Lesbian couple w/ young children, where to live near boeing air field (Seattle: apartments)

[Anne03064]

We are a lesbian couple with two young children (both under 3) moving to the Seattle area from the East Coast. My wife will be working at the Boeing airfield, south of Seattle. I will most likely be working in Seattle. We need an area that will be safe for children, lesbian friendly (or at least not hostile), and not a horrible commute for either of us. We would prefer to find something for 300,000 or less.

Where should we live?

[Inkpoe]

You don't have to worry about it being gay friendly. Seattle is all for civil unions and voted according.

For a "not horrible" commute and family friendly: West Seattle, Columbia City, Burien/Normandy Park would do.

[Ira500]

The problem is not that you won't find a lesbian friendly and safe place, the problem is that you are less likely to find a house in a nice, lesbian friendly, and safe place for under 300 thousand. And do school districts factor into the decision?
If you were renting, that opens up a lot more neighborhoods as rents in Seattle are far less costly than mortgage payments. If you were going to rent, I'd suggest West Seattle or North Beacon Hill or parts of Capitol Hill, unless schools were of utmost importance, then I'd consider the east side ( Bellevue, Issaquah).
But if you were buying? Burien, Renton, Kent, or the 98178 neighborhoods of Bryn Mawr and Lakeridge.
You can get a half decent home in those areas for less than 300,000, and the commute to Boeing Field wouldn't be bad ( especially from Lakeridge and Bryn Mawr).

[Anne03064]

Schools aren't really a factor at this point, since we will have a few years until it becomes an issue and we can always move at that point. We both love the city. Before moving to the East coast, we lived in Chicago and really miss it since we have been living in the far suburbs of Boston for the past 2 years. I should also explain that "safe" to us can be taken in the context that we used to live in Chicago - so typical big city crime (car theft, minor gang activity, petty crime) isn't really as big a concern as it may be to some people. We just don't want to find ourselves in an area where we can't take the kids for a walk without worrying. Great to hear that the lesbian thing probably won't be an issue. We are living in New Hampshire now, where we are legally married, so I'm sure giving that up will be an adjustment.

I've read some interesting posts about Columbia City. It seems like it might be a good fit (close to Boeing, easy commute into the downtown, parks, cheaper housing) Does anyone have any opinions on that area?

We are also considering Renton as an option, but it doesn't seem to have the metropolitan feel that we crave. It seems more suburban. Is that assessment accurate?

[AlohaHuey]

Renton does feel more suburban. I echo the sentiment that West Seattle (if it is in your budget) is a good place to start. It has a lot of funky shops and is close to your described work situations, 15-20 minute commute (good mass transit to the city, I recommend any city worker take Metro).

[Ira500]

I like Columbia City, and it sounds like it would be a good fit.
Renton isn't exactly suburban. It's a physically pretty large, so there are big pieces of it that are suburban, but the parts closest to downtown Renton ( North Renton, downtown, Earlington, Renton Hill) are older neighborhoods, a lot of 1920's houses and apartments, and when you're within walking distance to downtown Renton it doesn't feel the burbs at all.
But if the urban thing is what you want, not too mny neighborhods in Seattle have that, especially in relation to a place like Chicago. First Hill, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and South Lake Union probably come closest.