CORDERA

Cordera is the master-planned community that went all-in on shared space. It was developed by La Plata Communities, the same developer behind Briargate, Pine Creek and The Farm, and it’s laid out around a community center, a big central lawn and a string of parks, with wide sidewalks and trails connecting them. Homes started going up in the mid-2000s, and building has continued in phases since.

The lay of the land

Cordera sits in 80924 on the east side of Powers Boulevard, with Briargate proper across Powers to the west and Wolf Ranch bordering it to the southeast. It has more than 50 acres of open space, much of it in its parks. The largest, Wild Rumpus Park, covers about 16 acres, keeps native Gambel oak and ponderosa, and has an overlook with Pikes Peak views.

Living here

The community center comes with living here, with no separate membership fee. It has a heated outdoor pool with lap lanes, a splash area, a fitness room and event space. Next to it, the Tom Kelly Grand Lawn hosts events like Jazz in the Park and a harvest festival. The parks have storybook themes and names, including Wild Rumpus, Ye Olde Castlewood, Happy Meadows and Fe Fi Fo Fum.

The Promenade Shops at Briargate and the rest of Briargate’s restaurants and errands are a short drive, Memorial Hospital North is close by on Briargate Parkway, and Powers gets you across town quickly.

The homes

Cordera is mostly single-family homes, from the mid-2000s through recent construction, built by a handful of local and regional builders. The design guidelines draw on older Colorado Springs architecture, with varied designs and color palettes, so streets don’t look like one plan repeated. Sizes range from moderate two-stories and ranches to larger homes on premium lots, and some homes back to open space or trails.

Worth knowing before you buy

Metro district and HOA. Like most newer master-planned communities, Cordera has an HOA and may have a metropolitan district on the tax bill. Ask for exact numbers on any home you’re considering.

Covenants and design review. Exterior changes, fencing and landscaping go through design guidelines. Read them before you plan a project.

Older vs. newer sections. The earliest homes are now around 20 years old, so roofs, mechanical systems and water heaters are worth a close look. On newer homes, check builder warranties.

Schools. Cordera is in Academy School District 20. Chinook Trail Elementary sits inside the neighborhood, and Chinook Trail Middle School and Pine Creek High School are nearby. Assignments can change, so verify schools by address with the district.

Nearby neighborhoods

To the southeast, Wolf Ranch offers a lake, a recreation center and plenty of new construction. Across Powers, Briargate proper has established resale homes from the 1980s and ’90s, and a little farther north, Pine Creek & Kettle Creek has homes around a golf course. Head north and the Northgate area and Black Forest acreage are a few minutes away.

For the bigger picture, see the Briargate area page.

Current market and listings

The monthly Market Update covers the broader trend, and active listings in 80924 are below. If you’re comparing an early Cordera home with a newer one down the street, I’m happy to help you weigh what the difference in age is worth.