad, but that was 10 years ago. My wife's family all lives up there so we go up there about a half dozen times a year. I can't stand driving around up there. L

The problem is if you live in the area where you're working you've got to go a ways to get to any decent snowmobiling, but then you don't have the nightmare Denver commute Mon-Fri. If you live closer to the mountains, on the west side of the metro area you're closer to snowmobiling, but then you have the nightmare commute. The real problem is that after dealing with traffic all work week, that is just the primer for the traffic going west on I-70 on Saturday and Sunday. That **** is a parking lot. I wouldn't even bother on the weekends.

 

[joetroop30]

By the way have you started to look at rentals? I've heard they are really hard to find right now. I was up in Winter Park in August visiting friends and someone said that on average there are 200 people moving into the Denver metro area each day. I don't know if that's correct, but it's what I heard. That's crazy if it true.

 

[QuickDraw94]

I was somewhat looking into the western side for the reason of "easier" to get out to the mts just quickly looked at houses in lakeside, mountain view and edgewater didn't look into Lakewood yet.

I don't think renting is a option considering I have a German shepherd a big truck, a car, a sled deck (A lot of ****, tools, trailer etc) and I have the ability to renovate anything in a house.

I commute 40 minutes one way to work now and travel 14-17 hrs to sled in the winter last 3 years I spend about 4-5k just traveling and lodging every year to ride in the mts.

I was surprised by housing cost though that's for sure got a feeling I'm really gonna miss my 4 car garage

Keep the good info coming!
THX

 

[joetroop30]

That's definitely some dedication to get out to go snowmobiling. So maybe the traffic/driving won't bother you. I'd stay away from Edgewater-that town is a dump. The wife grew up in that area right near Sloans Lake.

If I had to move back there I'd prefer to live in Lakewood, somewhere south of 6th Avenue and west of Sheridan. My other choice would be Golden, but that isn't close to downtown.

 

[milehighassassin]

If it's me I'd live close to work with a small commute, or walking. Getting out of town will be about the same anywhere. Learn to leave late at night or SUPER early.

 

[DDECKER]

what exactly do you do (may I ask) why Denver,

 

[QuickDraw94]

what exactly do you do (may I ask) why Denver,

Commercial HVAC service currently a building engineer for another city..The city/county of Denver is hiring a stationary engineer

 

[wfieldin]

Denver has the same traffic issues as any major city, if you travel during peak hours you will be in slow rush hour traffic. Getting to the snow is a play on timing, you are fighting for the same traffic lanes as the multitude of skiers! Last year CDOT screwed the pooch and didn't finish any of the traffic construction on I-70 before the winter, the road lanes and traffic sucked. Your best friend is time, getting out of town early, 3 hours or less will get you to epic riding, going west and/or north. South West is more like 3 to 5 hours depending on when and where you are going. If you can swing it get a rental close to your work and rent or own a place in the mountains, changes the traffic and strategy tremendously. Coming down from the mountains very late Sunday or very early Monday is a breeze. Great place to live, wouldn't give it up for anywhere else.

 

[capulin overdrive]

RTD Train?


Somewhere on the Jeffco loop, then 16th street trolley straight into civic center?

 

[rhalloran]

I live SW Denver - near 285/C470 intersection, Littleton/Morrison. I used to work downtown. The commute is not bad, at all - especially if you take 285 to the park & ride, then train in to town. 20 miles each way from where I am.

Getting out of town in the morning is easy, 470 is right there, or 285 if going that way.

I budgeted 30min-1hr for commute depending on time and whether I took the train or not (train is only faster during the worst of rush hour). Overall, I like it; had I been able to do it differently, I'd have set myself up in the mountains, personally, but I did not, and here I am. Decent compromise.

If they'll let you go in early/leave early, the commute is not bad at all, if it is strictly 8-5, eh, it could be WAY worse in Denver (you avoid i25 completely, 25 is a mess), not too bad.

IMHO, east of 25 is a bad idea. Don't do it. Horrible. Edgewater, I'd be worried about stuff getting stolen, there are nice houses in that area, but surrounded by Denver's worst. I like the SW area - if you HAVE to live in the city.

Longer distance, similar time - Idaho Springs?

 

[QuickDraw94]

Hours would be 7am-3:30 M-F

 

[PJ06M7]

If you don't mind living in the 'new L.A' go for it. I'm jaded as I grew up here. It has turned into a real $hit show over the last several years. 200 new people a day...I believe it. My commute has increased 10-15 minutes over this summer alone compared to years past. Lots and lots of new people. Lots and lots of new problems.

 

[glmtnapex]

What about Evergreen?

And since your working for the City of Denver, do they require you to live in the City Limits?

Good Luck!

 

[rhalloran]

Hours would be 7am-3:30 M-F

That's a huge bonus, especially if 3:30 does not mean 5:15 more often than not. Getting downtown by 7 will be easy most days, getting out @ 3:30 easy virtually every day, at least as far as the SW side - Littleton, Lakewood, Ken Caryl, etc goes. Home by 4 gives you plenty of time to load up Friday night for the REAL commute, which sucks no matter what part of Denver you live in.

It used to be (12 years ago) that if I was at C470 and I70 heading up the hill at 6:5x, I was in great shape. Six fifty-anything, did not matter - before 7am, was fine. That's pushed back to about 6:15 now, and even then, it can be problematic.

The difference is only 30 minutes or so, but getting up at 6:30 and missing the bulk of traffic was not bad; now I have to get up at 5-something, which sucks, for some reason. That's a big ~half hour.

 

[milehighassassin]

Your work hours are certainly a giant bonus. That is a game changer.

 

[QuickDraw94]

So is the east/southeast no good or just a pain to travel even at those earlier times? I've got a buddy who lives and works in Glendale who could be a roommate potentially (hasn't lived there long and not a sledder so this kinda info he cant really help with)
I'm guessing its not a big deal if I'm leaving at 5am to ride Sat/Sun going through Denver Just adds 20 minutes as opposed to living on the west side?

 

[wfieldin]

place

So is the east/southeast no good or just a pain to travel even at those earlier times? I've got a buddy who lives and works in Glendale who could be a roommate potentially (hasn't lived there long and not a sledder so this kinda info he cant really help with)
I'm guessing its not a big deal if I'm leaving at 5am to ride Sat/Sun going through Denver Just adds 20 minutes as opposed to living on the west side?

The little travel time to get through the city early is easy. Living closer to the city has it's perks.

 

[greenspeed]

I'm looking at about the same, except I'm looking at working in Englewood. I live in Alaska right now, and housing is insane in the greater Denver area, and I thought Anchorage was bad. As with you, I'm almost unable to rent having 3 vehicles, 2 sleds, and a motorcycle. This might be the crippling force on taking the position. Did you end up making the move?