What are homes like in Cherry Creek?
Cherry Creek mixes condominiums above shops in the 16 block Cherry Creek North district with residential streets of townhomes, duplexes and remaining older single houses. Much of the residential area is zoned for row houses up to three stories, so attached homes have replaced many original houses. There is no Denver historic district over the residential blocks.
Cherry Creek homes sit in central Denver just north of the creek that gives the neighborhood its name. The city’s Cherry Creek statistical neighborhood is bounded by Cherry Creek on the south, Sixth Avenue on the north, University Boulevard on the west and Colorado Boulevard on the east. Inside it are the Cherry Creek North shopping district, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and residential blocks to the north and east. This guide covers the history, the types of homes, the zoning that shapes them and what to watch for when buying or selling. For current listing figures, see the live numbers at the top of this page.
Where is Cherry Creek?
Cherry Creek is inside the City and County of Denver. Speer Boulevard runs from downtown along the creek and becomes East First Avenue as it reaches the neighborhood, which makes First Avenue the main link to downtown. Colorado Boulevard, also State Highway 2, forms the east edge and runs south to Interstate 25 and the Denver Tech Center.
Within the neighborhood, Cherry Creek North covers 16 blocks from First Avenue to Third Avenue between University Boulevard and Steele Street. The Cherry Creek Shopping Center sits south of First Avenue along the creek. Residential streets fill the rest of the neighborhood, north toward Sixth Avenue and east toward Colorado Boulevard.
How was Cherry Creek built?
The creek itself shaped the area long before any houses. According to the Cherry Creek East Association, the Arapaho named it for the chokecherries along its banks, and in the mid 1800s the Smoky Hill Trail followed the creek as a main route from the Missouri River to Denver during the gold rush.
The Cherry Creek East Association’s history traces much of the area to the Town of Harman, which covered the land from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard. Edwin P. Harman claimed the land between First and Sixth Avenues in 1871, the town was incorporated in 1886, the Burlington Capitol Hill Addition was platted in 1888, and the Harman town hall went up in 1891 at Fourth Avenue and St. Paul Street. Farms and greenhouses were common in those years.
The land south of First Avenue flooded often and became the city dump. Denver architect and developer Temple Hoyne Buell built the original Cherry Creek Shopping Center on that site, and its rebuilding as the current Cherry Creek mall was completed in 1990. In 1989 Cherry Creek North became the first business improvement district in Colorado.
What kinds of homes are in Cherry Creek?
The neighborhood has three broad types of housing:
- Condominiums in Cherry Creek North, often in buildings with shops on the ground floor. NorthCreek, a gated residential and retail building finished around 2008, is one example described by 5280, with condos in a tower on Detroit Street and townhouse style units overlooking Fillmore Plaza.
- Townhomes and duplexes on the residential streets, many built to replace older houses. Westword reported years ago that developers had bought and demolished most of the small postwar bungalows on blocks near Monroe Street and Alameda Avenue and replaced them with duplexes.
- Remaining older single houses, scattered among the newer buildings.
Because the residential blocks were rebuilt one or two lots at a time, the age, design and construction quality of homes vary widely within a single block.
| At a glance | Cherry Creek |
|---|---|
| City and county | City and County of Denver |
| Boundaries | Cherry Creek, Sixth Avenue, University Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard |
| Main housing types | Condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, some older single houses |
| Main residential zone district | G-RH-3, row houses up to three stories |
| Commercial district | Cherry Creek North, First to Third Avenue, University Boulevard to Steele Street |
| Parks and trails | Pulaski Park, Cherry Creek trail |
| Historic district | None over the residential blocks |
What rules shape what you can build in Cherry Creek?
Denver’s official zoning map shows most of the residential land in Cherry Creek zoned G-RH-3. Under the Denver Zoning Code naming system, G is the General Urban context, RH means row house, and 3 is the maximum height in stories. That is why the neighborhood has so many attached townhomes rather than single houses on their own lots.
Cherry Creek North uses its own set of districts, labeled C-CCN with a number for the maximum height in stories, along with some C-MX mixed use districts. Taller buildings cluster closer to First Avenue. The shopping center and some other sites fall under planned unit development or older zoning. Rezoning requests in and around Cherry Creek come up, as the Cherry Creek East Association’s survey on three Harrison Street sites shows, so check the current district for any parcel and ask whether nearby lots have pending applications.
The city’s landmark map shows no historic district over Cherry Creek’s residential blocks. The University Boulevard parkway along the west edge is a designated Denver landmark.
What are the streets and parks like?
Pulaski Park sits within the neighborhood, and its playground preserves a piece of the old Smoky Hill Trail in its sidewalk. Manley Park is also nearby. The Cherry Creek trail runs along the creek on the south edge and connects west toward downtown. First Avenue, University Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard are the main roads through and around it.
What should you look for when buying in Cherry Creek?
Since most homes here are attached or newer, the inspection list shifts from the usual older Denver house:
- Condominium documents. Read the declarations, budget, reserve study and recent meeting minutes, and ask about planned special assessments.
- Shared walls and roofs in duplexes and townhomes. Confirm who maintains what under any party wall agreement or HOA.
- Building envelope. On newer construction, look closely at stucco, flashing, roof decks and drainage.
- Radon. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment treats radon as a statewide concern, so test during the inspection period.
- Sewer line scope on any older single house.
- Parking and storage. Ask how many garage spaces and storage units come with a condo, and whether they are deeded or assigned by the association.
- Location within the district. For a unit near the shops between First and Third Avenues, visit at different times of day to judge deliveries, traffic and evening activity on the street.
- Neighboring lots. A single house next door may be rebuilt as townhomes, which can change light and views.
How should you prepare to sell in Cherry Creek?
Buyers here compare like with like: a condo in one building against units in others, and a townhome against townhomes of similar age and finish. We usually advise sellers to price against sales of the same housing type and similar construction years, and to have HOA documents, warranties and records of any upgrades ready before listing. For a condo, a clear explanation of dues and reserves often answers buyers’ first questions.
How does Cherry Creek compare with nearby neighborhoods?
West across University Boulevard, the Denver Country Club neighborhood is a city historic district of early 1900s houses where exterior changes go through landmark design review. East across Colorado Boulevard lies Hilltop, which has its own guide. South across the creek, Belcaro has larger lots with many ranch homes, and Washington Park lies to the southwest. See them all on our neighborhood guides page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cherry Creek and Cherry Creek North?
Cherry Creek is the whole city neighborhood from Cherry Creek to Sixth Avenue between University and Colorado Boulevards. Cherry Creek North is the 16 block commercial district inside it, from First to Third Avenue between University Boulevard and Steele Street.
Is Cherry Creek a historic district?
No. The city’s landmark map shows no historic district over the residential blocks, so homes there follow ordinary zoning and permit rules. The University Boulevard parkway along the west edge is a designated Denver landmark.
Why are there so many townhomes in Cherry Creek?
Much of the residential area is zoned G-RH-3, which allows row houses up to three stories. Over the years developers bought older single houses and replaced them with duplexes and townhomes.
What zoning applies in Cherry Creek North?
Cherry Creek North uses its own Denver zone districts, labeled C-CCN with a number that sets the maximum height in stories, plus some C-MX mixed use districts. Condominium buildings there often have shops on the ground floor, and height limits step down away from First Avenue.
When did the Cherry Creek Shopping Center open?
Temple Hoyne Buell built the original shopping center on a former city dump south of First Avenue. Its rebuilding into the current mall was completed in 1990.
Thinking about a move in or out of Cherry Creek? Request a home value or arrange a private consultation with us.
