Colorado’s Front Range Real Estate Blog

Castle Rock’s Leadership Council is asking for the public’s help in devising an action plan that will spread green opportunities throughout the community of The Meadows at Castle Rock Real Estate.  This Action Plan developed by the Castle Rock Planning Commission, promotes MAJOR environmental and economic steps to ensure the viability of communities like The Meadows and other surrounding communities over the coming decades to limit energy consumption and save money where possible.  A Public workshop is planned for November 7^th at 7pm at Castle Rock’s Town Hall for staff member to gather feedback and address roadblocks that prevent everyday citizens from pitching in.  It has become a hot topic as more homeowners explore ways to reduce heating and electricity costs through energy savings wind turbines or solar panels in their own back yard.  Castle Rock’s government has developed a team called “Project Green” that recommends cost-savings ideas that also could reduce expenditures and spending money on Eco-Friendly products for the homeowners. For Example, Castle Rock has recently used a $175,000 grant to convert Streetlights throughout the downtown area from traditional bulbs to LED lights.  Sophisticated irrigation systems with weather stations that read wind, temperature and evaporation rates are being installed.

“We can go beyond town government and to directly to the homeowners and HOAs” said Heather Vidlock, Planning Manager of the Town of Castle Rock.  The all-encompassing plan potentially could entail code revisions to enable alternative energy systems, incentives for Green Building and Public Outreach to educate the homeowner associations about how they can participate through water conservation and recycling.

This is a GREAT opportunity for our major communities such as The Meadows at Castle Rock real estate to get involved and let the homeowners speak out for Green Conservation and energy cost savings.

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in Castle Rock and the entire Denver Metro area. We have the most comprehensive real estate website for your home search and if you are searching for Castle Rock homes or Denver real estate you’ve come to the best place!

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

One of Denver Metro’s largest, over 181,000 square feet of retail space,  shopping attractions and most popular shopping venue continues to be the Outlets at Castle Rock located on the north end of Castle Rock, Colorado Real Estate near The Meadows.  Homeowners from Castle Rock, Larkspur, Parker, Highlands Ranch and throughout Denver, Colorado real estate flock to the Castle Rock Outlet Mall to save, save, save!!  

The Castle Rock Outlet Mall opened in 1992 as the Castle Rock Factory Shops.  The name was changed in the late 1990s to Prime Outlets at Castle Rock then to the Outlets at Castle Rock… but are most often referred to as the “Castle Rock Outlet Mall.”  Today there are over 120 “brand” name stores that offer merchandise at prices between 30% to 70% below full retail prices.

This month at the Castle Rock Outlet Mall there are an abundance of great events, and sales, that children and adults will not want to miss out on… and neither will you pocketbook!

For you Early Birds, on November 12^th  at 6:00 a.m., the Castle Rock Outlet Mall Christmas Tree arrives from Mt. Shasta, CA!  Grab some hot cocoa or a Starbucks coffee and watch as the tree is installed on the mall and decorated!  This tree weighs 7,000 pounds… that’s 3 ½ tons and that’s a lotta tree to decorate.  Hope they have a bunch of Santa’s Helpers on hand.

On November 20 is, for the fifth year, the Castle Rock Outlet Mall’s Annual  Christmas Tree Lighting event.  This event starts at 4:00 p.m. with tree lighting at 7:00 p.m.  For this year’s big event the Castle Rock Outlet Mall is having #59 of the Denver Broncos, Wesley Woodyard, “Launch The Lights” for this year’s Castle Rock Outlet Mall Christmas Tree!  There will be caroling and lots of fun and maybe another Bronco or two to light up the event!

Later in the month on the 26^th there will be a “Moonlight Madness Thanksgiving Evening” with fabulous sales and if you check your local papers you can find even more goodies like prize give-a-ways, holiday offers, special drawings and even more discounts!!  This sale will continue through 9:00 p.m. on “Black Friday.”

Oh, and gentlemen, here’s a hint… the “it” color for this Fall, according to Peggy Ziglin, Fashion Advisor for Colorado Outlet Malls, is PURPLE!

Enjoy the Savings  -  Receive the Castle Rock Outlet Mall free Savings Card that entitles you to special discounts and savings at our stores! For more information go to… outletsatcastlerock.com/info/savingsCard.cfm

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in Castle Rock and the entire Denver Metro area and the most comprehensive real estate website around.  If you are searching for Castle Rock homes or Denver real estate you’ve come to the best place!

