If you’re looking at downtown condos to get something affordable that
will qualify for the federal first-time buyer tax credit, there’s
something else you ought to look at today: A townhome project, newly
completed with green energy features, a six-block walk from downtown,
where the very most expensive design is only $349,000.
“You can get a condo for less, but for a downtown townhome, there just
aren’t any,” says builder Scott Ray, who showed me his models at
Traverse, 25th and Champa in Curtis Park, three blocks from Light Rail.
Real townhomes…as in, more room than a condo will ever deliver at this
price (from $324,900), plus a 2-car tandem attached garage.
Ray ran the numbers for me: Traverse’s cost-per-foot on the largest,
1,400 feet ($332,900), comes in at around $238/foot. The monthly HOA
fee is only $125…and any one of nine homes left can deliver in time
well before the tax credit’s Nov. 30 deadline.
Four buyers have already taken advantage…including an Englewood couple
that both work downtown…and a consultant that offices out of his
live-work space on the main level (it’s an option on all of these).
Ray, who’s done numbers of projects, did a successful duplex in
Cole/Whittier last year, before turning his eyes to a rare ‘B-zoned’
parcel in Curtis Park a few blocks from downtown. “I saw what everybody
else was building and the way the economy looked, and I didn’t want to
be part of that (high) price point,” he told me. He hired Architecture
Denver, same firm that did the footbridge that crosses into LoDo, for a
design using less-expensive modular construction.
The results you’ll tour today look pretty close to other downtown
townhouse products…slightly scaled down, but still with contemporary
finishes, stainless in the kitchen, engineered red-oak floors, Blomus
fireplace, and open-frame steel staircase leading up to a bedroom level
with master suite and a second bedroom with en-suite bath. Modular
construction allowed for 2×6 walls and for inside-out insulating and
sealing; not only affordable, but a much ‘greener’ way of constructing
than stick-built.
Realtor Jennifer Carter lives a ways east in San Rafael. “We really
prefer these neighborhoods,” she said. “They’re close to downtown, but
they feel like neighborhoods.” Jennifer will be on hand today noon-5 to
show these and tell you about a free washer-dryer on contracts this
week, as well as $1,250 to closing costs.
If you go…
WHERE:
Traverse, affordable new townhomes in Curtis Park six
blocks from downtown, finished models, 9 available, free washer-dryer
this week. 2486 Champa St., Denver; take Park Avenue east from I-25
past Coors Field (becomes 22nd) 7 blks to Stout, turn left, 3 blks to
25th St., left to Champa (one-way)
PRICE:
From $324,900-$349,000
WHEN:
Today, 11:30 until 4 p.m.
PHONE:
720-275-3331
