8th Most Expensive City? Not Really
by Osman Parvez The Daily Camera and Rocky Mountain News are reporting on a new study put out by the publishers of the Economist placing Denver as the 8th most expensive city in the United States. That's ahead of Boston if you exclude housing Huh?? Housing represents a big chunk of a typical family budget and excluding it makes this survey meaningless. I think these type of surveys should factor in the cost of housing and transportation for neighboring suburbs as well as the main city. In many areas surrounding Denver, for example areas within a 30 minute commute, 3BR [...]
Addicted to the Outdoors?
by Osman Parvez Me too. According to Fortune magazine, Boulder is the place to retire. The draw: With over 300 sunny days a year, more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, 43,000 acres of preserved open space, the Rocky Mountain National Park in its backyard, and a river popular with fly-fishers running through it, Boulder defines the great outdoors. ---- Like this analysis? Subscribe to our client research report. Want to get blog updates via email? Click HERE. Ready to buy or sell? Schedule an appointment or call 303.746.6896. You can also [...]
Weekend Events
by Osman Parvez Ahh Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start to summer. The Farmer's Market is in full swing, the flowers are blooming on Pearl Street, and Boulder Outdoor Cinema is almost ready to kickoff a new season. Here's a few weekend events to check out. The Bolder Boulder. This is Boulder's annual Memorial Day 10K race. 50,000 partipants are expected to take part. In teams or alone, this event brings thousands of people to Boulder to enjoy the sunshine, watch individuals and teams walk, run, and jog the race course. Truly a centerpiece event in Boulder. The 19th Annual [...]
This Weekends Events
by Osman Parvez In addition to Carmina Burana (did I mention I'm singing?), here's a few more ideas for this weekend. Friday (5/19) and Saturday (5/20) is the 8th annual Kitchens on Fire Tour. It's a two-day, self-guided tour (10am to 4pm) of eight Boulder kitchens for the aspiring chef, designer, home re-modeler or anyone interested in seeing spectacular kitchens. Tickets are only $15 and proceeds support the Dairy Center for the Arts. Saturday, May 20th is the 4th Annual Boulder Cleanup Day. Volunteer a few hours of your time to help beautify Boulder and then celebrate with all the [...]
Sing, Dance, and… Fly?
by Osman Parvez This coming weekend, The Ars Nova Singers and the Frequent Flyers Dance Company will be performing Carmina Burana at CU's Macky Auditorium. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, May 20th at 8:00pm and Sunday May 21st, at 2:00pm. Why am I posting about this? Well, because I'm one of the aerial dancers! No, no. Just kidding. As a kid, I struggled to climb the rope in gym glass. You'll find me with both feet firmly on the ground as I sing with Ars Nova. If you haven't planned your weekend as yet, give this performance a shot. I [...]
Today’s Reading
by Osman Parvez Looking for a local real estate news update to keep you awake this Monday morning? Here's a few articles that caught our eye... Commercial real estate is picking up along the US36 Corridor. Investors have pumped more than $153MM into office space, including the $35MM purchase of The Views office complex in Interlocken last month. Other projects in the works include Deepak Chopra's $40MM condo and health spa located next to the Westin Hotel and a $200MM residential and retail community by California based Pacific Builders. Don't want to hire a general contractor for that dream home? [...]
Louisville – Best (Affordable) Place to Raise a Family
by Osman Parvez Congratulations Louisville! It's now the best place in America to raise a family, according to a new book by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander. Louisville, CO is #1 for affordable cities. From today's Daily Camera, Sperling — who has ranked cities for various publications since 1985 — said Louisville's slow-growth policies restrict sprawl, while its location provides access to recreation, entertainment, health care and other amenities in Denver and Boulder. From Amazon.com's Book Description Best Places to Raise Your Family: Experts Choose 100 Top Communities That You Can Afford provides timely facts and expert in-depth analysis on [...]
