Foothills community blending urban and suburban living
The city of Lakewood continues to expand, with a population of over 156,000. Continued development has seen expansion west into the foothills, further establishing it as a growing city. “Lakewood caters to a variety of lifestyles because of its location. If someone is a city person and wants to go downtown, they have quick access, but if you want more of a mountain town, you’ve got those and the views,” says Jimmy Everetts, a local Senior Loan Officer with Shield Lending Team who grew up in Lakewood.
Lakewood grew from a community of farms and dairies between Denver and the Rocky Mountains to what it is today. Like in Denver, the promise of gold drew people to this part of the foothills. Denver became an entertainment district while Lakewood profited as the area’s main food supplier. After World War II, local farming operations began transitioning to a more residential and commercial landscape, and by the 2000s, the city had developed distinct areas, such as Belmar. Miles of trails lead to picturesque peaks, while a growing arts district along West Colfax Avenue celebrates the city’s creative side.
Today, area employment includes Jefferson County Government, Jefferson County School District R-1, St. Anthony Hospital, Colorado Christian University and, with over 8,000 employees, the Denver Federal Center, the city's largest employer.
Nestled against its namesake ridge, Green Mountain is a serene community in Lakewood, Colorado.
Homes open up to views of the Front Range on the Willowbrook neighborhood’s south side.
Nearby adventures can be found in downtown Denver, which is 16 miles east of Rooney Valley.
The views of the Rockies are beautiful in all seasons from Kendrick Lake Park.
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Belmar’s open-air mall and Colorado Mills’s major retailers
Belmar shopping district, an open-air mall, is widely considered Lakewood’s downtown area. An assortment of local gift shops, box store brands and restaurants surround a central plaza that transforms into an ice rink in the winter and a concert venue in the summer. Colorado Mills is a traditional mall lined with major retailers and surrounded by restaurant chains in the commercial-heavy Denver West area. Lamar Station Plaza’s shopping center is best known for hosting the iconic pink Casa Bonita, a playfully decorated Mexican restaurant that features cliff divers plunging past a 30-foot-tall waterfall, puppet shows and a market. Additional shopping districts are located along West Colfax Avenue.
Additional shopping districts are located along West Colfax Avenue in the city of Lakewood.
Belmar in North Alameda just celebrated it's 20 year anniversary.
Belmar's central plaza transforms into an ice rink in the winter.
Belmar shopping district, an open-air mall, is widely considered Lakewood’s downtown area.
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Celebrating art on West Colfax Avenue
The city has many creative and artistic areas, such as the Lakewood Cultural Center, Heritage Lakewood and the Washington Heights Arts Center. The 40 West Arts creative district is Lakewood’s premiere arts corridor on West Colfax Avenue that is open for monthly First Friday Art Walks. The district is also home to ArtLine, a 4-mile, walkable and bikeable path lined with murals, sculptures and rotating art exhibits.
The city celebrates culture at events such as Cider Days, a fall festival highlighting Lakewood’s agricultural heritage. Other events include the September Festival Italiano and an annual Earth Day celebration, where the city shows off its commitment to sustainability and its dedication to the arts.
The ArtLine is a 4-mile, walkable and bikeable path lined with murals and sculptures.
Belmar Park near South Alameda is home to a heritage center where you can view a 1950-era salon.
40 West Arts is a nonprofit creative district on West Colfax Ave in Lakewood
The Washington Heights Arts Center is located in the North Alameda neighborhood.
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Finding recreation along the Front Range
Lakewood has over 240 miles of trails throughout the city, some with direct access to green spaces such as William F. Hayden Green Mountain Park. The Bear Creek Lake Park Trail Running Series is held every September in nearby Bear Creek Lake Park, spanning over 2,600 acres with a sandy beachfront. For all of Lakewood’s trails, hiking with a friend, ditching the headphones and staying alert are recommended because of potential wildlife encounters with animals such as rattlesnakes and coyotes. Fox Hollow and The Homestead golf courses are both public, while Lakewood Country Club offers a more private golfing experience.
Smaller parks and reservoirs dot the city as well, including Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, which has an on-site history museum. “It’s got cool historical exhibits and is like an old town; it feels like you’re walking through a 1940s or 1950s neighborhood,” Everetts says. Located in what’s considered Lakewood’s “downtown” area, the park often hosts festivals and summer concerts at its covered pavilion. The city also has four recreation centers that offer everything from gymnastics to indoor rock climbing as well as areas for athletes, like Addenbrooke Park. Foothills Fieldhouse is nearby and includes an indoor turf field that can be rented out for practices and special events.
Because of the city's proximity to the Front Range, some of Colorado’s most beloved ski resorts, including Echo Mountain and Loveland Ski Area, are within reach. The world-famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is close, where unique rock formations create the backdrop for live performances, as well as for those trekking the nearby Trading Post Trail.
Recreation programs for youth and adults are offered at Foothills Fieldhouse in Academy Park.