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

The Grange is the heart and hub of Castle Rock’s premier real estate master planned home community known as The Meadows at Castle Rock.  The Grange’s architecture makes it one of Castle Rock Real Estate’s most readily identifiable buildings as it is reminiscent of an old time barn with its red color and stone base.  But don’t be mislead, the Grange is a very cool place (and I’m not just talking about the pool)!

The Grange is not only a multi-functioning home community center but also a learning and growing place for all ages.  From music and art lessons for very young children to The Meadows’ Cotillion that teaches 5^th & 6^th graders the social graces from handshaking to ballroom dancing to clubs for women over 50 and free seminars on Medicare for seniors.  There are also self-defense classes for women, art and music classes for all ages and levels of accomplishment and, speaking of accomplishment, check out Odette’s Cuisine where you can learn to bake and cook like a French/Belgian chef for your family!

Celebrate Veteran’s Day by stopping by the Grange November 10th-13^th, 2009 and filling out a postcard to be sent to soldiers who are away from home.  The Grange is working in concert with the “Letters From Home” organization to get our troops this much needed support and comfort.  For more information please see our previous blog article on this event to benefit our soldiers.

Speaking of ‘in concert’ be sure to visit the Grange on November 20^th, 2009 and spend a lovely Sunday afternoon listening to our own “Castle Rock Orchestra Chamber Ensemble” float their magic notes for our listening pleasure.

Aside from all of the wonderful and enriching activities that occur at the Grange there are two large rooms at the Grange that are available to be rented by residents for events, social gatherings, classes or seminars.  Please contact the Grange for more information.

Finally, the Grange provides a wonderful get-a-way that kids and adults alike love: its super big pool with huge tube water slide!  There is plenty of lounging space around the pool along with bathrooms/dressing rooms poolside for residents use.  Poolside at the Grange is the place where you and your family will want to spend the Summer.

The Grange is located at 3692 Meadows Boulevard, Castle Rock, CO 80109 and they can be reached at 303.814.2358.

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Real Estate offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in The Meadows at Castle Rock and the entire Denver Metro area. We have the most comprehensive real estate website for your home search in The Meadows at Castle Rock!  If you are searching for Castle Rock homes or Denver real estate you’ve come to the best place!

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

Please Support our troops at The Meadows in Castle Rock! Join the group and support your troops at the Grange in The Meadows neighborhood in Castle Rock, Colorado.

On November 10^th through 13^th at the Grange in The Meadows, between the hours of 10 and 5, you will have a very special opportunity to support your US Military troops that are stationed away from home!  Save a few minutes in one of these days to drop by and encourage our troops by writing them a postcard or two.  More than cookies, chocolate or other goodies, your words of encouragement and appreciation are vital to our soldier’s moral.  War is ugly!  I speak from personal experience as my son, Daniel, an Army sergeant, went to Iraq for a yearlong tour in 2006.  During his year over there he experienced watching his friends and ‘war buddies’ being killed in gun battles or by IEDs.  Thankfully, even though Daniel was in an IED explosion, he wasn’t hurt badly (a miracle)!  What meant so much to Daniel was getting news from home.  It didn’t matter if it was from myself, his family or friends of mine he had never met… what mattered most to Daniel was knowing that he mattered to folks at home!  So, I do encourage you to get out to the Grange at The Meadows in Castle Rock and write a supportive and encouraging post card to send to our troops.  Throw in a few anecdotal stories about life in Castle Rock, Colorado or the USA.  Let them know you greatly appreciate them and their sacrifice… because they do sacrifice their time, their families and their limbs and lives for YOU!

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in The Meadows at Castle Rock, Douglas County, Colorado and the entire Denver Metro area.

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

The most fabulous night of the year for celebration in Castle Rock, Colorado is almost here!  Check your calendar and be sure to save the date of November 21^st  for the town of Castle Rock’s big Starlighting event.  The whole town turns out for this event for food, hot chocolate and lots of fun!  Stroll the quaint streets of Castle Rock Real Estate and take in the sights of the Christmas trees and holiday lights.  Both kids and adults enjoy meeting and greeting their schoolmates, friends, neighbors and to making new ones!  Around seven o’clock the whole town surrounds the front lawn of the square to celebrate the arrival of Santa Claus!  Young and old alike thoroughly enjoy this mainstay of Castle Rock’s Starlighting night.  Oh, be sure to stop by a booth and start, or add to, your collection of unique, specially commissioned, Castle Rock Christmas Tree ornaments!  A bit after Santa Claus arrives the star atop Castle Rock is lit up for another holiday season!  Following the lighting of the star the sky bursts forth with a dazzling array of celebratory fireworks that go on and on!  Oh, just to let you know, if you are planning on dining out in one of Castle Rock’s great restaurants (like Siena at the Courtyard or The Union – an American Bistro) after the Starlighting event – a reservation is a must!  Castle Rock is a close knit community that loves to come out and celebrate together their good fortune in living in one of the best towns in America! See you there!

