LoHi Row Update

If you take a drive down West 32nd Avenue in the Highlands, you’ll notice quite a bit of construction between Wyandot and Vallejo streets. The visible framing and foundation is for a new, 12-unit townhouse project called “LoHi Row”. LoHi Row was dreamed up and designed by Sproket Design/Build, an architectural firm based out of Denver. Known for their excellent use of form, function, and quality, Sproket is incorporating all three into LoHi Row. These modern and chic townhouses will only add to Highland’s growing popularity and trendy gentrification. According to the DenverInfill blog, the wood framing is up to the second floor on six of the units, while the foundation work for the last six has started. Everyday, more progress is made on the project, inching it closer to its scheduled completion date in March 2013. Priced in the low $400k, the units are going fast, as 11 of the 12 units are already under contract. But with one unit left, LoHi Row promises to be modern living in Denver’s new up and coming neighborhood!

Denver’s Up and Coming Trendy Neighborhood

It is clearly evident that the Highlands neighborhood, west of downtown, is the new up and coming neighborhood in Denver. With new condominiums and row houses springing up overnight, this area is getting a modern update. LoHi (the eastern edge of Highlands) even caught the attention of Men’s Journal, who said that “Colorado’s capital finally has its own Brooklyn.” But what truly makes this neighborhood so appealing is the accessibility to everything one might love about Denver, yet maintaining its own, unique flare. In spite of all of the new development and modern additions, LoHi still clings to its older, cultural feel. The authentic Mexican grocery stores and taquerias still flourish and co-mingle with newer restaurants, like the high-end Mexican place, Lola and the mod-retro, Root Down. Brick brownstones and sleek townhouses fuse with the aged, yet distinguished, character of the existing homes, creating an interesting and diverse climate. And one of the highlights of the area is the pedestrian bridge that directly connects the Highlands to downtown. Crossing over I-25 and connecting 16th Street on both sides, walking from either neighborhood has never been easier. With its easy accessibility, trendy, yet historic, vibe and red hot real estate market, it is no wonder that the Highlands are Denver’s “it” neighborhood.

Charming Congress Park Home!

Listed at: $549,000

-1979 square feet + finished basement 350
-4 bedrooms
-3 full baths

Charming Congress Park home with soaring ceilings, an open floorplan, remodeled kitchen and master bath will not disappoint. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths, 2 car garage, tons of windows and natural light, and an intricately landscaped yard complete with a flagstone patio and ornamental grasses, this home contains the best of form, function, and a top notch location. Walk to Congress Park, The Botanical Gardens, Cheesman Park, Snooze, Barolo Grill and much much more.

http://www.lizrichardsrealestate.com/1025_Cook.html

Ten Things To Do In Denver

We all have our reasons as to why we love Denver. Maybe it’s the 300+ days of sunshine a year, the short drive to world-renowned ski resorts, or just the amazing food downtown that has to offer. But most people would agree, there are certain things in Denver you have to do before you leave. Here is our Denver Bucket List.

1. Attend a Rockies game on a perfect summer’s evening. There is nothing more American than enjoying a beer and a hot dog, while watching America’s favorite past time.
2. Be sure to stroll through the Botanic Gardens when the flowers are in full bloom.
3. Eat to one of the participating restaurants during 5280 Restaurant Week. For one week, over 90 amazing restaurants offer a meal for two for just $52.80. It is a great deal at some of Denver’s best eats.
4. Drink your fill at Denver’s own, Oktoberfest. It is one of the largest of its kind in the nation and promises a good time, time-honored German heritage, and more beer varieties than you can imagine.
5. Gather the family together and spend a few days at A Taste of Colorado, the annual festival offering a variety of musical performances, local food vendors, and artisan booths. Located in Civic Center Park, the city practically shuts down for this event.
6. Take a stroll up 16th Street Mall when all of the street performers are out. It is free entertainment and the perfect place to people watch.
7. Spend a few hours in the Museum of Contemporary Art. Offering a different array of art than your typical museum, this experience is unique to Denver. And the building alone is worth seeing, designed by famous architect, David Adjaye.
8. Go on a Denver brewery tour. Colorado has one of the largest beer cultures in the country and is home to the nation’s largest brewery, Coors Brewery in Golden. But there are plenty of others in Denver that are sure to broaden your beer horizon.
9. Catch a show or ballet, or even a concert, at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Showcasing some of Broadway’s finest plays, this gorgeous theater is a timeless experience. With famous shows on a regular basis, there is something for everyone.
10. Go to any of the bars, dance clubs, shops, or restaurants on Denver’s chic, Larimer Square. With Victorian buildings and a trendy appearance, this street as been one of Denver’s hot spot areas for over 40 years.

And because Colorado itself is so great, here are a few other things you have to do around the state:
• Attend a concert at Red Rocks. This is a must and with hundreds of concerts each year, there is no excuse.
• Hike the Maroon Bells in Aspen. The area offers trails and hikes of all difficulty level and views to die for.
• Go skiing. Colorado is known for its ski resorts and for a good reason-they are some of the best in the world!
• Take a trip down to the Mesa Verde National Park and see the cliff dwellings that date back to 600 AD.

Colorado Homes Prices Up 7.3%!

In the U.S. over the last year, homes prices have jumped up a staggering 3.8%. This increase is reason for cautious optimism, considering how weak the real estate market has been. And this is the biggest year-over-year increase in the last six years, a Denver Post article reports.

Ready for some better news? Colorado’s home prices are up 7.3%, ranking as the fifth state with the biggest gains. It falls behind Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and South Dakota. Since July 2011, Arizona’s home prices have risen nearly 16.6%.

Although the housing prices remain below where they were in April of 2006, the market has been slowly recovering in 2012. Builders are starting work on more homes, the sales of new and previously occupied homes are up, and mortgage rates are close to their lowest levels in the past 60 years. The recovery may be slow, but it is happening!

16th Street Mall to be Renovated

Earlier this year, RTD submitted close to $70 million in Federal grant applications, hoping to receive a fair portion of that to fix-up and renovate parts of the 16th Street Mall that are in dire need of some attention. According to the DenverUrbanism blog, in late July, RTD learned that they have been awarded nearly $8 million for the project!

This money will target the blocks between Market and Larimer Streets, Larimer and Lawrence Streets, and the block and a half area between Court Place and Broadway. Each section will get a full reconstruction, all the way down to the sub-base, but they will also receive an aesthetic update, with new trees, surrounding tree pits, and fountains throughout. New pavement will be laid, as well as new water and lighting utilities.

Although this money will go a long way, RTD’s application for funding for new mall shuttles and zero emission buses was denied. So instead, the project will focus on the stationary elements of the mall. Thousands of people use the pedestrian mall on a daily basis, so this project can only help to elongate the life of this historic, Denver icon.