Sorry, another neighborhood post (Seattle, Bellevue: apartment, rentals, townhomes)

[debbie421]

Hi all,

I think I'm going cross eyed reading all these posts! Very helpful and informative, but I might as well do one of my own. After reading so many, it looks like more details are better than not enough, so get ready for my e-novel.

My husband and I might be moving to Seattle next year. We're in our mid thirties, have no children (and don't plan on having any), and will make close to $200,000 together (added for budgeting purposes). My job will be with one of the Big 4 downtown. We're not sure where my husband will work. That being said, here's our personal neighborhood preferences.

EXERCISE - I'm a fitness junkie. Not only is my husband a runner, I'm an avid traithelete, marathoner, and spin instructor. We'd like a neighborhood near popular running and biking areas that we don't have to drive to. I'd also like a great gym nearby where I can take and teach group fitness classes.

FOOD - I'm an extreme food snob that doesn't cook. We'd like to have several casual places we can get a good meal nearby; we don't mind driving far for the "fancy" meals. On a day to day basis we eat Vietnamese, sushi, salads, soup, sandwiches, breakfast, Middle Eastern. We also like a high end grocery story with great produce and a large hot food/salad bar/deli area.

AMENITIES - Our musts are a place with an in unit washer/dryer, a dishwasher, and 2 off street parking spaces. We'd prefer NOT to be in a highrise. In our dream world we'd get a 2 bedroom + den, all for $2,000-$2,500 a month? We like what some might call a charming neighborhood with a clean, modern living space (hardwood, high ceilings, great windows, etc). If it helps, we currently live in Minneapolis, in St. Anthony Main.

AREA - We definitely don't need to live downtown, but we really don't want anything that even remotely resembles a suburb. I break out in hives at a Bed Bath and Beyond or Applebee's sighting. I also wouldn't mind an amazing view. Your sure have a lot of them in Seattle!

I think that's it. From my reading, I think you're going to tell me Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, Freemont, or Madison Park. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Hemlock140]

Reading all of your requirements, I would suggest Queen Anne. All of the areas you expected to hear are nice but only Queen Anne is likely to have the view for that rent, and is also convenient to the Elliot Bay/Interbay Trail which is nice for walking but great for biking.
It runs from the stadiums area along the waterfront and includes
views of water, shipping and cruise terminals, railroad yards and the Olympic Mountains. You are also close to the interbay Whole Foods
store, Peets Coffee, and Red Mill Burgers.

[AlohaHuey]

Add Wallingford, Green Lake and Alki (West Seattle) to your search.

[tobester]

Might I suggest Seward Park. You could walk to the start of three triathlons and several different runs held each year. Andrews Bay at Seward Park is a prime place to practice open water swimming. Lake Washington Blvd. between Seward Park and I90 has a running path of nearly nine miles where you cross one driveway the entire way. Lake Washington Blvd. is closed every Sunday in the summer for bicycles only. Within a mile or two, you will find at least 20 different types of ethnic restaurants. Columbia City has many great restaurants and is just a mile away. My only question is whether you must have an apartment ... Seward Park is mostly a neighborhood of single family homes.

[eskercurve]

Eastlake. It's got some excellent restaurants nearby and UW across the bridge which you can go jogging across to some excellent and cheap places to eat (off the top of my head, there's a killer omelete place, an Irish bar, a vegetarian thai place, a non-vegetarian thai place, a middle eastern place, a french place, a bakery and some cool coffee joints).

Might I also suggest something not in Seattle? How about Mercer Island?

There's some really awesome upper level aparments and townhomes with killer views of Bellevue downtown, Seattle, and Lake Washington. And it's in the core business district, so you won't see a generic place there. It is new, so there's still vacancies, but I'm sure once the recession ends and the current anti-business climate subsides it will fill in.

You also have a 3 mile run in either direction to the terminus, and another 2-3 miles to the central business core.

[godhead]

I agree with AlohaHuey, Green lake, "recreational mecca" is probably the ideal neighborhood for the fitness junkie in you.
Green Lake links:
Green Lake Neighborhood Profile
"The Green Lake community thrives with outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, and animal lovers; from bicyclists, skaters, and joggers...."
Green Lake: Residents, business coexist in this recreational mecca (http://www.seattlepi.com/neighbors/greenlake/ - broken link)
Green Lake Community Council
Green Lake, Seattle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog
Green Lake Restaurants - Seattle | Urbanspoon
PCC Natural Market - Green Lake
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pcc-natural-markets-seattle-9

[SaltyDawg]

It is definitely an urban oasis, but you're close enough to the 'best' stretch of Aurora that you won't forget you're in the city and you can get your Pho or dive bar on.

