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Denver is Building Condos
Denver has seen a shift from the single-family home to new condos in the last few years. There are still a few single family homes being developed in the Denver metropolitan area, but limited space is forcing developers to build in and up rather than out. In fact, the construction of single-family detached homes was down 29.4 percent in 2006 compared to the year before.
Developers are favoring Denver condominiums for many reasons. It is much more convenient to build housing units on existing property rather than to increase the suburban sprawl. The surge of condominiums on existing urban property is often referred to as “infill,” because it fills in any vacant space in the city rather than stretching the city boundaries out. So as the development of single family home fell last year, the development of Denver new condos and townhouses was up 14.7 percent in 2006 in the seven counties making up the metro area. One of the more popular designs for Denver new condos is the downtown high rise building. Old warehouses and schoolhouses are often transformed from unusable old structures to modern, distinctive properties.
The edgy design of these new Denver condos for sale is likely to influence the design of new condos in the suburbs, as well. “It is the opposite of sprawl, that's one way to characterize it,” said Ken Schroeppel, an urban designer who monitors the development of core-city projects. “You're taking advantage of existing infrastructure, so you don't have to extend roads and utilities to undeveloped areas.” The Denver new condos are also helping to revitalize neighborhoods.
Denver's “Comprehensive Plan 2000” calls for quality development consistent with the character of surrounding neighborhoods, so the new condos in the area are usually designed to mesh with the feel of the surrounding neighborhood. Once new condos pop up in older neighborhoods, the property values tend to go up, so new condos are good for current property owners in the area. Many century-old building that housed schools and other services will be incorporated into lofts and condos.
Aesthetics aside, the development of infill condominiums is usually influenced by practical needs such as shopping and transportation as well. There are many Denver condominiums situated very close to light-rail trains, shopping centers, restaurants and other businesses. The surge of infill condominiums in Denver is good for the city residents because of the convenience they offer, the charm they can add to existing neighborhoods and the increased property values in those areas. Whether local residents see the benefits or not, there is no denying the increase in development of infill condominiums in the Denver metropolitan area.
