We don't usually comment on what celebrities are doing, but this particular article caught our attention.  The New York Times article is titled "A Mad Man Among the People".

This past Sunday the New York Times published and interview with Mad Men actor Vincent Kartheiser who plays slick ad man Pete Campbell.  Vincent is by all accounts a successful actor.  His series, Mad Men, has received recognition in multiple categories.  There is a cult following and by all account Vincent has achieved some great success.  He lives in Los Angeles where Mad Men is filmed.

The focus of this article wasn't his experience as an actor.  It wasn't about the Mad Men series and the direction the impact of the show on American culture.  The focus of the interview was on Vincent Kartheiser's belief in living car free.  He is a big believer in using mass transit and discusses the lack of importance of a car.  Quoting the article...

To go downtown where “Mad Men” is filmed, he takes either the Red Line or two buses. He reads, does crossword puzzles and goes over his lines.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “Instead of driving and being stressed out about traffic, you can work your scene, you can do your exercises or whatever on the bus. Everyone’s got their own deal.”...

...

“They’ve done a study and they’ve found that people under 30 no longer view cars as status symbols or even positive things,” Mr. Kartheiser said. “They look at them as pollutants.”

Earlier in the evening, on the way to the restaurant, Mr. Kartheiser had ruminated about his choice to be carless.

“I like that my life slows down when I go places,” he said. “I have all these interactions with the human race and I can watch people living their life and not just in their car.”

See why we like this article.  While most of our clients maintain their love of their car we are now working with many individuals who are seeking a downtown lifestyle free of their automobile.  Buildings like SPIRE at 891 14th street are encouraging a car optional lifestyle with partnerships with B-cycle and Connect by Hertz along with their location adjacent to the light rail station.

Elsewhere in Denver the new Union Station Neighborhood project will create a new transportation hub with both light rail and bus service (note that Vincent's life in LA is almost entirely about bus commuting) from the new RTD destination.  The Union Station location will offer a connection to DIA along with lines throughout the city.  With condominiums planned for this location and the neighboring Riverfront Park and Lodo many of our clients are also looking for a car optional lifestyle here.

The world is always changing.  It seems that for our great city of Denver each day brings us closer to the world of walkable and mass transit living over car driving.  To learn more about this lifestyle in Denver or Denver condo and loft offerings please contact New Era Real Estate.

In the meantime, enjoy Mad Men and as you watch the parody of life from that Era perhaps it will make you laugh to think how future generations will look back at our time.

We don't actually mean the mountain life versus the city life.  Our question is a very common one for our downtown Denver condo and loft house hunters.

When selecting your ideal Downtown Denver condo or loft would you prefer the mountain view or the city view.  Almost ever downtown Denver high rise building such as  SPIRE, Glass House, Flour Mill, the Four Seasons, and more have many residences offering spectacular views in all directions.   Of course those buildings add in the complexity of how high you want to go which affects the views as well.

And let's not forget our clients looking for a single family house or townhome in the many great neighborhoods downtown.  Every property we show to our clients offers a different view.  Often that view is one of the most important factors in evaluating a new home.  And this question comes up often.

Granted, some clients don't have any question which view they want.  We have heard comments such as "I moved to Denver to be near the mountains and that is what I want to look at"  or "Nothing beats looking at the lights of the city at night".

But for many of our clients it can be a difficult decision.  It's all about personal preference.  Denver's view west offers spectacular mountain ranges that Colorado is famous for.  It can be breathtaking to see a storm roll in over the mountains from the 20th floor.  With a multi-dwelling high rise the higher up you are in floor number the greater the expanse of mountains you can see.  Sometimes it is amazing what a couple floors difference can make.  But the whole high floor versus low floor view is another discussion (and folks feel strongly both ways)

And then there is the city view.  This view involves the lights of the city and is often a favorite at night.  Denver has some incredible architecture and the skyline is spectacular.  Depending on which side of the city your are on you have many different views but all can be spectacular.

We also recognize that every building has a corner or section that may offer both mountain and city views.  However often the best city or the best mountain view means making a choice.

Two great views to pick from.  I guess that's just one more reason why Denver is such an incredible city to live in.  Let's hear which view is your favorite...

This is going to be a tough one.  Our clients have probably been the most passionate about this argument on both sides of the comparison.  So, needless to say, we are very curious to see how the voting goes.

The debate is all about lifestyle, as it often is.