Open Space Funding
by Osman Parvez Boulder is stepping up acquisition of open space land. This coming Tuesday night (5/2/06), City Council will vote to authorize a $20.1MM bond issue to fund the initiative. Voters previously authorized the city to issue up to $58MM in bonds in a 1997 ballot measure and after the issue of the $20.1MM, the city will have remaining authorization for $4.8MM. Here's the City Council Agenda Item on the bond issue. According to the Daily Camera, the funds will be used to purchase land in four areas: A series of parcels in and around the city of Boulder [...]
For Sale: Acoustic Cafe
by Osman Parvez Nederland's Acoustic Coffeehouse for Sale It's official. The Acoustic Cafe in Nederland has placed itself for sale. After struggling over the last few years and closing for a short period, the assets of the business including its name, equipment, and leasehold will be sold this Sunday April 30th. Founded by Tom Plant and Dawn Dennison in 1994, the Acoustic Cafe was created to bring some of the best bluegrass, old-time and folk back to the mountains. Owners since 2001, Chris and JP O'Brien purchased the Acoustic Coffeehouse to carry on the tradition. Recently renovated, it's now ready [...]
Big Boxes and Boulder
by Osman Parvez Another Big Box in Boulder? Well, probably not. A recent poll surveyed residents on a new "Big Box" retailer in Boulder. 35% of respondents (registered voters who live in or near Boulder) wanted another Big Box in Boulder while 48% opposed the idea. The survey came after Leo and Terry Palmos, the owners of property at 28th Street and Jay Road, indicated that they'd like to see their property annexed for a Big Box store. Last year, City Council asked planning staff to find sites for a big-box retailer within city limits as alternatives to the Palmos [...]
A Wall of Water Hits Boulder
by Osman Parvez If you happened to be in Boulder yesterday morning, you may have heard the sirens. Boulder was practicing for a flood evacuation. While there is little statistical chance of a massive flood rampaging down Boulder Canyon into the City of Boulder, on July 31, 1976 just such a flood did occur nearby. The Big Thompson Flood killed 145 people, destroyed 418 houses, and caused more than $40 million in damages - in about two hours. Whether or not you live or work in the flood zone, have a plan for you and your family including a safe [...]
Cultiva!
by Osman Parvez Boulder Valley Rotary is volunteering to help out the Cultiva! program tomorrow morning (Saturday, April 8th at 9am) at the Hawthorne Community Garden in North Boulder. I'll be there and would like to invite you to join us. If you're in the mood to exercise your green thumb, please come on out to help. For more information or directions, call me at 303.746.6896 p.s. The weather looks good, so don't forget your sunscreen and work gloves. ---- Like this analysis? Subscribe to our client research report. Want to get blog updates via email? Click [...]
Speak Your Mind
by Osman Parvez I attended the CBS4 sponsored Community Forum at Boulder High School on Tuesday night. It was a very interesting presentation of ideas from the community and the CBS4 people did a great job moderating the discussion. It reminded me a bit of Nantucket's Town Meetings, but with a little less drama and no voting. Summary: A resident of Mapleton Hill spoke out for something to be done with the closed Mapleton Elementary School. School Board President Helayne Jones was present to respond, noting declining enrollment as the primary factor driving the 2003 school closings. Also, according to [...]
Boulder Junction Update
by Osman Parvez Like the Little House in the country that over time becomes surrounded by the big city, Boulder's Historic Transit Depot currently sits in a parking lot surrounded by Whole Foods, Barnes and Noble, Landmark Cinema and more. According to the Daily Camera, planners want it to be part of the new Boulder Transit Village. Meanwhile, owners of the shopping center want it moved to make way for new development - sooner than Transit Village will be ready. However, preservationists don't really want to see the building moved twice. Things could interesting... ---- Like this analysis? Subscribe [...]
Boulder to Lyons Trail Moves Forward
by Osman Parvez ---- City Council approved the Community and Environmental Assessment Process for the Boulder Feeder Canal at last night's meeting. That's one more step in the direction of getting this decades long project finally underway. Here's the agenda item once again. Page 14 contains an expected timeline going forward. You can also download and watch the city council meeting on this agenda, including public comment on the issue. You'll need to install Real Player (free) to view the video. ---- Like this analysis? Subscribe to our client research report. Want to get blog updates via [...]
