Nestled between Golden and Applewood, West Pleasant View saw home prices skyrocket during the pandemic.
Homebuyers seeking more space flocked to Jefferson County, boosting home prices. According to a study from Zillow that surveyed 50 cities and neighborhoods across metro Denver, West Pleasant View, a 2.5 square mile area with about 5,000 residents, experienced the highest growth in home values.
Kara Flatley, , said the community’s average home price is $500,000 and housing options range from a $200,000 condo to a $1 million house. Houses typically stay on the market for about five days.
“Now’s the time to buy if you want to get in,” she says.
Location, location, location
Sitting east of Golden and west of the Colorado Mills and Denver West retail and restaurant developments, West Pleasant View offers easy access to recreational activities, including hiking, biking, climbing, golfing, and skiing.
Residents can hop on Interstate 70 and reach the Loveland Ski Area in about 40 minutes. With easy access to U.S. 6, Colorado 93, C-470, and light rail at the Jefferson County Courthouse, residents can travel across the Denver metro area.
“The access is amazing,” says Carrie Craig, . “It’s a highway hub that appeals to outdoor enthusiasts. Pick your thoroughfare and head out for hiking, biking, or mountain climbing.”
Who’s moving in
The area appeals to buyers who want to be in Golden, but can’t afford the prices, says Barry Willmarth, owner. “It’s appealing to entry-level buyers and young families.”
Flatley calls the neighborhood eclectic because it offers everything from mid-century homes to new construction. New projects promise mixed development and condos. The community is unincorporated but has its own fire, water, and parks districts.
Craig, who has relatives living in West Pleasant View, says the community’s unincorporated status appeals to many buyers. Living in an unincorporated community gives homeowners more flexibility to build or modify their homes while providing bigger lots for gardens, work or farm equipment, and animals.
“It’s a cool little community,” she says. “It’s the last stronghold to the original Golden because so much there has transitioned.”
Flatley agrees. “I grew up in Boulder, and what’s happening in south Golden reminds me of what Boulder was like 15 years ago.”
West Pleasant View is still “a little bit industrial,” Flatley says. “But development is happening.”
New development in West Pleasant View includes and .
New housing projects include a and a proposed that would consist of 307 apartments, 46 townhomes, commercial and retail space. The project also proposes an outdoor event space for community events like farmers’ markets or food trucks.
Community history
The was founded in 1948 by residents who participated in the Civil Defense Corps.
The district owns or manages 70 acres of parkland, including two baseball fields, three multi-use fields, and 50 acres of open space.
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this postap preparation.