In the Glass House fan club you have our clients who absolutely love Riverfront Park.  They don't want to be in the heart of the city but instead prefer to live in a neighborhood that is a little quieter but still walkable to all the great benefits of the downtown.  The location boasts Commons Park, the trail system, and the waterways where folks kayak on the Platte river.  The Riverfront Park location puts it a little closer to Invesco Field and a short walk away from the Lower Highlands neighborhood and all of those great restaurants.  And one of the little discussed location benefits of Riverfront Park is the off duty police force and cleaning crew that work throughout the neighborhood paid for out of a master HOA assessment for the neighborhood.  That helps promote a neighborhood that is safe and clean.  Residents boast that they have all the benefits of living in the city while being just a little removed from the city.

Of course, it is that little bit of distance that the SPIRE fan club members choose to do without.  Our clients who find SPIRE to be their favorite enjoy living in the heart of downtown Denver.  They enjoy the energy, the surrounding amenities such as the theater district, the adjacent light rail station, the many downtown restaurants, shops, pubs and venues that give them so many choices of what to do every day.  They enjoy the growing density of the downtown and the way the neighborhood is getting better every day.  With plans for the 14th street initiative and the changes for the 16th street mall part of the downtown lifestyle involves a great location that is getting better every day.  These residents choose the quiet they have within their home but want everything downtown has to offer right outside their front door.  And some say they prefer being in a location without rail lines.  Residents boast that SPIRE is not only in the heart of downtown Denver but it is in the most ideal location in Downtown Denver.  Just a short walk from both the 16th street mall and the Cherry Creek trail system and with B-cycle and Connect by Hertz as neighbors it's a car optional  dream location.  That's confirmed with the 100 out of 100 walkscore from the walkscore.com ranking site.  And some of the SPIRE fans enjoy the lack of master HOA fees for the neighborhood and the tax benefits of a long established city location with high density.

Our selection... we love them both and it's really up to individual choice.  As we said, we have clients who are passionate about why one or the other of these two locations is better.  The best way to decide is to take a tour and we would be happy to go into more details about these two terrific neighborhoods and all their strengths.  Between Glass House and SPIRE you are already choosing between two of the most popular buildings in the city of Denver.

Enjoy your day and please call or email us with your questions.

Denver living includes access to some of the best attractions you will find anywhere! The mile-high city has downtown attractions that are guaranteed to include something for everyone. This is where Denver living pays off. You are always close enough to come back next weekend. If you do not live in Denver, you are going to have to plan some extra time or another vacation.

What can you see here? How about taking a trip to the Denver Art Museum? If you are on the west steps, it is one mile high (5,280 feet above sea level). Take a jaunt up to the rotunda and you can view the peaks of 200 mountains capped with snow. The museum has fee tours during the week.

Another aspect of Denver living is visiting the richest place around - the Denver Mint. This is where you can see how money is made and where in one day 50 million coins are produced.

Take a tour of downtown Denver. This is the easiest place to see the sights and if you want, the free shuttle is available at the 16th Street Mall. Getting around in downtown Denver is easy.

Speaking of the 16th Street Mall, those who enjoy Denver living often find this is the place to shop, eat and people-watch. The walkway is pink and gray and was designed to look like a diamondback rattlesnake. This is something you will to see even if you aren’t planning on shopping. If you are at the 16th Street Mall at dusk, you can grab a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Take the time to visit the LoDo District. This is the area of downtown Denver that has quite a bit of history. The warehouses date from the turn of the century and most are now rooftop cafes, restaurants, sports bars and pubs.

Denver living also includes Larimer Square for a variety of activities. Victorian buildings house restaurants, outdoor cafes, a comedy club, dance clubs and the shopping is just what the “chic” crowd is looking to find.

If your Denver living experience includes a little of the history, you will know that Confluence Park is where Denver was originally founded. The city started as a mining camp for gold in 1858 and is today in the midst of 850 miles of bike trails and attractions for visitors and residents alike.

Please contact New Era Realty to learn more about Denver living, or any of the many wonderful Denver loft and condominium offerings at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950.

That's right, today is the first full day that the Railyard Dog Park in Riverfront Park is open.  Last night homeowners in Riverfront Park gathered at 5 PM for the opening ceremony celebration and it's been all about the dogs since.  As word spreads that the park is officially open more and more playful pups will be arriving.  Stop by this weekend with your favorite furry friend and check it out.

The dog park is divided into two areas.  There's a larger section for larger or more energetic dogs and then there is a second section for smaller or older dogs to mellow out.  That means no matter how young or old your pup is there's a crowd they can play with.  Riverfront Park was already very dog friendly but this new Denver dog park makes it a dog lovers paradise.

