Shenandoah

1980s homes on spacious lots

The neighborhood has a diverse housing market, from craftsman-style builds to Tudor revivals. “The houses here are neat; a lot of them are custom houses. It’s not cookie-cutter where everyone has the same model,” Harris-Cassel says. Most homes are over 3,000 square feet and were built between the late 1970s and early 1980s. Spacious fenced-in back yards and attached multi-car garages are common, and lots are shaded by trees and greenery. “Shenandoah has a lot of custom and semi-custom homes on really big lots,” says Cindy Dassinger, a local Realtor with Metro Home Finders Inc. “It’s a gated community, and when it was first developed, it was seen as one of Aurora’s elite neighborhoods. People don’t usually move away from the neighborhood, but when houses do hit the market, they’re gone quick.” Prices start in the mid-$500,000s and reach the low $800,000s, with prices increasing alongside square footage and upgrades.

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Nearby public schools

The Cherry Creek School District serves local families and is one of the highest rated districts in Colorado. “People move here for the school district,” Dassinger says. “If you’re moving to Aurora and you have kids, you’re probably considering Cherry Creek.” The district offers a wide variety of career and technical education courses at each high school, and students can earn dual enrollment credits in partnership with local community colleges without leaving their high school campus. Adding to the appeal of the district, college credits earned through the dual enrollment programs are guaranteed to be transferrable to any public college or university in Colorado through the state’s Guaranteed Transfer Pathway program. Most households are within a half-mile walk of both Laredo Middle School and Smoky Hill High School.

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Commuting to downtown and DTC

As a gated community, Shenandoah is closed off from the main road, preventing through traffic and promoting a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. “People are walking constantly, and stopping in the street to talk to each other,” Harris-Cassel says. Apart from visiting neighbors and walking to the community park, the neighborhood is largely car dependent. Downtown Denver is around 18 miles away via Interstates 225 and 25, and Denver International Airport is roughly 24 miles north. The Denver Tech Center, one of the area’s biggest employment hubs, is less than 10 miles west.

Trails and outdoor recreation

You don’t have to leave the neighborhood to enjoy the outdoors, with an outdoor pool, athletic courts, a pond and a playground in the center of the community. “The kids are always playing out in the street, walking to each other’s houses and going to the neighborhood park together. You don’t see that everywhere,” Harris-Cassel says. Nearby, Sagebrush Park offers open space and picnic tables. Cherry Creek State Park spans across more than 4,000 acres and has over 30 miles of trails. The park features an expansive reservoir, complete with a swim beach, a marina and fishing docks. Dog owners can take their pups to the 100-acre off-leash dog park on the east end of the state park.

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Businesses along Smoky Hill Road

With multiple commercial areas lining Smokey Hill Road, shopping and dining opportunities are right within reach for Shenandoah residents. At the corner of Smoky Hill and Chambers, shoppers can pick up groceries and baked goods from Tradishn Market and Cafe before grabbing a bite to eat from The Angry Clover, which serves pub fare and craft brews that can be enjoyed while listening to live music or during a bingo night. The Piney Creek Crossing shopping center is on the neighborhood’s east side and has a Walmart and a variety of small restaurants, including:

• Toley’s on the Creek Bar and Grill
• Chago’s Mexican Food
• Pho 97, which serves a variety of Vietnamese fare

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