Executive living: elegance. Luxury. Classic style.

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Denver has always been a city of pioneers and visionaries, a city whose foundations were built on dreams of gold. Just as this rings true of the Mile-High City's storied past, it holds true of its bold, exciting present.

And, perhaps it is this pioneering pedigree that gives Denver's executive-quality homes today a special cachet that combines vision, originality, comfort and luxury.

Whether you know the Denver area like the back of your hand or you're new to these parts, reckoning which homestead suits your specific needs and desires, which will maintain a healthy resale value, and which will provide an exciting lifestyle is a no job for a tenderfoot.

If, in addition, your search for a new executive-level home has led you to consider a quality of life that goes beyond simple to passion and engagement, individuality and community, then look to homes built within the context of an increasingly popular trend called New Urbanism, a conception that seeks to replace mere collections of houses with homes that combine to create a vibrant community.

A case in point is Forest City Enterprises' Stapleton, a community whose 4,700 acres, or 7.5 square miles, reign as the nation's largest urban redevelopment. Stapleton's amenities are equally capacious: 1,100 acres of regional parks and open space and 3 million square-feet of retail. And all this is just 10 minutes from downtown Denver and a world-class array of museums, parks, shopping and cultural activities.

Of course, it's also a quick trip to the majestic Rocky Mountains.

The Stapleton project already has won worldwide praise: Stapleton is the winner of a prestigious Stockholm Partnerships for Sustainable Cities Award; and it was called a "model" by the United Nations Council on Sustainable Development.

The crown of the development is the new Urban Estate Homes at Stapleton. Priced from the mid $800s to more than $1 million, these homes are located on Stapleton's largest lots and each is situated near spacious parks and open space.

Urban Estate Homes range from 3,200 square feet to nearly 4,300 square feet, and their lush, detailed design features 10-foot ceilings, three-car garages and the latest communications technology. The result is homes that stand out for their elegance, their ideal locations and their distinctive presence.

Thirty-nine Urban Estate Homes were made available in 2003; only four homes are left unsold. Next year, Stapleton will launch the program's second phase, with an...