Piazza! |
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The piazza or better defined as the plaza, is the centerpiece of an urban setting. It is a multifaceted public space where city life comingles. Missing from the urban landscape of Denver is the piazza, but not for long.
The Denver Union Station development projects a future piazza for downtown Denver. The area will be the land transportation center, where light rail commutes and travelers convene. The historic railroad station, Union Station, is undergoing a major restoration in conjunction with re-development of the land and rail lines. There is a hotel planned, an underground bus line, parking, shopping and plenty of outdoor spaces with fountains and terrace styled seating. Commerce will be everywhere, commissioned art will be added to the iconic frontage of Union Station; all designed to draw the people and ,done right, the people will come.
The historic Union Station is located where 17th Street ends on Wynkoop, right across the street from the Kentwood City Properties office. Most of the development above ground projects north west of the historic station building and rail lines. It moves towards the Highlands and LoHi neighborhoods, the most up and coming residential neighborhood in Denver, an architectural mix of bungalow with modern and the best restaurant selection along the front range. The pedestrian bridges will be well connected to the Union Station development as will the proximity to the Riverfront community, a planned luxury residential community that is bordered by Confluence Park, where the Platte meets Cherry Creek, and the Highlands area. Riverfront is the empty nester or second home city dweller's dream; a latte shop and vintner steps from your front door.
Check out what is happening and get a head start on the real estate that will be available soon. For a tour of the Union Station project, email me at judy@kentwoodcity.com.
I am a fourth generation Denverite, learned to ski via the Eskimo Ski Train that transported twinkie bearing mogul busting kiddos to Denver's Winter Park (part of the parks and recreation system of the mile high city). The Ski Train left every weekend from Union Station. You can tour the old and the new with a seasoned realtor and native of the city!
The Union Station development is under construction, but visit www.unionstation.org for more information.
posted: February 23, 2012
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Denver Is The Best |
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According to John Rebchook's Inside Real Estate News, the S & P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices released today ranked Denver as the best performing housing market between the coasts!
Peter Niederman, CEO of the Kentwood Co was quoted in the article along with Chris Behrens, a broker with New Era Realty Inc. Both noted that with job growth in the Denver area, Denver fares pretty well. The states noted for re-location to Denver are Texas and other Southern states due to the energy business. Behrens and Niederman noted the high quality of life in Denver, moderate weather and lots of activity. It was also noted that buyers from the East and West coast see Denver as having a lot of inventory for buyers and based on today's interest rates it is advantageous to buy rather than wait.
In a buyers market, Denver is the best, and connected with the best.
posted: February 22, 2011
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Assertiveness Training |
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A recent publication made the statement that it takes a lot of courage to be assertive. A simple notion but a profound thought, especially in a mercurial economic environment. Assertive courage is key in maneuvering through the process of buying or selling real estate.
A seller needs to present the product to a number of critics, the buyer, the inspector and the appraiser. A buyer needs to compare the benefits of the chosen product to the reports that appear through the inspection and the appraisal. Getting to closing can be tricky without proper representation, assertive representation. This is not the time nor the economy to be represented by the "Ms. Congeniality" award winner. This is the time to be careful in your decisions! Be assertive in your choice, and choose wisely.
The National Association of Realtors is one of the oldest trade associations in the United States, one needs to be a realtor to join. Realtors are professionals that have achieved the training and state license requirements and the required ethics training of the association. I am proud to have served as a Director on the Denver Board of Realtors, an arm of the Colorado Association of Relators and the National Association of Realtors. The elected position is an opportunity for realtors to work on issues in an assertive manner that affect buyers and sellers, at the local and national level. The issues range from zoning changes and requirements to efforts that will lobby to preserve the mortgage interest tax deductions for American homeowners. Realtors are professionals with the courage to be assertive.
If you would like more information on the process of buying or selling homes feel free to contact me at my email address:
judy@kentwoodcity.com
posted: September 15, 2011
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TWELVE |
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Twelve is a composite number, the smallest number with exactly six divisors. There are twelve inches in a foot and one dozen equals twelve. There are twelve star signs and twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac. In Hindu the sun god Surya has twelve names and the western zodiac has twelve signs. There are twelve tribes of Israel in Judaism and twelve days to Ephiphany in Christianity. The Mayan calendar ends in two thousand twelve. Twelve men have walked on the moon and twelve is the symbol for the crowd roar in football. There are twelve months in a year....now that is enough time to buy or sell so do that in 2012!
