Melancohly and Pride A Denver Real Estate Perspective

I posted this little travel log over a year ago. I am sure it resonates with some others here in Denver.

The other day I was driving out to a new listing in the Elizabeth area ( a nifty 10.4 acre horse property with barn and 2299 sq ft house sitting on a walk out basement---shameless plug ;-)) and I started to get a little melancholy. I saw al these subdivisions that were not there when I got in the real estate business in 1985 and all that great ranch land being taken up. Yet I was thrilled they way it has all come to be…sure there are issues but overall, I have pride in the properties I have sold and the neighborhoods they are in.

This sense all started as I drove down old “SOUTH PARKER Road” now known as Lincoln Avenue turned through downtown Parker and approached the Pinery. You see back in 1985 The Pinery was it. Sure there were a few homes south in Deerfield, Flintwood Hills, and out to Elizabeth, but the last real suburban type development the Pinery. Today before you get there, there is Bradbury Ranch, Stroh Ranch, Clark Farms, the new alignment on Hilltop Road, Hidden River, Canterbury and so many others.

Then after the Pinery we find an area call High Prairie Farms…a real horse community, Pradrea…an awesome new suburban community, and SW Pinery (not even similar in nature to the “real” one), Franktown (that just used to be a crossroads although they do have a cemetery) and all the neighborhoods which used to be in the sticks like Russellville, Pinewood Knolls, Conestoga Pines and Flintwood Hills, are now fully developed, most with paved roads. Further east you bump into the Cimarron, Stage Run, Running Brook Estates and then Elizabeth….

The old Elizabeth was pretty much built in the heavy pine forests that surround the town and hence Elizabeth in the Pines. With areas like Running Brook, Saddlewood, Pine Ridge, and Bow Meadows as well as Arrowhead and Pine Crest Estates offering lots to build on over the years, many newer homes and floor plans are available even west of Kiowa. This part of Colorado is prime horse country with lots of pasture yet some folks want those pine forests that are south towards the town of Elbert Colorado.

On the way back I purposely went via Castle Rock and noted some other “new” developments, places that have been platted for years and have finally found their legs. Such as Castle Oaks, Castle Oak Estates, Metzler Ranch, the Woodlands and Castlewood Ranch. Most of these are getting developed with larger lots and some have wonderful views. Then there are the custom homes lining the ridge at Diamond Ridge! WOW!

Then think about the Meadows…boy has that had fits & starts, but now it is really hauling the freight with all price ranges in a master planned community. Red Hawk is almost completely developed and further north there is Castle Pines Village, a golf community, Castle Pines North, Oak Hills, and Lone Tree which has new homes being built in the Meridian area. Lest we forget Daniel’s Gate, on the south end of Highlands Ranch and Wildcat Reserve but the north end of Castle Pines North. And of course Quebec now turns into Monarch Blvd. south of MacArthur Ranch.

So, while I am proud of what we have done, I am melancholy for the past.

Lone Tree Colorado Highlands Ranch Littleton Castle Rock Centennial Englewood Parker co and metro Denver Colorado real estate property listings mls is available at www.DenverRelocation.com including searches for properties and homes.