If you haven’t seen downtown Golden for a few years, you’re going to be wowed by how historic Washington Avenue (an Arts Festival today with music and events) has been transformed…the rough edges all gone, nicer shops and dining, and some spectacular flats above the scene, that have sold so well that just five remain for today’s open house.
All of this has been discovered by the touristas, who were combing Washington as I walked south across Clear Creek past the Golden Hotel and its Bridgewater Grille, the Golden-arch ‘Howdy Folks!’ sign, to the historic corner at 13th where you can tour Gateway Station…the very site where streetcars used to end their run from Denver.
“We have tourists come in all the time that tell us they wish they could live here,” says Kathryn Farrow, who’ll be on hand to show you those final five units from $310,000…and some refreshments, too.
Not surprisingly, some of 30 purchasers who’ve bought are from out of state…including parents of kids at School of Mines, who took flats after discovering the ‘new Golden’ scene here. Others are going low-maintenance after owning in Genesee or Arvada. There’s a Mines professor, shop owners…and numbers coming from downtown and LoDo.
“It’s all about the sense of community,” says Farrow. Owners get a double shot of that here, hosting margarita parties on their decks overlooking Washington…but also enjoying the amiable atmosphere down on the street. “It’s the Old West feel,” Farrow adds. “I almost couldn’t take it at first, people are so friendly.”
That’s a perfect ending for LoDo developers Greg Venn and Bob Gross of NexCore Group, who dreamed up Gateway Station up in 2005, tearing down Hested’s department store (dating from the 1890s but empty for the past 30 years) with its eyesore zig-zag roof from a space-age makeover. “Once that was done, downtown started blooming,” says Pam Eggemeyer, whose Spirit in the Wind gallery is downstairs, next to an ice cream store, Jimmy John’s, Starbucks and other attractions.
You’ll see a 1-bed, 1-3/4 bath flat over Washington, with nice finishes, a jetted tub and pre-wired for sound, just under 1,100 feet, $310,000…a 1,900-foot 2-bed with a corner view at $570,000… and one penthouse with a 500-foot deck at $699,000. NexCore’s Gross says there’s special financing available…but warns that “this could never be duplicated here, and the prices would be much higher.”
WHERE:
Gateway Station, just 5 remaining of 35 flats above Golden’s historic shopping/dining district; Arts Festival today, refreshments, restaurant giveaways. 1299 Washington Ave., Golden. Take 6th Ave. west to Golden; right on 19th to Washington, left to 13th (rt to free parking). Or from I-70 take 58 west to Washington, left.
PRICE:
From $310,000
WHEN:
Noon until 4 p.m.
PHONE:
720-987-8660
