8.5 out of 10

Cole

39.7662067906464 -104.967995395111
Great for
  • Cost of Living
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Not great for
  • Clean & Green
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Internet Access
  • Medical Facilities
  • Nightlife
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters

Reviews

5/5
2yrs+
Editors Choice

"A New Old Hood"

I think it's hard to find a more authentic urban neighborhood in Denver than Cole. Alleyways splitting each residential block. Little corner stores and bus stops everywhere. 24/7 foot traffic, kids playing baseball in the street. The visible signs of urbanity can't be missed in Cole. The neighborhood is clearly being gentrified (again), particularly after being hit rather hard by the housing/foreclosure crisis of 5 years ago. Investors and flippers are on to the secret - historic, well-maintained single family homes (with garage parking!) on small lots available for under $300k in urban Denver?! You betcha. And located just a 10-minute bike ride (or a 5-minute drive if you're more keen on 4 wheels) from some of the best Denver has to offer - the Central Business District, Coors Field, Uptown, LoDo, City Park, Denver Zoo?! Double whammy. And completion of the light rail line connecting DIA (the airport) with Downtown Denver will only add to the locational appeal of the hood. Although its true - you won't find many organic coffee shops or yoga studios in Cole - plenty of great restaurants and bars are within walking distance.

So naturally, what are the trade offs? Most people would probably tell you the neighborhood is dangerous. Ask somebody who actually lives there, however, and they will probably tell you otherwise. A good dose of common sense in the "hood" goes a long way. Don't get into verbal altercations with people in front of the corner liquor store. Don't leave your new $1500 mountain bike sitting out in your front yard overnight. Don't join a local gang. Etc etc. You know, those things your mom taught you when you were a kid. The risk of random violent crime is no higher in Cole than many other urban Denver neighborhoods. The biggest trade off to most people is probably the lack of necessity shopping in Cole, though you don't have to go far at all to pick up groceries or find a pharmacy. The quality of the neighborhood schools certainly won't draw you to Cole, but they are changing along with the neighborhood. Small children are out and about everywhere, and with several local parks, bball courts, and ball fields, and minimal traffic, Cole definitely has a kid-friendly vibe. Most of the kids just aren't white.

Bottom line is this: a historic, well-maintained single-family housing stock in close proximity to Denver's big city amenities is hard to find these days at an affordable price. Cole is probably top of the list for anybody or family that is willing to be a bit of an urban pioneer - more interested in re-creating a neighborhood than simply selecting one. If you're a tweener, you'd probably fit right in with the culture. (If you can't afford to be a yuppie, you don't appreciate the insightfulness of new age hippies, and you're not hung up on your new tattoo sleeve or the color of your fixie bike, then you're a tweener).
Pros
  • beautiful Victorian bungalows
  • close proximity to downtown/City Park
  • historic character
  • low housing costs
Cons
  • alley cats
  • aspiring graffiti artists
  • still some crime
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
sm8 sm8
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"A community coming into its own"

Cole is a hidden gem. It is 3 miles from downtown Denver--that's a 20 minute bus ride or bike ride. It is a 20 minute walk to City Park and a 15 minute walk to the 38th and Blake A Line stop. It has 2 parks: Russell Square Park and St. Charles Park. Local eats include NOLA, Jack Rabbit Slim's, Jake's, Black Shirt Brewery, Corner Ramen, Los Molinos, Ho Ho Chinese and Tacos & Ranchitos. Exciting future openings include Lou's Italian Deli (from the maker's of Rosenberg's & Rolling Pin), INDUSTRY's STRIDE Campus, DASQ Coffee, and Crema Coffee. Cole boasts a great history, including the still active High Street Bar, Annunciation Catholic Church, Wyatt, Tramway, and the former Henry White Warren Library (Carnegie library), and a 4 block section of the neighborhood are all historically designated. The majority of housing stock is brick, making the housing choices here sturdy and charming. The neighborhood association is active, including a litter clean-up initiative, annual festival, and lots of ways to meet neighbors. Neighbors are diverse, including natives and new-comers. Cole has 2 Denver Urban Gardens open to the public. The new 39th open channel greenway will provide more green space for the neighborhood, including a bike path, pedestrian bridges, and areas for the community to enjoy it. Porta Power has plans to redevelop their property into retail development. There are lots of exciting happenings in the neighborhood!
Pros
  • Good for biking
  • Close to A Line/20 minutes downtown on bus
  • Brick houses
  • close proximity to downtown/City Park
  • historic character
Cons
  • Litter
  • Needs more street lighting
  • Loitering
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5
2yrs+

"A neighborhood in transition"

Developed early, with many little Victorian homes dating back to the late 1800s, Cole has a historic character. In this respect, and in other respects, it has a lot in common with Five Points. They are both home to established African-American and Latino families, as well as newer arrivals, had an older reputation for urban blight that they are currently shedding, and are becoming more and more desirable as people realize that home prices are low and the area is a quick drive to downtown. This is a neighborhood in transition, and with that come the standard practical and ethical questions: will the working class and working poor find themselves living in a better neighborhood, or displaced to Aurora? Will longtime locals begin to feel out of place in their own neighborhood? Regardless of the eventual outcome, a lot of people are investing in Cole, opening new businesses and buying (and fixing and flipping) homes.

Small markets are scattered along the periphery. The area has a couple of neighborhood bars and small restaurants, but overall, little shopping, nightlife, or dining opportunities (although these are all close by). Unless you live close to the supermarket and have a lot of time on your hands, or you like to bike, it’s probably best to have a car. Buses exist, but they are not as frequent or direct as locals might like, and the light rail line that serves Five Points doesn’t come this far northeast.
Pros
  • historic character
  • close to downtown via car
  • beautiful Victorian bungalows
Cons
  • still some crime
  • Little nightlife/dining/shopping within the neighborhood
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
2/5 rating details
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
2yrs+

"Walking a fine line"

Cole neighborhood has been a depressed area for decades, and is one of the high-crime areas of the city. But it might be poised for a comeback. It's near some great areas of revitalization in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. And it could be a terrific investment, because it's a truly historic neighborhood in a great location with low home prices. Cole is jam-packed with adorable Victorian-era homes. It is minutes from both downtown and City Park. The neighborhood has become increasingly diverse, which seems to be injecting new energy and life into the area.
There are some new businesses opening up, and the neighborhood is consistently attractive to those looking for home bargains. But crime is still a major concern. Robberies are frequent. This neighborhood is worth watching, because of the great homes and the feel that new life is slowly infusing the old neighborhood. I would seriously consider moving here if the changes that have taken place in nearby Curtis Park start to spread outward. If you decide to start house-hunting here, all I can say is be very selective. But on the whole, this place has great potential and I am confident that the area will come into its own, with the cooperation of both long-time residents and new investors.
Pros
  • close proximity to downtown/City Park
  • beautiful Victorian bungalows
  • low housing costs
Cons
  • crime
  • uncertainty about direction of home values
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More