Tuscany

Don’t let the name fool you; Tuscany is actually a suburban enclave in Colorado. And much like its Italian namesake, the Centennial neighborhood has panoramic mountain views and a tranquil atmosphere. “It’s a very quiet area,” says Jennifer Davenport, a Sotheby’s International Realty broker associate who has sold real estate in the Denver area since 1988. “There’s a bunch of little pocket parks to walk to, and everyone uses the neighborhood’s private community center.” The Tuscany Recreation Center has a lifeguard-protected swimming pool, an Italianate-style clubhouse and two tennis courts. “Community members go to poolside movie nights here during the summer. It’s a really unique amenity,” says Davenport.

Tuscany’s winding roads are filled with New Traditional dwellings from the late 1990s. These houses have Craftsman-style gables, Colonial Revival symmetry or Mediterranean-influenced low-pitched roofs. They also have four to six bedrooms and three-car garages. To live in Tuscany, expect to pay between $600,000 and $900,000, a range similar to a Centennial home’s average $650,000 selling price. “The Tuscany market is strong with low inventory. Most homes are selling within 30 days,” says Davenport.

A portion of the 9-mile Piney Creek Trail runs through the neighborhood. Stop at Piney Creek Hollow Park along the way. It has soccer fields, a baseball diamond and a shady picnic area. Most notably, the playground has rock-shaped climbing structures, a rope obstacle course and a towering metal slide. Siena Park is another popular destination on the route. It has plenty of open space, a tire swing and a merry-go-round. A 2-mile hike east leads to Saddle Rock Golf Course. The private, 18-hole course features high plains views and creek-side shots. Tuscany is also a 7-mile drive from the 4,000-acre Cherry Creek State Park. Visitors can camp amid a Rocky Mountain backdrop, power boat across the reservoir or let their puppies run wild at the dog park.

In addition to the resident-only recreation center, the Smoky Hill Library is another hub bringing the community together. It offers activities for all age groups, including toddler story time and the board game club for adults. Once a month, the library also transforms into a laser tag arena for teenagers.

“The Cherry Creek School District is a huge draw for the Centennial area in general,” says Davenport. “Tuscany is within walking distance to an elementary school and a middle school, which is even more important.” Children in Tuscany can attend Rolling Hills Elementary, which has an overall A grade on Niche. Then, they may go to Falcon Creek Middle School. In addition to its overall A-minus grade on Niche, the school has unique extracurricular activities, like the creative writing club or the Girls Who Code group. Lastly, students can attend Grandview High School, which has an A in academics from Niche. Thanks to the school's partnership with the Community College of Aurora, students can take college-level classes like trigonometry and literature of women.

Tuscany’s northeastern corner has a commercial corridor chockfull of essentials. Grab groceries from King Soopers, pick up a prescription at Walgreens and eat at nationally known chains like Chipotle or Starbucks. You can also stop by the drive-through at Tata’s Burritos. The locally owned Mexican fast-food joint is known for its giant burritos stuffed with chicken, guacamole and pico de gallo. The neighborhood is also less than 4 miles from Cornerstar, a shopping complex with stores like Target, HomeGoods and Nike. You can also go bowling at Celebrity Lanes or catch the latest blockbuster at the AMC.

The neighborhood is less than 3 miles from Colorado Route 83. A 12-mile drive east on the thoroughfare leads you to Aurora’s core, and a 20-mile trip takes you to Denver. There are also nine Regional Transportation District bus stops along Smoky Hill Road in Tuscany’s northern region.

Written By

Meghan Baker

Photography Contributed By

Laurel Turton

Video By

Pasha Chichagov