Cherry Creek Chic: In gated Belcara, 4-bed villa lives indoor-outdoor, $3.2M
With high-profile corporate moves to Denver like that of BP’s regional headquarters, Cherry Creek is suddenly an even-more-coveted address, without enough high-end product for sale. “There’s so little inventory, and it’s almost non-existent at this price range,” says Kentwood Cherry Creek broker Dawn Raymond — who sold $65-million worth last year, among the top-three Denver agents. She’s filling in a tiny part of the gap with a four-bedroom urban villa in the gated Belcara enclave off Cherry Creek South Drive, which goes on the market this week at $3.2 million. She’ll give you a peek today between 11 a.m. and noon.
Belcara, 401 S. Garfield, close to the Steele Street bike bridge, is actually nearer to the heart of the shopping district than much of Cherry Creek North is. A decade ago the custom-building trend was Mediterranean — but now the market wants modern, says Raymond; and this house, Belcara No. 4, fills the bill. It was the Kempe Foundation’s Designer Show Home — labeled “Cherry Creek Chic” — with sleek lines and loads of glass, in a layout that blends indoor-outdoor living.
You’ll see disappearing sliders and bi-folds that allow very contemporary entertaining areas to be thrown wide-open to a limestone-and-decked patio with and 8-by-26foot saltwater pool that can be heated to spa temperature. The sheltered outdoor living spaces are suitable for year-round dining by overhead heaters and a fire pit. The 6,000-square-foot plan has a main-floor study, Palm Springs-styled master suite, upstairs laundry, lavish basement with second heated grotto pool, screening room and glass-enclosed wine room, and an elevator.
Raymond notes that the price tag is already well supported in this market: Two final empty lots in Belcara are now yielding a larger home expected to come in somewhere in the $5 millions; and another home ensconced in its own sub-gate just sold for $7.8 million. Raymond will take your call to open the gate for a tour from 11 a.m. to noon. From South Colorado Boulevard, head west on Cherry Creek South Drive a half-mile to Garfield Street, turn south a half block to the gate, and call 303-777-7177.