The buildings in Riverfront Park that get to have this as their backyard include.

• Glass House (everyone's favorite)
• ONE Riverfront
• The Park at ONE Riverfront
• Riverfront Tower
• The Brownstones
• Creekside Lofts
• Creekside Flats
• Promenade Lofts
• Park Place Lofts
• Flour Mill Lofts

The Riverfront Neighborhood is located right next to Commons Park and has two bridges (one on 16th and one on 18th) that connect it to Downtown through the soon to be developed Union Station Neighborhood.  One direction is towards downtown while a bridge going the other direction will take you into the Lower Highlands and all the great restaurants and entertainment spots in that terrific neighborhood.  Riverfront Park also boasts a location right next to the connecting cherry creek trail system and water ways for your choice of biking, running, or even kayaking.  Yes, I did say kayaking.  Right in front of the REI flagship store the rapids provide some great water for kayakers to practice their moves.  And Residents of Riverfront Park are often seen enjoying the scenery from the trails and benches.

We hope you get a chance to check out this terrific neighborhood and the new Railyard Dog Park.  If you would like a tour of any of these buildings just give us a call and we will gladly answer all your Riverfront Park or other downtown Denver condo and loft questions.

One of the biggest trends in today's real estate market is the desire for amenities. Many people grew up gathering around a community pool, going to the movie theater in the neighborhood, and spending time watching your favorite team on the big screen in a multi media room. Many grew up in the suburbs where homes usually had the square footage for using extra rooms for home gyms, media rooms, and of course guest rooms. Long ago the idea of moving downtown meant giving up these amenities because square footage was scarce. Not anymore.

Many years ago developers started to change the design of residential towers downtown. New buildings were designed to duplicate all the amenities that one might want in that large square footage home in the suburbs. The developers began adding pools to replace the backyard or neighborhood pool, fitness centers to replace the home gym, full theater rooms to replace the basement multi media room, and guest suites so you didn't feel the need to buy an additional bedroom for those holiday visitors.

Can you guess which two building have done this the best in the downtown Denver condo and loft high rise market? Yes, again Glass House and SPIRE are among the best of the best. So let's do a comparison of the two... although we do want to add that the Four Seasons will have some great amenities as well especially if your target is room service and other hotel style features.

Let's start with Glass House. Glass House in Riverfront Park offers it's residents...

• 24 hour, 7 day a week front desk
• 8th floor lounge
• 8th floor media room
• 8th floor large pool with lap lanes
• 8th floor fire pit
• 8th floor gas Bar-B-Q outside
• 8th floor business center computers
• 1-2 floors fitness center with 2 fitness classrooms
• SPIRE in the heart of Downtown Denver offers it's residents

• 24 hour 7 day a week front desk
• 9th floor reflective pool and splash pool
• 9th floor two outdoor hot tub spas
• 10th floor movie theater room
• 9th floor sports zone lounge with flat screen tvs and pool table
• 9th floor fitness center with yoga floor
• 9th floor fire pit
• 9th floor gas bar-b-ques
• 10th floor business center computers
• 10th floor lounge for booking owner events
• 42nd floor sky club lounge with wine lockers (for sky club residents only)
• Guest suites for owners to reserve for their visitors

The trend in real estate of adding amenities really puts these projects at the top of the list. Glass House and SPIRE are some of the most attractive buildings for our clients because of how much they offer their residents. Often the biggest reason we hear for people moving to the two spectacular downtown buildings is because their current building offers no amenities or very limited amenities for almost the same HOA fees and they want to improve their lifestyle. Of course Glass House and SPIRE can do this because they have hundreds of residents to share the HOA fees to keep them manageable while smaller buildings would have a tough time carrying the cost burden of such features.

It's almost always a choice of a better lifestyle. People are choosing to wake up in the morning and go get in their morning workout without leaving the building. They want to live downtown and host a superbowl party or screen their favorite movie for friends. They want to entertain for friends before a night out on the town or offer a guest suite to visitors in for the weekend (then they are staying close... but sharing a bathroom). Whether it's the ability to relax by a pool in the heat of a Denver summer or jump in a hot tub during a typical Denver snowstorm these buildings offer all the benefits of living downtown and all the amenities of a large home.

Now it's our turn to ask for your vote. Which list of amenities sounds the best to you? The best way to know for sure is to take a tour of both so please give us a call anytime to schedule your own private tour of Glass House and/or SPIRE at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950.

