Don’t forget the Transit

Sure, we keep talking about all the great restaurants opening up in the New Denver Union Station terminal.  But the real heart of Union Station is the transit.

Denver Union Station is the hub for the entire Light Rail System. From this central location at the Newly renovated Terminal and the awesome Union Station Neighborhood being developed Denver residents can travel throughout our city.  One of the most exciting elements of our rail system is the new East Corridor access line underway that will carry travelers to and from Denver International Airport.

The DIA line is the one I am most excited about.  Once that is open the days of guessing how much time it will take to get to the airport, dealing with traffic (which gets worse every year), parking, parking fees, and all those annoying commuting elements will be replaced by a train timetable and the ability to sit and relax on the train.

The benefits of our new transit hub at Denver Union Station don’t stop with the light rail.  Denver Union Station is also the hub of national rail lines and local shuttle and bus transportation options.  This morning when taking some photos inside the new terminal I checked to see where today’s travelers might be going.

Two options were taking off today out of Union Station via the Amtrak schedule. The first was the California Zephyr that begins in Chicago before arriving in Denver and then continues on to Glenwood Springs and finishes in Emeryville (San Francisco).  Today’s train was Westbound.

The other scheduled trip was a bus departing for Vail.  That means there IS a way to get up to at least one of our amazing ski resorts without driving.  I’m hoping the list of options keeps growing.

Most of us are already familiar with the local 16th street shuttle and a new shuttle line along 18th is being added.

As more and more transit continues to grow, as the RTD lines are extended, and as national Rail continues to evolve the location at Union Station is bound to become an even more attractive amenity for downtown residents.

And as you can see from the images below, the new terminal is AMAZING and offers great restaurants for dining, bars for celebrating, and hotels for guest to stay and enjoy our downtown.

Who else is excited to consider the new Denver Union Station and the light rail to DIA as the the first stop on their vacation?

Valuable Links

• Union Station Neighborhood
• Riverfront Park
• LoHi / Lower Highland
• LoDo
• Light Rail Friendly Homes
• Top Trending Neighborhoods

The post All Aboard! A Sneak Peek inside the New Denver Union Station Terminal appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

The First Stop from Denver Union Station

We like to celebrate every new milestone in our Denver Urban Expanding light rail network, and the new Station Stop for the Fox and 41st FasTracks station along the Gold Commuter line is certainly a big deal.

Currently under construction is only one stop away from the Denver Union Station new terminal and it has created a buzz about how transit oriented development in the form of new construction might get a positive boost in the Globeville and surrounding area.

Transit oriented development is a big deal.  Folks love access to transit.  It can bring a growing boost to property values just like any amenity.  Sure, swimming pools are nice.  So are movie theaters.  But if you live within walking distance of a light rail station the entire city is available for you to enjoy.  You can jump on the light rail to Denver Union Station and enjoy downtown, or to our Sporting Arenas, or travel all the way across town.

With every new station that is added the value of being close to a station increases because that means you have more locations to easily travel to.  And don’t forget, within the next few years everyone with access to a light rail station can look at skipping the traffic filled drive to the airport and travel by rail.

The Value of Light Rail

Transit has become so valuable in many other cities that it is a top bullet point on property marketing materials.   But it’s not just the number of stations to visit that affect the value of having a home or condo on light rail.  Increases in gas prices, increases in traffic, and difficulty or cost tied to parking downtown are all factors that start to make having light rail easily accessible an increasing value.

Not only is this a priority for homeowners, it is also often a major investment consideration for investment customers.  There is a reason why apartment developers target lots along transit stations, and it is one that individual investors can learn from as well.  If you are considering a new multi dwelling unit or single unit investment property make sure to ask the question of how easily your tenants can access the light rail.  For many, an easy commute in a rental property isn’t an amenity, it is a necessity.

The light rail station isn’t scheduled to open until 2016 but it’s already making its way into the public remarks on properties listed for sale here.  Here is an excerpt from one Northwest Denver listing.

IT’S A PERFECT HOME IN A GREAT NORTHWEST DENVER NEIGHBORHOOD. LIGHT RAIL COMING IN 2016 AT FOX ST. AND 41ST! 

To learn more about Denver’s Transit Oriented Real Estate Opportunities contact us today.

Valuable Links

• Globeville Neighborhood Listings
• Sunnyside Neighborhood Listings
• Northwest Denver Neighborhood Listings
• Price trends for Globeville
• Price trends for Sunnyside
• Price trends for Northwest Denver
• Real Estate around Light Rail
• RTD 41st Station Information Page
• DenverGov.org Update on 41st and Fox Station Area
• DenverUrban.com Closest Listing to 41st and Fox Station – Coming Soon
• View the Denver Neighborhood Per Square Foot Report

Contact Denver Urban

The post New Fox and 41st Fastracks Station is Under Construction and Moving Forward appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

New Development Driving Glass House

With all the new Development occurring int Downtown Denver one building seems to be the favorite.  Riverfront Park’s Glass House building has been seeing a record number of new listings going under contract in a day or less.  Let’s talk about just why this building is the destination everyone seems to be talking about.

