When Patrick Maguire, business major at Johnson & Wales U., met Malia Guillen (Culinary Arts major), they fell seamlessly into life at nearby Stapleton. His pad was in LoDo; but her flat on Founders Green was where they spent time: summer concerts and movie nights…Saturday mornings at Sweet William Market. Patrick took a job waiting tables at Casey’s Bistro in Stapleton Town Center; Malia took one at Amore Fiore.
What neither could envision then was how quickly after school they’d be buying an actual home in Stapleton — 2-car garage, in a new neighborhood close to Stapleton’s new Central Park. “I never imagined we could afford a single-family home here,” said Malia, who brought two dogs along into the relationship. You can see the ‘Emerson Cottage’ ranch by Wonderland Homes that made the numbers work…with a standard full basement that’ll let them expand their living space over time.
“We can afford the first floor,” Malia says, adding that many of her Wonderland neighbors are doing the same thing: starting out and stretching
budgets. Wonderland’s Tom Sorensen (he and Sean McAleavey will be at Wonderland’s Denver Traditions today, E. 35th east of Central Park Blvd.) says their three ranch plans are just as popular with buyers who’ve already shipped the kids off, and who want single-level living. (Wonderland can finish a basement now if you prefer.)
Either way, Wonderland and other builders are pushing the bottom edge for first time buyers (in Wonderland’s case, including the basement).
Meanwhile, Wonderland has always been cutting edge in energy technology–Patrick and Malia anticipate monthly summer energy bills in the
$95 range, air conditioning included. When Patrick’s father, a custom builder in Maine, inquired about the quality of Wonderland’s work, Patrick
PDF’d him the specs. “He told me, ‘Wow!'” said Patrick.
The couple was also wowed by Wonderland’s finishes: standard hardwood floors in kitchen, nicer trim, and a gas range…important to Culinary Arts majors. They like the accessibility to downtown (“If we want to hang out in LoDo, we take a cab,” she says) or to favorite Stapleton eateries like the Berkshire and Udi’s (breakfast burritos). “We really enjoy riding our bikes, everything is so well maintained,” Malia notes. “I talk to lots of people who live down south,” adds Patrick. “I don’t think they really understand how close Stapleton is.”
To reach Denver Traditions by Wonderland, from Quebec St. take MLK Boulevard (32nd) east six blocks to Central Park Blvd., north two blocks to E. 35th, and east eight blocks to Akron Court.
If you go…
WHERE:
Denver Traditions at Stapleton by Wonderland Homes,
2-3-&-4-bedroom super-energy-efficient homes in Stapleton’s Central Park
neighborhood, 3 ranch plans, traditional Denver design. 9087 E. 35th,
Stapleton, from Quebec St. take MLK Blvd (32nd) east 6 blks to Central Park
Blvd., no. 2 blks to E. 35th, east 8 blks to Akron Ct., left.
PRICE:
Single-family homes from $290,900
WHEN:
Today, noon – 5 p.m.
PHONE:
303-393-9099
WEB:
