The city location, as defined by the real estate community, doesn't correspond with the city limits of Grand Junction, but does include downtown, Sherwood Park, and the neighborhoods surrounding Mesa State College, stretching all the way to 29 Road to the east and 23 Road to the west. Most of the area is established, although occasionally there are small vacant plots of land that have been overlooked by developers for one reason or another. The city has an incentive program to encourage infill and redevelopment projects.

Fairmont Village, an in-fill condominium project off 12th St. and Walnut, is a 64-unit complex constructed with NuDura, an energy-efficient insulated concrete form. The 2.86 parcel of land originally held just one house, along with plenty of scrub trees, bushes and weeds. The first eight units are complete, sold and occupied by the new owners. There will be seven buildings when the project is complete in February of 2008.

"We're selling better than we anticipated," says Troy Nesheim with Century 21 Homestead Realty. "We've got about 30 to 34 units reserved." The condos start small at just a little more than 800 square feet and go up to 1256 square feet. Prices also start small, in the 130s and ranging into the 160s. The location, just across the street from Mesa State College and a few blocks north of Lincoln Park, has proven to be a big draw for buyers who want to be close to everything.

Single-family homes in the city are more apt to be smaller and older. Some may need a little TLC to return to their original glory, but can often be purchased for less than $200,000. The larger, historic homes come with a much larger price tag.

The downtown area, although it has maintained its vibrant, viable retail identity in spite of the mall and the new commercial areas popping up on the west side of town, has not become a prime residential area. Yet. Harold Stalf, the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority hopes that will change as older building see renovation, rejuvenation and transformation into urban townhomes and condos. "It's coming, it's slower than I'd like," Stalf says.

Although the residential pull of downtown has been slow to develop, everything else is perking along quite well.

"The downtown area is pretty darn healthy right now," says Bruce Benge, whose grandfather started Benge's Shoes downtown 95 years ago. "Having the hotels downtown has been wonderful." Other events, such as the weekly Thursday evening Farmer's Market Festival in the summer, provide great opportunities for the community to connect with friends and neighbors and help maintain the vibrancy of the downtown area.

Although Main Street is the primary destination for most downtown visitors, Stalf and other community planners hope to expand the charm with the 7th Street improvements, scheduled to begin construction sometime in February. The street work will include a roundabout at 7th and Main, and the removal of the stop lights at Colorado and Rood. The side streets will have stop signs; planners hope both traffic flow and pedestrian access will be improved. Others agree that it's time for downtown to move beyond Main Street.

"We didn't want to be on Main St.," says Brenda Wray, the general manager of 626 on Rood, a new upscale restaurant and wine bar. "I think it's oversaturated."

In addition to the modern American cuisine and the sharing plates offered on the menu, 626 offers 'wine flights,' which are three two-ounce glasses of the same wine from three different areas of the world.

Dining doesn't have to be expensive in the city. Lois' Place, which has been a favorite hang-out for locals for 17 years, offers a basic breakfast and lunch diner menu. You won't find blackened ahi on the menu, but you'll find a great tuna salad. Because of its location on Grand, away from the tourist area, owner Lois McGary knows that it's the locals who are her bread and butter.

"My business has increased, this last year was one of the best years," McGary says. "I notice more traffic down in this area of town than there used to be."

Other city establishments are seeing a good volume of business, too. Between 33,000 and 36,000 rounds of golf are played at Lincoln Park Golf Course, which was voted the best nine-hole golf course in the state in '04 and '05. Golfers love the course for its convenient location and the quality of its greens.

"It's very well maintained," says Head Golf Professional Eloy Vendegna. "We have some of the best greens in the state."

The city recently completed the installation of a new irrigation system at the 80-year old course, insuring that the green space will remain one of the city's charms.

Like the park and golf course, many of the schools in the city are older and smaller than the newer schools built in outlying areas. Columbine has fewer than 200 students and Lincoln Park has only 250. Both are Title I schools. Columbine has a "Food for Thought" program available to families, providing educational opportunities for moms and dads while offering a free meal once a month at the school. Tope and Orchard Avenue Elementary also serve the city population, along with new remodeled East and West Middle Schools and Grand Junction High School.