The current real estate market is proving to be an opportunity that one should not miss, whether you are a first time home buyer, looking for a second home, looking to relocate or looking for a real estate investment. There are twelve reasons why you should not wait, the top of the list is the fantastic interest rate for a buyer and the low inventory for sellers.
If you would like more information about buying or selling in this come back market email me at
judy@kentwoodcity.com
posted: January 18, 2012
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What Is Modern? |
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What do you call a remodelled brick ranch that was built in the sixties and houses an Eames chair? Modern or contemporary comes to mind but then if it is a normal brick ranch is it traditional? In the same vein, what do you label an architectural Wrightian influenced design with wood beams and quarried rock set on a wooded lot?
The general categories listed in the residential real estate tool box fall short in describing today's homes. There is no Mid-Century Modern category eventhough that style of home is sought after and quick to sell in today's market. The lack of that category is enough to make Men Mad.
Just listed recently was a brick and frame ranch style home near Bible Park and the Highline Canal. The exterior and surrounding neighborhood homes, all built in the sixties, suggest the style term traditional. But, this home is everything but traditional. During a recent Open House, jaws dropped upon entering the home due to the WOW factor of the remodelling. Walls were moved to create an open floor plan with a new kitchen featuring stainless appliances, slab granite and espresso glazed cabinets. A Euro styled bath in the Master Bedroom and hand scraped 5 inch plank hickory wood floors throughout the main level turned the style of this home with a flip of a contemporary switch. There are no categories that suggest wow, yet the home went under contract within hours.
For more information on this home at 6915 East LaSalle Place or any other homes that will not gather dust on the market or the quiet listing of the Wrightian influenced home, email me at:
Judy@kentwoodcity.com. There is a home awaiting you and your Eames chair!
posted: May 7, 2012
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Zenderful Chi |
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It has been said by many that even if you do not know what zen is, something happens when you drive down Happy Canyon Road into Castle Pines Village. The mind has that switch, where you turn the day off, the world off and you actually feel your blood pressure drop. Castle Pines Village is just south of Denver off the I 25 corridor with acres of Ponderosa pines, mountain scrub oak and breathtaking views from many of the cliffs and ridges.
Located on the world reknowned Golf Club at Castle Pines is an estate home that defines zen and embodies the feng shui principle of chi. Chi is the invisible flow of energy circulating though earth and sky, man lives best when the structures he creates echo nature. By appointment only, 762 Valderrama Court was designed and appointed with the harmony of the environment. The San Francisco based architect spent days on site studying the colors from sun rise to sunset, different seasons and the changes in the mountains and sky. The blend of stone and steel, abundant use of clear story windows capturing either a ridge or a pine adds to the zen like quality of the home. This home lives in harmony with nature, giving warmth in the winter and shade during summer. A preview of the home's interior, designed by a notable Denver area professional, are posted under my Listings, watch for more photos of the exterior landscape and views as spring appears.
posted: February 24, 2011
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Housing |
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The word "housing" is front page news throughout the media, and it is positive! Housing starts are up according to the National Homebuilders Association! Housing prices are increasing according to national statistics from reputable researchers! Stock market hits record high citing a robust housing market as a key factor! Housing inventoryhits a record low, market goes from buyer's market to seller's market in the first quarter!
Housing is back...for many, not all. There is still an incredible need to continue efforts to make housing affordable and available for everyone. One of the most successful not for profits organizations in the Denver area, and a model throughout the nation is Warren Village. Warren Village is apartment living with on- site full time day care facilities for single parent families needing assistance. The reason Warren Village is so successful is the model it has created for success.
The residents at Warren Village are on assisted living allowances but are working full-time on goals and a career, many full time students earning college degrees. The alumni of Warren Village work in fields of education, real estate, banking, law, medicine and their children are going on to secondary schools because of the solid foundation they received at Warren Village. The cycle of welfare is broken in this housing community.
