Denver Neighborhoods A-C
Alamo Placita
Located on the north side of Speer Boulevard between Ogden and Emerson Streets. Alamo Placita Park (Little Place of the Cottonwoods) has often been called Denver’s most ideal and most beautiful park. The name commemorates the many cottonwoods that grew naturally in this area. A few of the old trees can still be found in Alamo Placita Park and in the neighborhood. Victorians and bungalows make up just some of the architectural styles that are being lovingly restored and maintained. With its appealing character, its enviable location near restaurants and shops along 6th Avenue and its easy access to downtown, the Alamo Placita neighborhood is hard to beat.
Belcaro
Exposition Avenue, Colorado Boulevard, Tennessee Avenue and Steele Street border the Belcaro neighborhood, just south of Cherry Creek. Five acres within this region are home to the grand historic Phipps House at 3400 Belcaro Drive. Lawrence C. Phipps, treasurer of Carnegie Steel and U.S. Senator, spent $310,063 in 1932, having Charles A. Platt and sons design the spacious 33,123-square-foot, 54-room red brick Georgian mansion. Called “Belcaro” by Phipps (Italian for “beautiful dear one”), the mansion was donated to the University of Denver in 1964 and now serves as a museum and conference center.
Berkeley
Is a city-center neighborhood located in the area traditionally called North Denver, today on the west side of Interstate 25. The neighborhood is bounded by Federal Boulevard on the east, Interstate 70 on the north, Sheridan Boulevard on the West and 38th avenue on the south. Berkeley is part of the area traditionally called North Denver. It is bordered by the West Highland neighborhood on the south and is often casually grouped together with the Highlands. The neighborhood contains two lakes surrounded by parks, one eponymous near 46th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard and Rocky Mountain Lake Park on Lowell Boulevard and 46th.
Bonnie Brae
Bonnie Brae, meaning “pleasant hill” in Gaelic. Located east of University Avenue between Mississippi and Exposition Avenues, Steele Street and University Boulevard, Bonnie Brae was developed in the 1920’s on land that had been granted to the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1870. The railroad eventually sold the land to farmers, and later it became part of the town of South Denver, one of the many small communities annexed by Denver. The turning point in the neighborhood’s development came in 1936 when Ellipse Park, the centerpiece of Saco DeBoer’s plan, was constructed. Homes built up around the park. Winding streets surrounding and elliptical-shaped park turned Bonnie Brae a serene residential enclave in the midst of the city. Much of Bonnie Brae’s appeal comes not only from being a short walk to local eateries, boutiques, spas and the library, but also its proximity to Washington Park and the Cherry Creek shopping district. The business district holds onto the flavor of its 1920s heritage. We are fortunate to have many wonderful neighborhood restaurants and businesses along South University Boulevard that have been run by the same family for two generations. Bonnie Brae is a small area (around 700 homes) and has had an organized neighborhood association for many years. Bonnie Brae has an annual picnic each year in late summer at Bonnie Brae Park. This event is a great opportunity to meet neighbors if you are new to the neighborhood or re-connect with those you have not seen in a while.
Byers
The narrow and diverse neighborhood between Speer, Alameda, Downing and Broadway. Byers was named for William N. Byers, founder of Denver’s first newspaper. The Rock Mountain News. The various inhabitants of small apartment complexes, duplexes, and single-family dwellings enjoy close proximity to Washington Park, with its 161 acres of flora and fauna, but also relish the convenience off Speer, their 10 minute link to both downtown and Cherry Creek, just a few short blocks to the north. With a quartet of Asian restaurants along Alameda, including the fresh and affordable Fontana Sushi, residents are also fortunate to be near the urban renewal of their western border, Broadway, which includes the popular and independent Mayan theater and a growing string of hot spots, vintage boutiques, second hand book stores and art galleries, including the Hornet Bar and Grille, Decade and the retro and rockin’ Skylark. Several educational institutions sit comfortably among the residential neighborhoods, creating a simple walk to school for children.
