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Neighborhoods for families
Hi there! This is my first post. My DH and I are looking to buy a home in the city (Seattle) in a neighborhood that's family friendly. We'd love to hear where you live, what you like about your neighborhood, etc... we have looked in many places, but are esp. interested in older neighborhoods like Ravenna or Ballard, etc.
Do you feel safe? Do you get trick or treaters? Are christmas lights common? Are there friendly neighborhood events or parks? Do you find many other young-ish families around?
Thanks in advance.
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Re: Neighborhoods for families
What kind of place do you live in now?
I live in Seattle City Proper - and although fine - it's not really built for families - sure there are families around but suburbs have the best schools - NOT seattle.
If we had to do it over again - I'm much rather live on the Eastside : Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Woodinville etc
There comes a time when the suburbs are better for my children to grow up in. I wish my son could ride his bike around the neighborhood, but its not going to happen unless we move
Easter 2011
Easter 2011
We live in weird little corner though - it was sold to us as North Greenlake
It's kind of in between Greenwood and Maple Leaf. My son goes to Wedgwood school (near Ravenna) we tried to get in a Ballard school but they sent us to Wedgwood
Seriously - I know your child is young - but think into the future for schools, the Eastside schools are so so so so so much nicer with a much better education
Easter 2011
I live in Shoreline, just over the dividing line from Seattle "proper." It isn't as charming as Ravenna or Green Lake or Ballard - the houses are mostly circa 1950-1970 - but the lot sizes are considerably larger; ours is almost 1/4 acre. ?The population is a mix of young families and retirees, with more young families moving in as retirees move out. Housing is priced more affordably in Shoreline than it is in Seattle, and the schools are considered quite good.
The particular neighborhood of Shoreline we live in, Parkwood, ?doesn't get a lot of trick-or-treaters (we don't have a lot of sidewalks). I'm sure other streets/neighborhoods get more. There are plenty of christmas lights, in fact Shoreliners have the reputation for leaving christmas lights up year round, lol. ?
Overall, Shoreline isn't quite as yuppy/affluent/upper middle class as the neighborhoods in Seattle, but it's safe, affordable, conveniently located, and with the excellent schools, I think it's going to be a great place to raise a family.
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That said (and sorry for the novel!!), DH and I were talking about what neighborhood we would choose if we had to move into Seattle, and I chose the sunset hill area of Ballard, or Mount Baker (overlooks Lake Washington) or Phinney Ridge (between greenlake and ballard.)
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Good luck to you!?
Where are you from? I'm from actual suburbs outside of Tacoma, so Seattle seems very urban to me. There are some young families, but Seattle is not the sort of place I would expect trick-or-treaters, Christmas lights or family-centric events.
Of course, my old roommate from the New York/New Jersey area used to describe the area just north of Lake Union as "Suburbia," so it's all a matter of perspective.
Ballard used to be a lovely, older, originally Scandinavian neighborhood but it's become hip and condo-fied in the last 4 years. Ravenna has some young families, but it also has lots of college students and single professionals.
Other neighborhoods to check out: Phinney Ridge, Crown Hill, Maple Leaf, Wedgewood, Laurelhurst, Magnolia and Queen Anne. My top pics would be Maple Leaf or Phinney Ridge (right next to the Zoo). I would rent before buying as I don't think house prices are going to rise any time soon.
We live in Ravenna and I grew up in Sammamish. I think the suburb vs. city question is personal, but there's no way I'd move to the Eastside as long as we can afford to stay in the city. We're planning on private schools, though.
Ravenna is a great neighborhood! Lots of Christmas lights in our 'hood.
Thanks so much everyone! I am from the Eastside growing up, and I feel the same as you jenny 1980...we'll stay in the city as long as we can afford it. I'd like to send our kids to Catholic schools, so schools aren't a huge consideration for us yet.
We really love Ravenna...it's so cute.
Thanks again!
I live in Ballard and I grew up in Ravenna and View Ridge when we moved.
I LOVE BALLARD, lot's to do, parks, the nordic museum, the Ballard Community Center, Locks everything is set up for families. Also Greenwood is up and coming close to Ballard and Phinny Ridge is awesome too. (Lot's of stuff for families you just have to live in the neighborhoods and go looking for them!)
With that being said Ravenna, Wedgewood, Mapleleaf, Bryant, SandPoint, Viewridge are a cluster of neighborhoods that are awesome as well. I grew up there and loved it!