From Washington, DC to Seattle, WA (apartment complex, lease, neighborhood)

[stephensong]

Hello, I am new to this forum so please bear with me. I am relocating from Washington, DC to Seattle. This move is taking place next month. I have been checking out apartments and have come across Neptune Apartments. The location is S. Lake Union, can anyone provide info regarding this area? I am bringing a car with me, is Seattle a driver friendly city? I will be working downtown on 3rd Ave and from the transit maps it appears that there is a bus that will make for an easy commute from the apartment complex to my office, is public transit a good way to go?

Thanks for your help.

[geometricdisaster]

Welcome to Seattle. You'll find it quite different from D.C. in both positive and negative ways.

Is it driver friendly: While Seattle doesn't have anything that resembles the DC Metrorail, leaving people to rely on buses and cars, it's not, in my opinion, that driver-friendly. It's more of a pedestrian city. You'll also find bicyclists doing things here that people wouldn't dare try in D.C. Cyclists are becoming a more vocal group as well, so expect some pro-cycling laws in the reasonable future. Parking is comparable regarding price and availability, to D.C. The bus, as you mentioned, may be a good option for you -- I've never used it, so I can't vouche for how well the bus system is run here (on time, crowded or not, etc).

The way people drive: more courteous than D.C. by far, but also very expectant (some would say "entitled") of said courtesy from others. People tend to drive slower (under the speed limit), and yield even when they have the right of way.

Doesn't sound like you'll have to deal with the Interstate, but I-5 and I-405 tend to be slow crawl traffic; not just during a rush hour window, but congested to various degrees most of the day.

[mlv311]

We moved from DC to Seattle 4 years ago. I'm not familiar with that apartment complex, but if you are living and working in Seattle, you should be able to get around pretty easily by bus. Your commute by car shouldn't be too bad either if you are living and working in the city, but you'll have to consider parking availability at your workplace. Seattle doesn't have a subway system like DC, but the bus system is pretty reliable and less expensive than DC. I agree with Geometricdisaster that Seattle is predominantly a pedestrian city and there are bicyclists everywhere.

[pwright1]

I too moved here from D.C. Two totally different cities imo. Took me some getting use to at first but I love it here. Much more laid back with a much slower pace than D.C. Neptune apartments are on Dexter Avenue between highway 99 and Lake Union. They are very nice and pretty new. Hopefully you have one facing Lake Union. The views are awesome. Bus service is great and only a short distance to dt Seattle.

[pwright1]

Stephensong I just returned from from your Neptune apt. area and I have to say I do not recommend this place. It's indeed a short hop to dt Seattle but a sort of industrial area. Not many amenities within walking distance. For what you would be paying here there are so many other choices in much better areas of the city. Not a bad area, just an area in transition I guess. I did notice a deli in the bldg but thats it. There is a huge Courtyard Marriot in front of it facing Lake Union. All in all Neptune is nice and new and close to dt Seattle but for everyday living in a desireable neighborhood with lots of amenities close by, it is not. Most of your amenities will be a short drive though. Good luck.

[geometricdisaster]

Awesome photography as always, pwright!

Your camera really captures Seattle well.

[stephensong]

Thanks for the info. The photos are great. I guess a six month lease just to have a local base should be okay.