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in Castle rock, Colorado and the entire Denver Metro area.

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

Debbi Davenport with the Town of Castle Rock and others are gathering a group of volunteers to help neighbors clean up the weeds along the streets of the Historic Craig and Gould neighborhood. Get involved!  Get the word out!  Let’s carry on the sense of community and pride among the residents of this great and historic neighborhood.

Keeping your lawn trimmed and weed-free is the responsible thing to do. …. the strip between the sidewalk and the street is the responsibility of the resident to keep free of weeds and debris. Whether you own or rent a home here, it’s your obligation to make it happen!

Please join us at the Cantril School parking lot (Lewis and Third Streets) on November 7, 2009 between the hours of 1 and 4. Trash bags, gloves and light refreshments will be provided.

Call Debbi Davenport at 720-733-3559 or shoot her an email at ddavenport@CRgov.com if you would like to volunteer.

*****

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in the Craig & Gould Neighborhood in Castle Rock, Colorado as well as the entire Denver Metro area.

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

6^th Annual WineFest at The Grange in The Meadows at Castle Rock

 Mark and I along with Jackie, our very good friend, attended the annual ‘Castle Rock WineFest 2009′  which was held yesterday, July 25th,  at The Grange located in The Meadows neighborhood in Castle Rock, Colorado and it was a blast!  The day was just gorgeous, with a slight wind and even the few drops of rain were welcomed.  The crowds were fun and there was a lot to do!  Twenty four Colorado wineries participated as well as a several culinary vendors.  Each ticket included a commemorative wine glass and a bag that had pockets to hold any bottles of wine one purchased during the event.  Each winery had a booth with samples of their offerings, water to rinse glasses and usually some sort of cracker to help cleanse your palate.  (Several wineries had run out of crackers and we hope that next year they will be better stocked.)  Personally, one of the best parts of wine tasting is watching people’s faces when they taste a wine that does not appeal to their palate!  Hilarious!  Great Fun! 

Black Eyed Pea Restaurant had a super dinner for the awesome price of $5.00 including dessert and were we ever ready for some food!  

The culinary booths of Aspen Leaf Gourmet and Pastamore II Bistro Blends offered a wide variety of intriguing vinegars, infused oils and grilling marinades. Sweet & Saucy Wine Sauces offered a large selection of flavored caramel and fudge sauces as well as wine flavored sauces. 

Several great demonstrations were available:

     – Flying Horse Catering’s Jody Miles showed us ‘The Art of Napkin Folding’

     - Tony’s Markets Chef, Mick Rosacci and Mike McNamara of Garfield Estate Winery teamed up to talk about ‘Pairing Wines with Foods’

     - Parker Blooms Florist’s own Peggy Roth showed us how to make great Floral Arrangements with flowers from our gardens

     – Uncorked  Chefs, Joe Beggs and Todd Friedman, demonstrated elegant ’Summertime H’orderves’

Also, two local restaurants held special dinners with wine parings as part of the Wine Fest. They are: The Union Bistro, located in downtown Castle Rock and La Dolce Vita, an Italian restaurant, located in the town of Castle Pines North just north of Castle Rock. The dinners were priced at $55 per person and both of these Wine Fest Dinners were completely SOLD OUT!   

The Castle Rock WineFest is a favorite, annual event of residents in Castle Rock, Castle Pines North, Highlands Ranch and Parker and is very well attended each year.  Check out the photos below…and next year make it your favorite event too!

The Richards Group at Keller Williams Realty offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions and homes for sale in Castle Rock, Colorado Real Estate and the entire Denver Metro area.

Let us help you find a home or sell a home! Give us a call at 720.733.1548 or toll-free at 877.337.0171.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Read More »

