In Rome residential areas are known as quartieri. 
Zones that have been quadrated over hundreds, and in some cases thousands of years, developed into their own characteristics. In New York City these zones are known as boroughs. While Rome has spent millenniums developing these areas, and New York City a few centuries, it’s amazing to watch Denver’s Highlands develop in the past few years into their own.
In the Highlands, it’s All About Character
Since its conception, Highlands has always had its own distinguished characteristic that has attracted an in-crowd.
A month after establishing Denver City, William Larimer, Jr. founded Highland in December 1858. By 1885, the Town of Highlands became a town of its own. With the Fifteenth Street Bridge and streetcar traffic, the town blossomed. The North Denver Athletic Club was formed allowing the mainly protestant, republican, Masonic men to rub elbows. The high influence eventually seeded schools, a library and its fast growth, which led to it being annexed into Denver in 1896.
Soon, large numbers of Italians migrated to the area adding some spice to the overall protestant residential area. The street-car became the main artery for the area. As a streetcar suburb, Highlands quickly developed into a commercial center. Irish and German immigrants continued to flood in adding cultural accents. Then, in the 1950s the artery was cut off. The borough took a dive. It became riddled with gangs and associated with violence.
Regardless of the downturn, Highlands maintained a particular cultural feel to it. Far from its Protestant beginnings, small Hispanic shops continued to fuel its heart and soul. Perhaps it was with food that the borough never lost touch with its main ingredient—culture.
A Denver Borough is Reenergized
In the late 1990s and early 2000s the Highlands was given a new artery. With the development of the Denver Millennium Bridge, the Platte River Bridge and especially the pedestrian Highland Bridge a hip, new pulse was beating once again.
In 2012 LoHi was 17th on Forbe’s list of America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods. Today, with the development of stylish apartments by nationally known architects, restoration of historic homes and the redevelopment of fallen areas, Highlands continues to reenergize its highly spirited appeal.
So if you are looking for a downtown location full of history and with a unique vibe as a Denver borough comes into its own, still with a suburb feel, New Era Realty has what you’re looking for in the swank Highlands area.
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