The best place to catch a show is at Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison.
Daniels Park in Daniels, Lakewood, CO is a wonderful place to enjoy your day.
Putter's Pride mini-golf course in Academy Park has 54 holes of fun for families.
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Commuters rely on highways and RTD’s W line
Although there are plenty of trails throughout the city, most Lakewood residents drive cars, relying on major routes such as Interstate 70 and state Route 470 to reach downtown Denver, the Denver Tech Center, Aurora and Commerce City. In 2013, the Regional Transportation District, known to locals as “RTD,” completed the W Line, a light rail that offers routes into Denver from both Lakewood and Golden. Sixth Avenue is a freeway in Lakewood, but as it leads west to the city, it becomes a street linking Lakewood to central Aurora. Limited local buses are also available along high-traffic corridors such as South Kipling Street, South Wadsworth Boulevard and West Colfax Avenue. Denver International Airport is about a 30-mile drive north and serves over 213,000 passengers daily, connecting them with both domestic and international destinations.
Housing developments and nature considerations
Whether it’s dense urban townhouse complexes close to Belmar or foothills estates in Green Mountain, housing options in Lakewood come with a stunning backdrop of the Front Range. “Closer to Denver, you get a different feel versus closer to the front range,” Everetts says. “You go from this gambit of homes built closer to the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s—bungalows and smaller homes with two or three bedrooms and one bath—then closer to Green Mountain, you get detached bigger homes from the 1970s and 1980s. Farther west toward Solterra, you get bigger homes in a planned development with homeowners associations.”
Smaller established houses, bi-level and ranch-style homes, are more common near the Belmar shopping center, while spacious Craftsman estates line the hills in Lakewood’s newer developments. With an average home price of about $630,000, Lakewood’s housing market is slightly lower than that of Denver, which hovers around $690,000. Some contemporary condos near Belmar can sell for under $400,000, but most of the city’s real estate is in the $500,000 to $800,000 range, with custom estates sometimes topping $1 million.
Following the repeal of a 2020 growth cap, Lakewood could see an increase in developments in the coming years. One of those possible developments sits at the corner of Belmar Park, raising concerns among locals about tree demolition and wildlife impacts. The proposed 400-unit apartment building has since been put on hold so the development company can discuss the site with community members, and as of September 2024, the plans to add green space to the development are being reviewed for consideration.
Lakewood’s western area may be at potential risk of wildfires, so the city maintains a fire mitigation plan, taking proactive steps to combat risk, such as thinning vegetation, a task that homeowners are encouraged to do as well.
On the hills of Green Mountain are rows of contemporary homes with stunning views of Denver.
North Alameda also has some newer, larger homes.
Split-levels and contemporary mountain mansions line the mountainside of Green Mountain.
West toward Solterra in Lakewood, you get bigger homes in a planned development.
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Traditional classrooms and hands-on outdoor learning
Jefferson County Public Schools, locally known as “Jeffco Public Schools,” earns an overall grade of A-minus from Niche. In addition to the many elementary, middle and high schools in the city, there are also two charter schools and 13 private schools. Warren Tech offers career-focused programs for juniors and seniors, including 32 innovative programs with subjects including aircraft maintenance technology, horticulture and cosmetology. The district also offers a Senior Field Studies program, where students can spend the second semester of their senior year learning about renewable energy, backcountry cooking and wilderness preservation during extended outdoor field trips. Higher education options around the city include Colorado Christian University, Red Rocks Community College and Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Colorado Christian University has many buildings for community use.
After high school, students can attend Red Rocks Community College to the west of Union Square.
The Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design brings with it plenty of street art to Edgewood.
Warren Tech is the career and technical high school for Jeffco Public Schools.
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Crime and community watch programs in Lakewood
Lakewood has experienced rising reports of violent crime between 2019 and 2023 by nearly 24%, and property crime incidents increased by about 14%, aligning it with nearby cities and that of the state. Violent crimes reported to the Lakewood Police Department increased by 32%, around 1,200 reports, while property crime reports increased by 1% to 7,300. To combat crime, the city has introduced watch programs, a volunteer-run vacation check program for homes, and free environmental design assessments of private properties and businesses.
On average, homes in Lakewood, CO sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Lakewood, CO over the last 12 months is $479,000, down 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Thaine Swanson is the Co-Owner of Century 21 Altitude Real Estate and works full-time as a local Real Estate Agent. Husband to Marci, dad to 4 amazing children, and ‘grandpapa’ to two adorable granddaughters. His dedication to family spills over into his work with the same diligence of care and drive for success. Whether you are buying or selling a home or property he will ensure that your real estate needs are met and exceeded. Thaine is a problem solver and believes in communication. A multiple award winner, Thaine is known in the industry for being a top-tier agent and lands in the top 1% of agents for production. Visit Thaine and his team at the Castle Rock Storefront, 5650 Allen Way #117, Castle Rock, CO 80108
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