Denver golf courses are some of the best courses in the state. They are affordably priced and are open all year. The majority are open from daylight to dark when the weather permits. They also include a wide variety so there is sure to be a course for everyone. If Denver living is in your future or you are just planning a visit, you may want to check out the many courses that are available for your next game of golf. The following of are some of the many Denver golf courses that are located in this area.

• Aqua Golf - Two separate miniature golf courses and the aqua driving range, make this course great fun. They have a new clubhouse and it has many new features, such as the meeting room which can be used for parties or corporate meetings.

• Harvard Gulch Golf Course - A 9 hole par 3 course, the course is great for those who are pressed for time. This is also a good course for beginners who want to learn the game.

• City Park Golf Course - As Denver golf courses go, this one is in a most beautiful setting that provides views of the downtown area and the Rocky Mountains. An 18 hole regulation course located across from City Park.

• Overland Golf Course - A regulation course with a restaurant, driving range and a pro shop, Overland course is only minutes from the downtown area and is Denver’s original Country Club.

• Evergreen Golf Course - Denver living means this 18 hole executive course with a pro shop and restaurant. This is the only municipal course outside of Denver, but it is only a half hour away.

• Wellshire Golf Course - Voted one of the “best public facilities in the nation” Wellshire was designed in 1926. The outstanding feature is the challenges found on holes 12 through 14. This is often called “Amen Corner.”

• Kennedy Golf Course - Named after President John F. Kennedy, this course is a “golf mecca.” The par three is terrific for those learning to play or anyone wanting to improve their game. There is miniature golf, a restaurant and a pro shop here.

• Willis Case Golf Course - An 18 hole regulation course, among Denver golf courses this one has one of the most spectacular views. The Rocky Mountains are the backdrop beginning at the first hole. Accurate play is going to be the key to this course.

Please contact New Era Realty to learn more about Denver golf courses, or any of the many wonderful Denver loft and condominium offerings at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950.

What makes a neighborhood? We love our architecture, our culture, our green spaces, trails and urban planning amenities.

But one thing certainly makes a neighborhood stand out among the others... Food. Living in a city is about the energy created by people. People who meet together with friends and family for dinner, a drink, or a cup of coffee in the morning. It is only natural that when our clients select their new homes in Downtown Denver that we ask them about what they want out of a neighborhood including the places they like to dine.

Don't get us wrong, this is only one of a hundred things about each Downtown Denver neighborhood that we consider, but it's still important. Consider it a two part equation. To find your perfect Downtown Denver condo and loft residence you want to make sure that two things are true.

1: You love your new home. You love it's floor plan, the space, the fixtures. If it's a building such as SPIRE, Riverfront Tower, ONE Lincoln, or others that includes loving the amenities and common spaces too.

2: You love your neighborhood. Living downtown offers a wonderful lifestyle. That includes dining, shopping, seeing shows, sporting events, health and wellness, and more.

And for many of our clients the quality of the local bistro, the neighborhood wine bar, the favorite romantic dinner spot on a rainy/snowy night, and the corner coffee house makes a difference in the quality of life.

Now back to our headline about LoHi. Considering how important the restaurants are to a neighborhood we wanted to share one of our clients favorite dining neighborhoods... LoHi. LoHi stands for the Lower Highlands and it's right next to Riverfront Park on the edge of Downtown Denver (and with this location it has some of the best views of the Denver skyline). LoHi has been a hot spot for a number of years. The growth of Riverfront Park and the entire Highlands area began a change. Highlands and LoHi already had a reputation for great restaurants, many on 32nd from Tejon up through Lowell. Sushi Sasa, Vita, Duo and Lola opened years ago in LoHi right on the border of LoHi and Riverfront. Then the past couple years LoHi Steak Bar, Colt and Grey, The Squeaky Bean, and a new Pasquini's opened to rave reviews. This past week the Highland Tap and Burger opened. Almost every 6 months a new restaurant is opening it's doors in this great neighborhood.

And almost every day our clients ask about living in or next to this neighborhood. With an ideal location close to downtown you can pick to live in a high rise like Glass House (don't forget Zengo right next door), a single family home, or a small duplex either in LoHi, the Highlands or Riverfront park and enjoy all the great culinary delights of the area. Whatever your preference this area offers great options for your Denver condo and Loft search.

To learn more about the Lower Highlands or surrounding neighborhoods please contact New Era Realty at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950. And did we forget to mention you can visit us at our new office location right in LoHi (we told you we liked it here).

Downtown Denver - 7th Least Stressful City 2010

Downtown Denver has been named the 7th least stressful city for 2010. The business news website of Portfolio.com conducted the survey which put downtown Denver between San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Surprisingly for the reputation the area had in the early days - the stampedes, the gunfights and blizzards - which surely had to be stressful, today it is the mecca of calm.