Capitol Hill
The Capitol Hill neighborhood is bounded by Broadway, Downing Street, Colfax Avenue, and Seventh Avenue. Capitol Hill is Denver’s most densely populated neighborhood. Having once been the home of Denver’s 19th century elite, Capitol Hill today is a mix of historic mansions, apartment and condo buildings, and a large diversity of residents. Because of the concentration of multi-family uses and the urban character of the neighborhood parking is at a premium. Traffic during rush hours (Sixth Avenue and Lincoln Street in the morning and Eighth Avenue and Broadway in the evening) can be quite heavy. The area is strongly influenced by the Colorado State Capitol and Downtown Denver which is adjacent to the northwest boundary of the neighborhood. Commercial uses are typically located on major arterials such as Colfax Avenue, East Sixth Avenue, East 14th Avenue, East 13th Avenue, Lincoln Street and Broadway. A considerable number of mansion properties have been converted to office uses over the past several years. Office development along this route is typified by smaller-scale office development interspersed in residential developments. The development of newer office buildings and condominium developments is generally located further west along Broadway in the area known as the Golden Triangle. Capitol Hill is one of the most cosmopolitan neighborhoods in Denver, well-known as a haven for artists and bohemians. There are numerous restaurants, clubs, bars, stores, concert venues, and other cultural amenities in the community.
Cheesman Park
Cheesman Park is located in central Denver, southeast of downtown. The neighborhood’s borders are approximately: West: Downing Street, East: York Street, North: Colfax Avenue, South: 6th-8th Avenue, depending on the source. Cheesman Park, Colorado, is part of Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and is home to over 8,300 residents. Anchoring the Denver area neighborhood is Cheesman Park and the Denver Botanic Gardens. Part of downtown, this area of Denver is the most historic and diverse. Parks, retail areas, entertainment and the transportation infrastructure all contribute to the quality of life in Denver. The neighborhood of Cheesman Park was built in the 1880s for Denver’s wealthy, who built luxury mansions which now coexist with Denver area homes built in the early 20th century, condominiums, lofts and apartments. Cheesman Park includes 80 acres of open space and real estate with playgrounds, jogging paths and panoramic views of Pikes Peak and Mount Evans on clear days. The park also features a spectacular Greek pavilion, which is a common gathering place for all Capitol Hill residents. Free concerts are also held there during the spring and summer. Denver Botanic Gardens cover 23 acres and include more than 30 gardens. The Denver Parks and Recreation Division in Colorado offers classes, sports leagues, fitness and aquatics. City-owned and private golf courses offer plenty of places to tee it up. There are 650 miles of paved walking, biking and jogging trails throughout the city of Cheesman Park. Many trails converge in downtown areas, including Cheesman Park, making for an easy commute to work. Children living in Cheesman Park attend schools that are part of Denver Public Schools and area residents have easy access to the Auraria Higher Education Center.
Cherry Creek
The neighborhood is generally located in the south-central area of the City of Denver and is a mixture of dense urban development and tree lined residential streets. It is bounded by the Cherry Creek on the south, East Sixth Avenue to the north, University Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard on the west and east, respectively. Two major commercial centers exist in Cherry Creek along the major traffic route of East First Avenue. First is an upscale, enclosed shopping mall, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, which anchors the neighborhood. Second, the main shopping district of Cherry Creek North is also located along East First, Second, and Third Avenues from University Boulevard to Steele Street with much of the remaining areas of the Cherry Creek neighborhood remaining residential. The Cherry Creek North shopping and dining district is a 16 city-block area with more than 320 upscale galleries, boutiques, restaurants and salons/spas and the pedestrian plaza Fillmore Plaza. Fillmore Plaza is home to numerous community events including Films on Fillmore (Summer), the Cherry Creek North Ice Rink (Winter) and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Cherry Creek North was also home to the original Tattered Cover Bookstore. The area is served by the Cherry Creek News, a community paper. The Cherry Creek neighborhood is home to the Ross-Cherry Creek local branch of the Denver Public Library. The neighborhood is also home to Manley and Pulaski Parks, the Cherry Creek bike path, and the East Seventh Avenue Parkway, all part of the parks & recreation network of the City of Denver. Additionally, each spring a 5k foot race is held on the streets of Cherry Creek and the nearby parks and bike trails called the Cherry Creek Sneak.
City Park
Named for its 320-acre park, this neighborhood blends entertaining musical venues, neighborhood bars and restaurants, the Colorado Museum of Nature and Science, and the Denver Zoo. City Park itself features a golf course, gardens, geese, and grassy areas for barbecues, sports, and summer concerts. Several bus routes serve the neighborhood, making it easy for downtown workers to commute. A range of housing styles exist in City Park, from contemporary urban residences to historic homes. Located just northeast of downtown Denver, south of 23rd Avenue to Colfax, and East of York Street to Colorado Boulevard. City Park is the largest and most notable park in Denver. Colfax in the City Park neighborhood in particular, has become a popular area with many hip restaurants, stores, and other businesses, including the newest location of the Tattered Cover bookstore and Twist & Shout record store, just across from the neighborhood. The park holds a free summer concert series and a recently built interactive fountain attracts many people to cool off in the water. The park has boat rentals, both standard paddle-boats and some shaped like various water creatures like pelicans and ducks. People can also rent the boathouse for events.
