By Mark Samuelson

Whether or not you’re chasing after something in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, you’re unlikely to tour any house more fun than one in Sunnyside, north of W. 38th, two blocks east of Federal. Beaux Arts-trained architect Eugene Groves began work in 1935 on a 1-bedroom there, two years before he did Johnson’s Corner gas station on old U.S. 85 near Longmont, saved from a wrecking ball in 2002.

Highlands developer Chuck Murphy of Epic Realty restored this all-concrete landmark by Denver architect Eugene Groves.

This house, which spent the 1980s-1990s sheltering jazz percussionist Marc Bertoni, could have easily met a similar fate. Of 40 buildings Groves created (numbers of landmarks on the CSU campus), only a dozen ever gained historic preservation; and when Mr. Bertoni began ailing, this one wasn’t on the list. “It would have been a historical sin if it had been torn down,” says Highlands developer Chuck Murphy, who spent two years restoring 2733 41st Street for the market, preserving all its quirks. more »

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. more »

By Mark Samuelson

If you’re looking for a luxury urban condominium, you’re looking in downtown. However, you’re probably missing an opportunity in a new kind of downtown created at Belmar…loads of restaurants and attractions six miles west of downtown. Marketers of Plaza Residences know that they have to try a little harder to be noticed…and that’s what they’re doing Sunday, Aug. 30—offering a gourmet open house above the Sunday Outdoor Market at Belmar, with giveaways of $500 and $100 gift certificates.

Kevin Garrett, Kentwood City Properties, shows a view from penthouse overlooking Belmar.

It was at an event like this that Barry and Holly Kutner discovered Belmar’s charms and bought a big penthouse, a few doors from one you’ll tour. The Kutners weren’t moving from Arvada or Genesee but rather Philadelphia–getting things they like about the big city (including walking to Whole Foods), together with the better access west to the mountains that Belmar can offer. more »