Cherry Creek: more history than most people expect

Most people know Cherry Creek for its shopping, but the neighborhood's story starts long before that.

The modern district is bounded by 6th Avenue, Alameda Avenue, University Boulevard, and Colorado Boulevard. In the 1860s and 1870s it was a small farming settlement around the Harman family. The town was officially founded in 1882, and in September 1894 residents voted to become part of Denver.

Some of that era survives. The old Harman Town Hall, designed by Franklin E. Kidder and built in 1891 at 4th Avenue and St. Paul Street, is a Denver Landmark and was converted to a private residence in 2005. Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ, in the mission style, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The postwar years changed the neighborhood's direction. Ground was broken for the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in 1950, and it was completed in 1955. The original Tattered Cover bookstore was founded in the area in 1971.

What sets Cherry Creek apart today is how much of daily life fits within a short walk. The residential streets sit right beside one of the most walkable districts in Denver, so you can pick up groceries, meet a friend for dinner, and browse high-end boutiques without moving the car. Cherry Creek Shopping Center anchors the south side with department stores and luxury brands, while the blocks of Cherry Creek North fill in the rest with independent shops, galleries, salons, cafes, and some of the city's best restaurants. Add seasonal art festivals and plenty of evenings out, and it feels like a true enclave: a place where you can live, shop, dine, and spend a Saturday all within a few blocks of home.

My suggestion is to spend a weekend if you can in Cherry Creek before you decide anything. Walk the residential blocks as well as the shopping streets, and see how each one feels at the hours you would actually be there.

I believe a home is a sanctuary, and the right home in Cherry Creek can give you both quiet at the front door and plenty within reach. If you would like to talk about the neighborhood, whether you are buying, selling, or just curious, call or reply, and I will gladly help.