• The New Union Station Neighborhood Project is moving fast right across the pedestrian bridge from Glass House.  This new area has already announced a new hotel, several new restaurants, bars, shops and more. New restaurants include Zoe Ma Ma and two national restaurants expanding into Denver, the PROTEIN BARR and The Thirsty Lion Pub. These two new restaurants plan to open April 29.
• The New Union Station Hotel Project developers have announced they will have several new eateries including Milkbox Ice Creamery brought to us by the folks at Little Man Ice Cream, Pigtrain Coffee brought to us by the folks at Novo Coffee, Eatmore Burgers and Brats, Fresh Exchange Restaurant, and two new bars called the Terminal Bar and the Cooper Lounge.  The Terminal Bar is expected to be a beer lover’s destination with more than 30 brews on tap.   With many, many more blocks and businesses available for growth just imagine what else will arrive.
• The new King Soopers Grocery Store is opening a new high end store offering at the 20th and Chestnut block.  This new location is rumored to be opening later this year.  How awesome will it be to have a great large scale grocery store within walking distance.
• There is talk of a new Whole Foods location coming to the Union Station Neighborhood.  This new grocery addition could complement the King Sooper amenity and make the neighborhood even more desirable for living and as an investment.  Read more about this here.
• The new Union Station Light Rail Hub provides access to not only all the light rail lines throughout Denver but also a direct line out to Denver International Airport.
• Imagine if you could go back in time and buy a condo or loft on New York’s Central Park.  That is the comparison investors and homeowners are sharing about their Glass House purchase.  Directly on the Park Glass House residents enjoy runs, walks, and the sheer pleasure of living on open space in our urban playground.  That is a very special thing.
• Union Station Neighborhood, LoHi, Jefferson Park, LoDo, and Ball Park wrap around Riverfront Park allowing Glass House residents easy access to all the great dining, shopping, events and more that these neighborhoods offer.
• Riverfront Park is a culinary center of the Denver landscape with Zengo, La Biblioteca, McLoughlins, Sushi Sasa, Colt and Grey, Denver Beer Company, Brother Bar, St. Ellie, and footsteps away.  Zengo even offers delivery to the Glass House, it’s next door neighbor.
• Riverfront Park offers the Glass House, and all of the buildings in the neighborhood a dedicated Master HOA with full security staffed by off duty police officers and a team to keep the neighborhood clean and filled with plants, flowers, even holiday decorations.  Most people don’t know that one of the founding principles for Riverfront Park was to establish a community where residents had cleanliness and safety as primary values.
• Developers are not building new high rise buildings.  With current laws governing developer required reserves for high rise buildings the pace of new residential towers has ground to a halt.  Get in while you can, because if the laws were changed (which is currently in discussion) it could take years just to get the first shovel to break ground, plus the time to complete the building.
• The Glass House has what most consider to be the BEST amenities of any building in Denver.  Glass House residents enjoy a large pool (which is rare), 8th floor club lounge, outdoor pool deck, fire pit, outdoor grills, media theater room, continental breakfast, 24 hour front desk, and two story modern fitness center with classes.  It is a WONDERFUL lifestyle for the urban resident.

With the wave of new development adding to the many reasons why this location is the heart of Denver it is now wonder that Glass House condos and residences are moving quickly.

Glass House Expertise

Our team of Denver Urban experts knows the Glass House building inside and out.   There are many things to consider in comparing the various residences.   Some units offer incredible views, either of the city or the mountains, or both.  Some floor plans take the best advantage of square footage.   For current Glass House owners we help them understand what their residence is worth on the current market.  For Glass House buyers our team help you get the first opportunity to make an offer and provide the knowledge to build the most appropriate offer.  There are so many factors to consider in Denver’s star building.  We keep all our Glass House clients updated on exactly what is happening today and what future plans are occurring in this area that they should factor in.
View Available Glass House Listings HERE

Contact Denver Urban for more Information

The post Union Station Driving Glass House to new Heights in Popularity appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

We love the Denver Bike Community

How much do we love it!  We love it so much that a HUGE part of our philosophy is supporting and sharing information about how to live the Denver Car Optional Lifestyle.  For many of us living the Denver Urban life means commuting by bike, light rail, public transportation, or just using our feet.

One of the favorite social aspects of Denver’s love affair with two wheels is the Denver Cruiser Ride Community.  Beginning with the first ride on May 14th Denver bike lovers gather every Wednesday for a costumed theme based cruise throughout our great city.   Each and every Wednesday the streets are filled with costumed bicyclists as they travel from one Denver establishment to another.  Some go for the rides, some for the social, and some for the opportunity to do their most creative adaptation of the weekly costume theme.

