Congress Park, Denver

I have lived in one of the neighborhoods surrounding Congress Park area for most of the past several decades, and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's a great neighborhood with close access to the best of the city, and home and rental values that cover almost all income levels. Toward the southwestern end lies Congress Park itself. This is a small park by neighborhood standards, but it's extremely nice. There are open green spaces, sports fields and a swimming pool, surrounded by beautiful homes and treelined streets. But if that's just not enough park, Denver Botanic Gardens is right across the street, and Cheesman Park and City Park are both within a couple of minutes' drive! You won't be lacking for places to walk, jog, picnic, etc.
Much of the residential portion of Congress is made up of expensive brick bungalow homes. If you have the income to live on these blocks, you would be hard-pressed to find a better neighborhood. 7th Avenue Parkway in particular has a breathtaking strip of beautiful homes.
But if you can't quite afford those, there are many other options. North of 12th Avenue, many rentals make living much more affordable. 12th Avenue itself offers some wonderful little stores and restaurants which add to the charm and utility of this area. Along the Colorado Boulevard strip, there are both old and new apartment buildings with a broad variety of characters and amenities. The 13th and 14th Avenue strip also has many apartments for rent. This stretch of both Colfax on the north and Colorado Blvd on the east has some good little neighborhood shops, bars and restaurants.
Parking here is much more workable than in the neighborhoods just to the west, but this is still close enough to downtown to be very convenient. National Jewish Hospital lies on the southwest corner of Colfax and Colorado. This is one of the top respiratory hospitals in the world. People come from all over the country to seek treatment here. It's a cutting-edge research center, so the hospital offers employment opportunities right in the neighborhood. Overall, I doubt if anyone who moves to this neighborhood would ever regret it.

Congress Park is an older, established, and picturesque neighborhood that offers easy access to downtown and abuts a vibrant stretch of Colfax Avenue to the north. (See reviews of the City Park neighborhood for a description of Colfax in this area.) Within its borders, it has its own small commercial strip along 12th Avenue that offers coffeeshops, cafes, boutiques, a wine bar, and a bike shop. Buses periodically rumble by. This main drag feels mellow and peaceful, however, especially when compared with the hullabaloo of the Capitol Hill neighborhood to the west or Colfax on the north.

The quiet and convenience attract a lot of high-earning couples and families who can afford the costs of owning one of the well-maintained, turn of the century homes. The apartment complexes in the northern part of the neighborhood draw a younger and significantly less moneyed crowd, primarily students and young professionals. The neighborhood is walking distance to two of Denver’s best parks, and a short bus ride or drive from downtown. (As in the case of City Park West, though, it’s hard to stock up on groceries if you live here without a car.) Overall, this is a safe and beautiful neighborhood with a good quality of life, where residents can enjoy peace and quiet while still being close to all the city has to offer.