Arvada is town northwest of Denver. From my European view, I would say that this town is a suburban part of Denver and there is evidence of its longer history that is now celebrated. People living in Arvada say that they are not from Denver, but from Arvada. That is the same example when I ask my friend where he is from and he answered from Westminster. I ask him why he would not just say Denver. People who grow up in Prague do not answer this question that they are from Dejvice (marginal part of Prague). They would always say that they are from Prague and in deeper conversation would maybe mention that they live and were born in Dejvice. That makes me think that inhabitants of Denver are more related and have a stronger connection to their suburban communities where they were born or grew up, when compared to people from the Czech Republic. For Czechs, the city is considered as a whole complex and its neighborhoods are just helpful for the city’s administration structure. I think that is similar to Denver, but in Denver the city’s neighborhoods and suburbs have more importance to people. That was one of my problems when I came to Colorado. Before I better knew this city, I met people who told me that they were from Aurora, Littleton, and Arvada, and they did not mention that these communities were in Denver. I did not have any idea where these towns were and I thought that they could be somewhere far away from Denver. My thoughts changed after more exploration of the city. I started to understand the city’s layout and found it interesting that people do identify themselves with the suburbs.
Maybe that is the reason why many of these little towns like Arvada, Golden, Littleton and others revitalize their history with historic downtowns that are now favorite spots for people living close to it. These historic downtowns are very interesting for me because I see here the purpose of showing the longer history, identification with western life in the 19th Century and keeping awareness about origin of places. These opinions are now just my view of the suburbs, but it is true that in the past these places were probably little settlements and towns filled with miners and the first explorers of the west.
I spent some time in Arvada with my friend who lives there. Arvada´s history goes back to the middle of the 19th Century and as a western city is identified with a gold discovery by Lewis Ralston. Before European immigrants came, Arvada was the land of Arapahoe and Cheyenne Indian tribes, like many other Denver suburbs. Gold exploration attracted other people to settle in Arvada and the place was named for an island off the coast of Syria. At the end of the 19th Century, about hundred people lived there. Today it is about one hundred thousand. This reflects the growth of suburban areas during just one hundred years. From my European view, this is an amazing fast growing number.
 |
| A flour mill in Olde Town is indicative of the town's history. |
Arvada´s downtown shows the history of the first settlement and the main street leading into the old part of Arvada is named for Lewis Ralston, the gold explorer in this area. The old water tower is a prominent symbol of Arvada visible for miles. Arvada is a suburb, but just off the Wadsworth Bypass highway and its big box retailers and chain restaurants is Olde Town Arvada with a mix of unique shops and restaurants. The Arvada Beer Company opened last month, alongside a Belgian frite restaurant. Soon to open is a winery in the growing downtown. This little downtown has its own theater for community activities and organizes many public events, like the Halloween Harvest festival. For me, a favorite place is the D-Note with live music and salsa dance classes. This historic place offers many cultural activities for people. The culture diversity of people visiting the D-Note in particular is noticeable with people of different ages and origins regularly going to have fun. The historic downtown of Arvada is very accessible by walking and this feature is similar to European towns and their urban centers.
 |
| The water tower is a symbol of Arvada. |
I see progress in Arvada, but New Urbanism ideas can improve this community. Public transportation can be strengthened for better community life and to provide better access to other suburbs and parts of Denver. In the coming years, Arvada is going to be a part of public transportation by light rail and is now in the process of building a new railroad system and train station. Arvada already has a railroad but it is not for public use. For me, it is fascinating that the idea of public transportation by train came so late to Arvada and many other suburbs of Denver. Other towns in Colorado still don´t have access to any train. It is somewhat understandable that people simply used cars more before when gas was cheaper (and I still think it is very cheap when compared with Europe). People did not have the tendency to use other kinds of transportation. But I still I think that the city should have more kinds of transportation even if gas is cheap. It would give people choices at least to avoid a traffic jam or just the pleasure of riding on a train. When I imagine that in Czech lands one hundred years ago almost every little village had its own train station, and it is still the same now, and that my ancestors used the train for many years as just one kind of transportation, I am still wondering why it came so late to Arvada. Maybe it is an indicator of the end of American suburbs, as some urbanologists have expressed. Either way, I found the light rail idea to be great and I hope that I will try this line in the future if travelling to Arvada. After all, I find that travelling by train is a pleasure and is my favorite kind of transportation.
Other current progress in Arvada is newly-constructed apartments and condos that are situated on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from Olde Town. This abstract communication between old and new I see as a nice diversity of architecture and design in Arvada. I would consider this place as one of New Urbanism. It is not a really big complex like we can see in Belmar or Highland Gardens Village with many features and ideas of new urbanist projects, but it is important with easy access to Olde Town Arvada and to a variety of stores.
 |
| New apartments and condo across the historic railroad tracks. |
While not as close to the mountains as Golden, Arvada is in view of the downtown skyline and offers quick access to the mountains. Arvada is a more working-class neighborhood than Golden. Olde Town gives Arvada more character than a typical suburb however, and I can see why the town’s residents like to spend their free time in this neighborhood.
 |
| Olde Town Arvada is the community's hub. |