Most of the residents at Warren Village are women, generally leaving backgrounds of abuse and total dysfunction. There are on-site support groups, classes in parenting and job interviewing, nutrition and exercise. Each year the residents set goals that are measured. Each year the children continue to feel safe and cared for in a nuturing environment. Each year the Friends of Warren Village host the All Stars Breakfast, the major fundraiser for the organization.
This year the keynote speaker for the All Stars Breakfast was the infamous Joe Theismann, entertaining and informative.
Joe came from a very functional, loving two parent household and was blessed with incredible talent that earned him Hall of Fame notoriety but his message was direct and meaningful. To whom much has been given.......so, thanks to Joe, the room raised over $50,000 on top of the sponsorships and table attendance. The residents at Warren Village are too young to have ever seen Joe Theismann throw a football, but his support will earn him hall of fame honors in their community.
For more information on Warren Village or a tour of the facilities, it is located at 1323 Gilpin Street across the street from Cheesman Park. As you drive up you will see a wonderful playground off the Greta Horwitz Learning Center next to the entrance of the Fahrenkrog-Beck Apartments or you can contact me.
Judy Fahrenkrog
email: judyf@denver.com
Kentwood City Properties
303-820-2489
posted: March 7, 2013
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Winning |
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Football season is here and all thoughts and emotions are focused on the win. When teams win, the fans and near fans walk around with complete ownership; as in "we brought home the win"; but when the team doesn't win there is total disassociation and the "we" becomes "they".
Not dissimilar in real estate, when a transaction is winning, the high fives are all around but if a deal crashes, disassociation is rampant. This is human nature, but in order to have a successful season we need to learn from the disassociation and become owners in the process.
Get on board with the process, get involved with a realtor with a winning attitude, contact info at judy@kentwoodcity.com.
A nod and a "like" to Scott at
www.warrioracademy.com! Namaste!
posted: September 18, 2011
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Hunted House |
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No, the title is not a typo from the robo spell check on the Iphone, there really is a Hunted House on this very Halloween, in fact there are plenty of hunted houses in this unusual real estate market and many are available for quite a bit less than a few years back. Sellers have dusted off the cobwebs from earlier aggressive pricing and have had a "come to spirit" meeting with the market, so the pricing is better than last Halloween.
Mixing scary low interest rates (and how long will that last?) with dropping prices, you can't afford not to drink the brew!
Many of the houses that are available are easily viewed on line, but many of the new "under contracts" in our downtown Kentwood City Properties office are not available on line as they are sold before they hit the MLS! The opportunities are there, and Buyer Brokers are finding them...snoozing is losing so contact your realtor or email me at judy@kentwoodcity.com to search the market and develop a game plan.
Happy Hunting!
posted: October 31, 2011
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Sprezzatura |
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"Sprezzatura is an Italian word from a book written in the 1500's describing someone who can make something difficult look easy."
William Safire
Kate Middleton, the new Duchess of Cambridge, has eased into her new role effortlessly and with a certain element of classic nonchalance. She is the perfect example of sprezzatura, defining classic style in her dress and manner but displaying a contemporary vibe that is most appealing.
How does one cultivate sprezzatura? There is such a certain easygoing form of direction and nonchalance with sprezzatura that it escapes a floor plan. It is easier to observe sprezzatura than it is to define. For instance, the condominium at Larimer Place, featured on the Home Page of this website is known for its sprezzatura. There is a uncontrived ease in the floorplan that can be adapted effortlessly for one's style or taste. The spectacular views from all the floor to ceiling windows and outdoor decks gives the location of the penthouse a certain panache. The building is understated and without the fanfare of hotels or street level retail, giving it style without cliche. This penthouse has sprezzatura! Competitively priced for the location and views, it is across the street from historic Larimer Square and within two blocks of world class opera, symphony, ballet and theatre in addition to its close proximity to the Pepsi Center for hockey, basketball and concerts or baseball at Coor's Field.
For more information on Larimer Place or the penthouse condominium, email me at:
judy@kentwoodcity.com.
Judy Fahrenkrog, Broker Associate
Kentwood City Properties
Christie's Affiliate
posted: June 12, 2012
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