Whittier is named after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, an abolitionist and founding member of the American Republican political party. Thanks to its abolitionist roots, Whittier was a rather integrated neighborhood from its beginning. This still remains to a large extent.

While the neighborhood was founded in the late 19th century development, it didn’t really start to development until the 1920s. The neighborhood was actually not fully built out until the 1970s, which is why there are many modern ranch homes here.

Whittier never experienced a significant amount of disinvestment, but it remained a bit under the radar as other adjacent inner-city districts revitalized. That dynamic has changed since the mid 2010s and now Whittier commands housing prices close to its neighbors. Whitter boast of quality park amenities great bike and public transit access, safety, quality tree canopy, and good overall urban massing. The biggest urban amenities missing are quality retail and cultural amenities, pedestrian activity, and a business district. I’d also like the urban density here double given the crazy demand for housing in Denver.

Click here to view my Whittier album on Flickr

URBAN STRENGTHS:

* Good sidewalk infrastructure. About 65% of the curb cuts are ADA compliant.
* Great public transit and solid bike infrastructure access.
* Very convenient access to Dwtn as well.
* Great racial diversity and decent economic and generational diversity.
* Overall a pretty safe community.
* Nice array of small and medium sized parks where distributed throughout Whittier. City Park is also along its Southeastern border.
* Solid Tree Canopy.
* Solid urban massing and streetscaping throughout. Nothing spectacular as there isn’t a cohesive biz district here.
* Generally a good image and buzz as a solid place to live.

URBAN WEAKNESSES:

* Decent # of walkable schools but mixed ratings
* Rentals are pretty moderately priced for Denver standards but rather limited. 1-beds lease anywhere in the 1Ks but are very limited, 2-beds in the 2ks.. A good # of 3-bed for rent that lease btwn 2K- the mid 3Ks.
* For sale options are pretty typical for inner city Denver standards. Good # of 1-beds selling anywhere btwn 370K-525K, 2-beds 425K-1M, 3 & 4 beds btwn 550K- the mid 1Ms.
* Decent historic architecture but mainly 1910s-1930s. Some older stuff further west and east. Also a lot of bland ranch homes mixed in.
* Cultural amenities are a bit limited. There are a decent amount of food & beverage businesses. Convenient access to the cultural amenities of City Park.
* Retail amenities are rather limited. No supermarket or drugstores here but they are nearby. Really only a garden center, several churches, a couple salons, decent proximity to a hospital and decent proximity to other retail amenities in close neighborhoods.
* Modern in fill is very limited.
* Pedestrian activity is a bit sleepy.