Congress Park
Located just north of the upscale Cherry Creek Shopping district, the Congress Park Real Estate area is bounded by Colfax to the north, 6th Avenue to the south, Colorado Boulevard to the east, and York Street to the west. Only slightly further away are Downtown Denver, City Park, and the Museum of Nature and Science. Congress Park homes are architecturally diverse, but primarily contain bungalow style homes. Congress Park itself sits on 17 acres and contains 8 tennis courts, several athletic fields, a children’s playground, a picnic pavilion, and one of Denver’s public outdoor swimming pools.
Cory Merrill
Cory-Merrill features double lots and many “pop-tops” and is east of the popular Washington Park west of Colorado Blvd to University south of Mississippi, to I-25. Close access to I-25, shopping, neighborhood restaurants, boutiques, and schools make this a top choice in south Denver. Residents here are close to urban life, yet a feeling of “neighborhood” is sustained. Named after the schools in the area, Cory-Merrill was once part of the Town of South Denver (which had boundaries along the South Platte River, Alameda Avenue, Colorado Boulevard and Yale Avenue). It was founded in 1858 to be a dry town because its citizens didn’t like the saloons that had taken over Denver. Cory-Merrill is experiencing a dramatic increase in home remodeling, resulting in homes with greater square footage, but which retain the same lot imprint. Cory-Merrill is conveniently located within close proximity of Cherry Creek, Old South Gaylord, and Colorado Boulevard shopping areas. Nearby, Washington Park offers a welcome escape to nature and boasts a lake, tennis courts, basketball court, recreation center, fields, trails, and beautiful landscaping. Complete with neighborhood churches and a library, Cory-Merrill is considered to be luxury living in the heart of Denver. Recently sold homes in the Cory Merrill neighborhood range from $298,000-1,099,000.
Country Club
The Country Club Historic District begins north of the Denver Country Club at 1st Avenue and extends to 4th Avenue, to 6th Avenue along Circle Drive, and from University Boulevard to Downing Street. William and Arthur Fisher, in collaboration with prominent Boston architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., designed the exclusive Country Club Place subdivision between Franklin and Race Streets in 1909. Architecturally fascinating mansions and grand houses designed for Denver’s social and political elite define the 380-home neighborhood. The Denver Country Club neighborhood began in 1905 with the incorporation of the exclusive Park Club Place between East 1st and 4th and Downing and Humboldt. The Country Club addition followed in 1906 offering parkways and more spacious home sites with deeper setbacks in the area between Humboldt and High. Leading architects were commissioned to design homes in an array of styles making the enclave a show place of early 20th Century residential architecture. This incredible collection of masterpieces includes architectural influences from Colonial, French Chateau, Tudor, Santa Fe and Georgian to remarkable Denver Squares, large bungalows and distinct Victorians. Desirable today for its proximity to downtown and Cherry Creek, numerous city parks and the Denver Country Club, this neighborhood remains one of the city’s more sought after locations.
Crestmoor
Crestmoor Park is an upscale community located in southeast Denver, bounded by Holly St., Monaco Pkwy, 6th Ave. and Bayaud Ave. This is an older suburban-city neighborhood where civic and community pride is evidenced by large fashionable homes, and small mansions, surrounded by manicured lawns, with mature trees along quiet streets. Varying between older neo-classic, colonial and Tudor mansions in the north and traditional ranchers and spit-levels in the south. Crestmoor real estate is defined entirely by single-family homes. It’s an older suburban-city neighborhood, with sidewalks being scarce while streets are wider and less grid-like than in other areas. Thick, mature trees dominate front yards, casting shadows on quiet homes. Considering its location and lack of immediate retail, the Crestmoor neighborhood is a pocket of calm and quiet in the midst of major thoroughfares. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is the sprawling Crestmoor Park, which includes a softball field, soccer field and tennis court. Retail in the area is limited to a small spot on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Holly that includes the decadent The Cheese Co, the wide-eyed wonder of Hollyhocks children’s apparel and the cheesy/saucy delight of Basic Doc’s Pizza. However, with full access to nearby Cherry Creek North or Cherry Creek Shopping Center, there are more boutiques, salons, restaurants and upscale department stores within a ten minute car ride than almost anywhere else in the city. Also, 6th and Alameda are major thoroughfares leading to I-25, while Quebec (just eight blocks to the east) leads directly to I-70. Crestmoor’s in the midst of a minor facelift with new single-family construction happening on almost every block. It seems less like there’s expansion happening and more like older houses are being scraped and replaced by sharp-looking brick, stone and stucco mansions.
