In Curtis Park a few blocks from downtown, townhomes have prices even first-time buyers might afford
By Mark Samuelson
If you’re looking at downtown condos to get something affordable that will qualify for the federal first-time buyer tax credit, there’s something else you ought to look at today: A townhome project, newly completed with green energy features, a six-block walk from downtown, where the very most expensive design is only $349,000.
Newly completed townhome models at Traverse, 25th and Champa Streets in Curtis Park, are priced from $324,900 to $349,000. Modular construction kept energy performance high, and costs well below other downtown projects.
“You can get a condo for less, but for a downtown townhome, there just aren’t any,” says builder Scott Ray, who showed me his models at Traverse, 25th and Champa in Curtis Park, three blocks from Light Rail. Real townhomes…as in, more room than a condo will deliver at this price (from $324,900), plus a 2-car garage.
Ray ran the numbers for me: Traverse’s cost-per-foot on the largest, 1,400 feet ($332,900), comes in at around $238/foot. The monthly HOA fee is only $125…and any one of nine homes left can deliver in time well before the tax credit’s Nov. 30 deadline.
Four buyers have already taken advantage…including an Englewood couple that both work downtown…and a consultant that offices out of his live-work space on the main level (it’s an option on all of these).
Ray, who’s done numbers of projects, did a successful duplex in Cole/Whittier last year, before turning his eyes to a rare ‘B-zoned’ parcel in Curtis Park a few blocks from downtown. “I saw what everybody else was building and the way the economy looked, and I didn’t want to be part of that (high) price point,” he told me. He hired Architecture Denver, same firm that did the footbridge that crosses into LoDo, for a design using less-expensive modular construction.
The results you’ll tour today look pretty close to other downtown townhouse products…slightly scaled down, but still with contemporary finishes, stainless in the kitchen, engineered red-oak floors, Blomus fireplace, and open-frame steel staircase leading up to a bedroom level with master suite and a second bedroom with en-suite bath. Modular construction allowed for 2×6 walls and for inside-out insulating and sealing; not only affordable, but a much ‘greener’ way of constructing than stick-built.
Realtor Jennifer Carter lives a ways east in San Rafael. “We really prefer these neighborhoods,” she said. “They’re close to downtown, but they feel like neighborhoods.” Jennifer will be on hand today noon-5 to show these and tell you about special incentives.
-
WHERE: Traverse, affordable new townhomes in Curtis Park six blocks from downtown, finished models, 9 available, free washer-dryer this week. 2486 Champa St., Denver; take Park Avenue east from I-25 past Coors Field (becomes 22nd) 7 blks to Stout, turn left, 3 blks to 25th St., left to Champa (one-way)
PRICE: From $324,900-$349,000
WHEN: Today, 11:30 until 4 p.m.
PHONE: 720-275-3331
Tags: Curtis Park, Downtown Denver, First-time buyer tax credit, townhomes