The Denver Cruiser ride has grown so much since the very first rides.  I can recall, many years ago, when the rides were so small that you pretty much new everyone on the ride.  As the secret got out and the biking size grew the group worked to establish some courtesy rules and work with Denver government groups to ensure safety and that the group knew and understood  the Denver Municipal Bicycle Code.  Kudos to responsible biking.

The new themes for the 2014 Denver Cruiser Season are (at least at the time of this posting)…

Denver Cruiser Theme Ride Schedule 2014

• May 14th – Reds and Robes
• May 21st – Denver 1894
• May 28th – Seven Daily Sins
• June 4th – Summer Camp
• June 11th – Soul Train
• June 18th – Bubble Wrap, Duct Tape and Card Board
• June 25th – Overcoats and Underwear
• July 2nd – People of Walmart
• July 9th – You Light Up My Life
• July 16th – Suits and Swim Suits
• July 23rd – Dress Night
• July 30th – All Holidays
• August 6th – The Letter S
• August 13th – Dungeons and Drag Queens
• August 20th – Big Top
• August 27th – Road Warrior
• September 3rd – TBD
• September 10th – TBD
• September 17th – Pirates, ,Sea Men and Mermaids
• September 23rd – Ullr Fest:  Winter Wonderland

These rides can be a lot of fun and a great chance to meet some wonderful people.  For those who are interested in joining the Denver Cruiser rides visit their website here to learn more about the Denver Cruiser rides and familiarize yourself with their rules and guidelines.

Denver PeopleforBikes Green Lane Initiative

Our city is really making great strides to be one of the most Car Optional and Bike Friendly cities in the nation. In fact Denver has been selected out of hundreds of cities to be one of 6 cities to be chosen for an intensive two year bike lane project.  In this article we learn more about how PeopleforBikes Green Lane project is going to focus on establishing safer bike lane systems for our city to encourage people to bike and walk more.  They mention in the video that by 2020 they hope that 15% of Denver residents are commuting by bike/foot and this project can mean HUGE support for those who want to live car optional.  Read the 9 News article here.

Of course it helps that Denver’s B-Cycle system has established a bike sharing network throughout the Denver Urban area.  In 2013 B-Cycle announced that it would become a year round program and added some 20 new stations with plans for more on the way every year.

And for those who want to live 95% car free the huge expansion (and competition) within the Car Sharing community means that you can still have access to a car for those rare occasions when you need one.  Car2Go Denver did one of the largest rollouts of any car share organization here in Denver putting hundreds of cars throughout the city.  Having tried the system repeatedly I have nothing but positive reviews to share.

When you look at how building such as SPIRE or the Riverfront Park Glass House have Parking Spaces going from $40,000 to $55,000 from the Developer (who knows what resales might top out at) the option of buying a condo or loft in the Downtown market without car could mean getting a much greater value.  These are real dollars that a Denver home buyer could use for more square footage, their favorite location, or just a reduced mortgage payment every month.

To help you evaluate all your Car Optional Denver Condo searching we have set up several web tools for our fans to use.  Check out these wonderful green living Denver Urban resources:

• Denver B-Cycle Friendly Property Search
• Denver Light Rail Friendly Properties
• Denver Community Garden Friendly Properties
• Denver Dog Park Friendly Properties
• Union Station Properties (the hub of light rail)
• All Neighborhoods
• Denver Light Rail Friendly Homes Facebook Page
• Denver Bike on Twitter 

Vote for your Favorite Denver Cruiser Ride Theme

Request More Information

The post 2014 Denver Cruiser Ride Themes and New Bike Lane Development appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

Gas prices are rising, traffic is a beast, and you lose so much time commuting to and from work and play that you wish you could get all of it back for a year long vacation.

More and more the thing clients ask for is a walkable, light rail friendly, transit oriented place to live. The Denver RTD system and light rail is making that a reality and it is becoming a huge factor in property values.

So we built a search just for our green living, transit oriented, time saving home shoppers. Visit our page at https://denverurban.net/lightrail.cfm and find the light rail station you want to live around and search for the best real estate dream home that matches your long term goals and ambitions.

Then enjoy living free from the gas pump. To learn more about any property contact us here.

Cheers! Live Green and feel free to join our light rail friendly twitter feed at https://twitter.com/lightraildenver.

The post Living Light Rail Friendly appeared first on Denver Urban Living.

In fact, most seek transit oriented locations where they don’t need a car… but when they do need  a car the new car sharing program might be just the solution.

To learn more about sustainable living in Denver we recommend these links…

• Light Rail Residences in Denver
• Denver Light Rail Friendly on Facebook
• Twitter Light Rail Friendly
• RTD Denver

The post How often do you Car Share? appeared first on Denver Urban Living.