Highlands and West Highlands
Several distinct neighborhoods comprise the "Highlands" area. Each has it's own character and has undergone varying degrees of revitalization. The Highland region originated in 1858 when Denver founder William H. Larimer, Jr., waded across the Platte River to stake out high ground on the bluffs northwest of Denver. Bought and later sold by Reverend Walter M. Potter, the 320-acre area bordered by West 38th Avenue, Zuni Street, West 32nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard became home to many Scottish, German, Italian and English immigrants in the 1890s. Some of Denver's most architecturally diverse buildings exist here.
West Highlands In 1993 we purchased our first home in Denver at 30th and Perry for under $100,000. We felt strongly that if we spent over $100K that we would never be able to get our money back on such a large investment. We purchased in Highlands because we had friends in the area and because my husband was an architect and appreciated the construction standards of properties built close to the turn of the century. We were excited that a coffee shop, Common Grounds, had just opened blocks from our new home. Although the rest of the shopping district at 32nd and Perry was a bit beleaguered with many of the store-fronts in shabby condition and blinds remaining closed during the day. Little did we know that we had just purchased in an area that was about to undergo a dramatic revitalization. Today West Highlands is one of the trendiest and most sought after neighborhoods in Denver. Historic Highlands Square st 32nd and Lowell features some of the hottest shopping and dining in the city. Young urbanites have flocked to the neighborhood in the last decade to find bargains on charming starter properties within blocks of Highland Square and some of the best nightlife in the city. Although there are a number of stately and spacious two storey homes in West Highlands, the majority of homes in West Highlands are small two to three bedroom homes perfect for starter homes. As West Highlands popularity grew a disturbing trend developed of "scraping" smaller and sometimes historic homes to be replaced by larger attached properties where developers could maximize their profits and cater to the many buyers searching for larger homes close to Highlands Square. To curb this trend a portion of West Highlands was registered as a historic district, making it more difficult to remove historic properties. The boundaries of West Highlands can be seen on the link to the Berkley
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