Much about why Congress Park always ranks as one of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods is the walkability — not just to its namesake park (with a new, $10 million pool), but also to two shopping/restaurant districts, each of them on East 12th Avenue.

Those little restaurant rows are reminders that streetcars once ran down the avenue, leaving shops behind after they made their final trip to the barn.

The one at 12th and Clayton Street has Chef Zorba’s, Shells and Sauce, Peter’s Chinese and Novo Coffee. A half mile east at Madison Street are Blue Pan Pizza, French Press Coffee, Bamboo Sushi, Sienna Wine Bar and Sweet Cooie’s Ice Cream.

It’s no surprise that when Denver reopened post-pandemic and socializing was a novelty, people who had bought bungalows in Congress Park for $600,000 a few years before found that their homes had jumped in value to around $1 million by 2023.

Charmed neighborhood

Re/Max Cherry Creek agent Kate Baldwin Wenzel has a way to be here for much less. On Sunday, one of her associates will show a 3-bedroom 2-bath ranch that at first glance looks like a single-family home but is actually a paired-home plan.

In a neighborhood almost entirely single-family, the price is $640,000 — way below the median single-family closed price ($1.050 million) but also below the average listing for the entire zip code ($1.2 million).

And 1068 Monroe Street sits a block from the Madison attractions.

“Along with the walkability, it’s the charm, where so many people have restored their older homes,” Wenzel said. “For someone who doesn’t have a million dollars, it’s a chance to be in the neighborhood with a strong sense of community and a great general vibe.”

Her listing was built in 1949 — a one-off in a neighborhood of Craftsman bungalows that largely date from 1900 to 1930. Taking advantage of a corner lot, the builder paired the home with a second, similar plan in a diagonal layout that gives the illusion of single-family and offers window area on all four sides of each.

The 1,200-foot main level shows an open living-dining-kitchen feel that buyers like now, and space is finished off in the basement for a third bedroom and office. The windows, heating plant and a tankless hot water system are all recent.

Less frenzied

Wenzel, who will become president of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors this fall, said the market now is less frenzied but seems to be gaining strength after a lull last fall and early winter.

“It seems buyers are coming back, and when things are priced well, houses are moving.”

At a moment when there is debate about the broader economy, she doesn’t see a likelihood of prices dropping off as they did last year, or infamously as in 2008.

“I don’t think the real estate market is anywhere near a recession,” she said. “People have so much equity in their homes, particularly in Congress Park. “It’s a very different situation than 20 years ago.”

OPEN THIS SUNDAY:

WHERE: 1068 Monroe Street, Denver; from Colorado Boulevard at East 1st Avene head north a half mile to a left onto East Eighth Avenue, head west on 8th four blocks to Monroe Street, turn north 3 blocks.

SIZE: 3 bed/2 bath, no garage, 1,700 square feet 

PRICE: $640,000

WEB:  TheElevatedTeam.com

OPEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17,  

AGENT:  Kate Baldwin Wenzel, 720-224-5946