The city of Cleveland was third on the list and Salt Lake City was at the top of the list of cities that are the least stressful. Number 10 on the list was Phoenix and this is even more of a surprise since the kidnapping rate is extremely high, the freeways are packed, it is exceptionally hot and the politics are crazy in this city.

These choices did make one pause and wonder about the survey rankings. There was this tidbit from the editor of Portolio.com. “Looking at the Downtown Denver numbers, I see you’ve got great sunshine and you don’t kill each other, which is nice.” No, New Orleans took top spot on that. They may have nice weather, but according to this list, they are considered the “deadliest city.” Their numbers say 51.7 murders per 100,000 residents for 2009. The safest city is Salt Lake City, with 2.2 murders per 100,000 residents.

Stress, in the fast-paced world we live in today is affecting more and more people. According to a Gallup Poll from as recently as June, 40% of workers across the nation say they experience daily stress. The numbers get higher if those who are unemployed are counted.

There are many factors that people attribute to causing their stress. The economy has been one of the biggest of these. Portfolio.com and Bizjournals combined efforts and created a formula containing 10 parts to try and get an idea of the stress levels in 50 of the biggest metropolitan areas of the country.  Here are the ten factors that were used for determining the stress levels for each city:

Poverty
Income growth
Unemployment
Unhealthy Air
Deaths from Circulatory-system diseases
Sunshine
Robberies
Housing
Commuting Costs
Murders

Please contact New Era Realty to learn more about Downtown Denver, or any of the many wonderful Denver loft and condominium offerings at 303.991.9878 or 800.392.1950.

We just had to do a series of blog posts about one of the most common comparisons we are asked to make... Glass House vs. SPIRE.

If there are two buildings in Denver that are among the most popular and the most discussed they would be the Glass House in Riverfront Park and SPIRE in downtown Denver.  When we do tours of the great residential towers in Downtown Denver these are almost always on the short list.  They are also where many of our clients are now happily living and enjoying the Downtown Denver lifestyle.

While there are many other great buildings in Denver the Glass House and SPIRE residences are among the most desired.  They also  have some of the best reviews from existing homeowners and our clients continue to tell us how much they enjoy living there.  That's why they are among our favorites too.  Both are very similar with glass wall systems, great amenities, great locations and they were both built by the same construction company.  As you might guess, many of the questions we receive from our clients are about trying to determine which of the top two is the true number one.  Our answer is simple.... It depends.

It depends on what priorities our clients have.  There are strengths about both buildings as they compare against each other and there are differences that only the individual who will live there can determine which is the winner.  It's like asking someone what the best ice cream flavor is... you are going to get different answers.  Sure, you can narrow it down to the most popular few choices but at some point it's going to be individual preferences (and taste buds).

What we can do and will be doing over the next several weeks is a Wednesday blog series comparing and discussing these two buildings in various categories that our clients often ask us about.  Then we will put out a vote at the bottom of the post and let all of you readers lend your point of view.  We think the Glass House and SPIRE are outstanding residential towers in Denver so this is a fun topic to share points about.    We will be comparing location, amenities, green living, and more.  For this intro post we picked a topic that won't need as many words (since we already filled up the page explaining what we will be discussing).  Let's talk about... Architecture.

The question is simple, which building's Architecture speaks to you more.  They are both picture perfect (and many photographers use these buildings for their best examples) with elegant glass walls.  The both light up the skyline views to their neighbors.  Let's face it... these are good looking buildings and the reflections of light off the glass can be spectacular any time of day.

So for your Architecture and construction fans here is a quick breakdown of the two and we want you to vote.   Please note that info was gathered from online resources so these measurements are approximate, we didn't actually measure the height ourselves although that would be a fun challenge.

Glass House

• Architectural Height - 81.69 m
• 23 Floors
• Structural Material - Concrete, Glass
• Facade System - Brick, Glass
• Two towers
• 8th Floor Amenity Level
• Architectural Style - Modernism
• Architect – Preston Partnership

SPIRE

• Architectural Height - 147.22 m
• 41 Floors (no 13th, so the top is 42)
• Structural Material - Concrete, Glass
• Facade System - Curtain Wall
• Single Tower
• Architectural Style - Post Modern
• 9th Floor Amenity Level
• Architect - RNL Design

Don't forget to check back next Wednesday when we will go into more detail on the next Glass House vs. SPIRE topic.