The Keller Williams Castle Rock Branch Office celebrated its new digs Saturday, August 20^th, with an awesome Open House for the town of Castle Rock.  Keller Williams is located at 140 South Wilcox Street in downtown Castle Rock in the building that housed the former True Value Hardware store.  The Open House started at 10am and lasted until 3:00 pm in the afternoon and Mother Nature cooperated with a beautiful, clear, warm day-no rain!  All day long there was tremendous attendance of town folk and support from Castle Rock merchants.  Residents looked over hundreds of Keller Williams listings several people chose to visit properties right away…one property even got an Offer!  Children had a great time in the Bouncy House, making it a huge success.  Another favorite of the kids were the two face painters that painted everything from butterfly faces to Denver Bronco logos on the children’s faces and arms.  Capital Title, who has an office at Keller Willliams, graciously provided a band and karaoke, which was a load of fun for all! Capital also treated us to a few songs from Melanie Lawson’s daughter and son (who sang on American Idol).  The owner of the Iconic Nail Spa provided a wonderful Vietnam dish of noodles, broccoli and nuts, which wound up on many a hot dog in place of sauerkraut!  It was delish!     Food was free for all –  hot dogs, provided by Dave Hickey of Security Title, and there were chips, cookies, sodas and lots of water.  Attendees signed up to enter drawings for free prizes – donated by participating town merchants.  The ‘Silent Auction’ was a great success and so were the items up for bid.  Some of the items in the Silent Auction were pre-season tickets for both the Bronco vs. Chicago Bears and the Broncos vs. the Phoenix Cardinals games.  In regular season games, there were several tickets for the highly sought after Bronco vs. Oakland Raider game! Bronco tickets donated to the Silent Auction by Realtor/Owners Ed Stammel and Geoff Gray.  There was a beautiful arrangement of plants from the Castle Pines Florist, two one-hour sessions with Interior Designer, Ingrid Miller of Plum Creek Interiors, a unique plane ride over Castle Rock Offered by Pilot/Realtor Brad Grant and a home inspection by donated by Home Team Inspection Service.  Perry Point Liquor Owner, Chen, donated a case of wine made up of both red and white wine offerings.  Aside from Castle Rock residents and merchants, also present were the owners of the Keller Williams Castle Rock Office:  Charles D’Alessio (Operating Principal), Ed Stammel (head of the Commercial Division), Paul Foster, Margaret Scott (Office Leader), Geoff & DeAnn Gray, Bob Speaker and, yours truly,  Mark & Wendy Richards.  Of course, the entire office of 50 agents were also present to give tours to visitors, answer questions and help the many walk-in-clients that attended this Grand Opening!  Many thanks go to all the merchants who helped in welcoming the Keller Williams Castle Rock Branch Office to the south end of Castle Rock!  Listed below are all the merchants (in alphabetical order) who participated and hope you will support their businesses as well as Keller Williams in the future!

Acaicai Studio

Avon – Thelma Minnie

Capital Title

Castle Pines Florist                                       

Curves                   

DazBog Coffee

Fire Department of Castle Rock

Home Team Inspection Service

Iconic Nail Spa

Jessie Hodges Barbeque Sauce

Nettie’s Vitamin Plus        

Outback Steakhouse

Perry Point Liquors

Play It Again Sports

Plum Creek Interiors – Ingrid Miller

Premier Jewelry – May Jackson

Security Title Company

Shelter Insurance Companies

Skin Care by Kara

Siena in the Courtyard Restaurant

Starkey Mortgage

Well Within Chiropractic

Wild Hair Salon

• Read More »

KELLER WILLIAMS BRINGS “TRUE VALUE” TO CASTLE ROCK!

 New Keller Williams Office in Castle Rock, CO!

Save the Date!!

If you live in the towns of Castle Rock, Larkspur, Franktown or Parker keep your calendar open on August 22nd, 2009 from 10am-2pm.  Why?  It is the Grand Opening of the NEW Keller Williams Real Estate Castle Rock Office!  Keller Williams has been in Castle Rock for 4 years and has made its mark on the town by participating with other merchants to make Castle Rock a great place to live.  Keller Williams has also been very proactive in supporting the Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center giving them the proceeds from an all Agent ‘garage sale’ and The Richards Group held a paper drive in the Meadows to fill a specific need for the Center.  Keller Williams is known for its outstanding and continuing agent training and is committed to providing you, the public, with the most knowledgeable and experienced agents possible.  We are now the largest office in both Realtor® count and office square footage and we are on the Grow!  Our Grand Opening is open to all and you won’t want to miss the fun, food, activities and giveaways for all.  We are going to have a bouncy house for the kids to play in and hopefully a petting zoo too!  Our neighboring merchants are joining in to welcome us to their ‘block’ in downtown Castle Rock and are participating in our Grand Opening!  Keller Williams is now the third largest Real Estate Company in the Country having surpassed Re/Max earlier this year.  Watch for our Grand Opening Invitation in the Douglas County News-Press in August, 2009.  Our New office is located in the old True Value Hardware store located at 140 South Wilcox… just south of the Castle Rock Library.

The Richards Group of Keller Williams Real Estate offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate transactions in the Metro Denver area. Contact us at 720-733-1548 for real estate assistance.

• Read More »