West Colfax

When locals think about West Colfax, their first instinct is sometimes to steer clear. Driving down West Colfax itself (the street, that is) won't help. This is one of the rough spots here. But it is also adjacent to Sloan Lake on the north, with the wildly popular Highland area beyond. So at least in part, the West Colfax neighborhood is up and coming, and some of it might be considered "arrived".

Areas further south are still a tough proposition. Long an area for crime and violence, it is still struggling to recover. This spot had not quite seen the influence of the northerly revitalized areas before the housing market crashed, and the already-poor area was hit hard. Housing values here fell again last year. However, this is still a promising neighborhood, so those who are house-hunting with an eye toward investment should consider this area.

This spot's closest retail and eatery district is Federal Blvd, which has long been a good strip for delicious but inexpensive food, especially if you like Mexican or Asian options. Colfax is also a business strip, but many stretches are run-down and unsafe.

There are nice homes here that just need a bit of work. This area isn't quite as handy to downtown as the spots to the east, but it's a short commute by car. If you are interested in moving here, look carefully and start with the north side. Many families live in West Denver and enjoy it once their own experience has been set against West Denver's bad reputation.