The Highland area is one of the hottest up and coming neighborhoods in all of Denver.
Highland is walking distance to almost everything in LoDo or downtown. The article below, from the Denver Post, printed on 9/8/2009 discusses the rising real estate values in the Highland neighborhood of Denver.
Home prices in Lower Highland go up
The neighborhood’s sense of place and walkability pump up prices.
By Margaret Jackson
The Denver Post
For the first time, homes priced higher than $1 million are selling in Denver’s Lower Highland neighborhood. Developer Jerry Glick moved into his $2.5 million townhouse at West 32nd Avenue and Zuni Street on July 22.
“I thought this was the best upcoming neighborhood in Denver,” said Glick, who also developed three other units priced above $1 million on the site. A fourth is priced at $980,000.
“I think this will take a while to sell, but I don’t know any other neighborhood in Denver that is this walkable with so many restaurants. There are people who have lived here for 50 years to people with baby carriages.”
A condo at 3131 Zuni didn’t hit the million-dollar mark but came close, selling for $999,000
on July 24. In January, a single-family home at 1811 Boulder St. that was listed for $1 million sold for $900,000.
Real estate agent Dee Chirafisi of Kentwood City Properties, who is marketing the Zuni Townhomes for Glick, said people are willing to spend more on homes in Highland because they’re seeing the depth of the neighborhood.
“To spend a million or more, people want to have a strong sense of place, and the Highland has that now,” she said.
The average sales price in the Highland has bounced around a bit since the first quarter of 2001, when it was $205,470, according to an analysis of Metrolist data by Lon Welsh, managing broker of Your Castle Real Estate. It hit its peak of $330,993 during the first quarter this year, before settling at $257,254 during the second quarter.
Restaurants, coffee shops and other retail shops have sprung up throughout the neighborhood, giving Highland walkability and a sense of community it didn’t have five years ago. Highland United Neighbors Inc. (HUNI) sponsors a monthly HUNI Hour at a local establishment, encouraging neighbors to meet each other.
Men’s Journal recently named Lower Highland one of the 30 coolest neighborhoods in America
A view of the kitchen of developer Jerry Glick's home in the Lower Highland neighborhood. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)
Noting its Mexican grocery stores and tasty taquerias, as well as Vita’s rooftop terrace and the giant milk can Little Man Ice Cream store.
“I really think the high-end sales are largely based on community,” said Paul Tamburello, who redeveloped part of the old Olinger Mortuary complex with Vita, Little Man and Mexican restaurant Lola. “Highland has a Brooklyn feel to it. There’s art, entertainment, great food. The community, although gentrifying, is gentrifying as gracefully as possible.”
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
For more information about Highland real estate, or the surrounding areas, check out these other Denver’s Real Estate News articles:
Highland and Highland Real Estate For Sale
The Berkeley Neighborhood and Berkeley Real Estate For Sale
West Highland Condos For Sale
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