It's likely the most athletically-inclined neighborhood in the city just by dint of the fact that the centerpiece is a 3-mile loop for activities of all kinds that includes a community center with pool, basketball courts, and boat rentals.

It really varies depending on which side of the lake you're on. The South part (bordering Wallingford) is likely the most neighborhood-y, but also has a great pocket business district in Tangletown. East Greenlake is the business hub, with lots of restaurants, cafes, & bars, and is also the most 'urban', with ample bus Service and access to I-5. The North part is the smallest, as the 85th & Aurora borders kind of hem it in, but also has a small business district and access to Aurora avenue.

The part of Aurora prior to 85th is actually a decent stretch, with a PCC market, some great bars (St Andrews, Uber, Duck Island Ale House) and ethnic eateries. North of 85th... tread with caution.

West of Aurora is sometimes also considered "Greenlake" but is really more aligned with Phinney ridge. The road really separates the neighborhoods despite the proximity to the park.

Good luck... if you make the move, i'm sure we'll see each other running the loop at some point

[ronaldojernkins]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg

It is definitely an urban oasis, but you're close enough to the 'best' stretch of Aurora that you won't forget you're in the city and you can get your Pho or dive bar on.

It's likely the most athletically-inclined neighborhood in the city just by dint of the fact that the centerpiece is a 3-mile loop for activities of all kinds that includes a community center with pool, basketball courts, and boat rentals.

It really varies depending on which side of the lake you're on. The South part (bordering Wallingford) is likely the most neighborhood-y, but also has a great pocket business district in Tangletown. East Greenlake is the business hub, with lots of restaurants, cafes, & bars, and is also the most 'urban', with ample bus Service and access to I-5. The North part is the smallest, as the 85th & Aurora borders kind of hem it in, but also has a small business district and access to Aurora avenue.

The part of Aurora prior to 85th is actually a decent stretch, with a PCC market, some great bars (St Andrews, Uber, Duck Island Ale House) and ethnic eateries. North of 85th... tread with caution.

West of Aurora is sometimes also considered "Greenlake" but is really more aligned with Phinney ridge. The road really separates the neighborhoods despite the proximity to the park.

Good luck... if you make the move, i'm sure we'll see each other running the loop at some point

I would say "lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars" is a bit of a stretch for East Greenlake. Theres only 2 actual bars and some good restaurants and cafes, but I wouldn't refer to it as urban. Another area not too far from Greenlake, though, is the 65th Street strip (centered around 65th and Roosevelt), which is about a 10-15 minute walk from Greenlake. It's got a more urban flavor and some great bars and restaurants as well.

[SaltyDawg]

Here's a list off the top of my head:
Amante - Italian
Greenlake Bar & Grill
Mykonos - Greek
Rositas - Mexican
Tacos Guyamas - Mexican
Little Red Hen - dive country bar
Turnpike Pizza - uh, pizza
Nells - Fine dining
Spud - Fish & Chips
Latona Pub - high end pub grub
Mona's - romantic italian
Krittika - Thai
Thai Ocean- Thai

So what are you talking about with regards to there not being a lot again?

[Bill Loney]

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg

It is definitely an urban oasis, but you're close enough to the 'best' stretch of Aurora that you won't forget you're in the city and you can get your Pho or dive bar on.

It's likely the most athletically-inclined neighborhood in the city just by dint of the fact that the centerpiece is a 3-mile loop for activities of all kinds that includes a community center with pool, basketball courts, and boat rentals.

It really varies depending on which side of the lake you're on. The South part (bordering Wallingford) is likely the most neighborhood-y, but also has a great pocket business district in Tangletown. East Greenlake is the business hub, with lots of restaurants, cafes, & bars, and is also the most 'urban', with ample bus Service and access to I-5. The North part is the smallest, as the 85th & Aurora borders kind of hem it in, but also has a small business district and access to Aurora avenue.

The part of Aurora prior to 85th is actually a decent stretch, with a PCC market, some great bars (St Andrews, Uber, Duck Island Ale House) and ethnic eateries. North of 85th... tread with caution.

West of Aurora is sometimes also considered "Greenlake" but is really more aligned with Phinney ridge. The road really separates the neighborhoods despite the proximity to the park.

Good luck... if you make the move, i'm sure we'll see each other running the loop at some point

Gotta disagree. Avoiding Aurora Avenue is a healthy habit. Short of an occasional dinner at a restaurant, it's crack ho city.