Seven Best Seattle Neighborhoods

[Anders15]

Originally Posted by Andy

What a terrible article. It's like they took a bunch of people who haven't been to Seattle and had them look at a bunch of stats to make their list.

I would not raise children on Beacon Hill. Higher crime and crappy schools. The reason the % of kids is high in Beacon Hill is that these people can not afford to flee to better school districts and neighborhoods. As Beacon Hill slowly gentrifies, expect the # of households with children to drop.

There are worse places to live. Trust me. I did chuckle at "downtown" being listed. What is it like living in Western Seattle though? I really enjoy Queen Anne.

[Inkpoe]

Western Seattle?? Or are you asking about West Seattle?

Originally Posted by Sardo

I wasn't expecting Beacon Hill to make that list but all the same, north Beacon Hill is nice (that's where I live now). I think the more south you go on it, the more crappy it gets. Also I think people confuse Beacon Hill with Rainier Valley, which is at parts pretty ghetto. I didn't read the article but I'm guessing Beacon Hill made the list because it's cheaper to live there.

Beacon Hill was runner up to the Most Affordable Neighborhood. There's more to being a great Family neighborhood than just being affordable.

[Anders15]

west. like near Alki Beach.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Anders15

west. like near Alki Beach.

West Seattle is great... Alki definitely would be the more pricier parts of West Seattle. West Seattle lots of public transit (buses and water taxi) going out to Seattle DT. Has its own funky vibe, "block" parties, many restaurants. You can't really go wrong in W. Seattle.

[Flux]

Originally Posted by Andy

I would not raise children on Beacon Hill. Higher crime and crappy schools. The reason the % of kids is high in Beacon Hill is that these people can not afford to flee to better school districts and neighborhoods. As Beacon Hill slowly gentrifies, expect the # of households with children to drop.

Mostly a lurker, but I have to say something here, hopefully for the benefit
of those who wish to move to Seattle or at least, understand the surface
level history of Seattle. I am using Beacon Hill, as an example.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend Richard Morrill's new book, Seattle
Geographies, for those who wish to understand Seattle better.

Beacon Hill is affordable, centrally located to jobs and to shopping,
good transportation routes, relatively safe
(Seattle is a safe city, compared to other metro areas),
decent schools, and attractive to recent immigrants and people who wish to live affordably in the city.

Because some people can not afford to live in "nicer" areas does not
mean that they do not want the same things that all people want:
a better life for themselves and a better future for their kids.
Sometimes, people just have to make do with what they have and move
forward, as best as possible.

With that said, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, and parts of Seward Park were
not REDLINED for Asians, Blacks, Jews, and other brownish people,
hence, large population concentrations in those areas.
There were racial covenants in most of the neighborhoods north
of the ship canal e.g., Blue Ridge, and most of Seattle proper that did not
allow the sale of homes to non-whites. Apartments? No way. Ask
any older real estate agent. Of course, things slowly started to change
in the late 60's and early 70's, but some lingering in the early 80's.
We are talking about one generation of people still alive.

Beacon Hill families have been living and raising kids for generations, even
with the so-called gentrification, crappy schools, and high crime.
They had no other choice but to survive and to do the best that they
could, even with all the limitations. Thankfully, many of these kids received
decent education, got good jobs, and improved their lives and community.
Some stayed in the area, but many moved to the suburbs with their
new families, just like everyone else. If you missed it:
JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by tobester

The 7 Best Neighborhoods in Seattle | 7x7

What a goofy article. Each has cool features, but few of their "bests" make sense. The person who wrote this has obviously never actually been to Seattle, and has done her research off the internet.

Thought is was also crazy to state that Laurelhurst is "99% more expensive" than any other neighborhood in WA, but then state it's our "best kept secret". The author is pulling cliched phrases out of her butt. Additionally, there is one particular subdivision w/in Laurelhurst that is incredibly expensive, but much of Laurelhurst has the same price range as any other neighborhood in Seattle (non-water front, that is). Silly article.

I hope no one relies on this for moving research of any kind.

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Yes... I concur with Andy.

I think its odd that out of all choices for Best Access to Nature, they chose Greenlake! Really?

crazy, crazy article

[sequoias]

I vote Seward Park to be the best access to nature. It has the real world nature features. Greenlake is more fake type of nature, pretty much.

[Arushan]

The area around Carkeek Park has good access to nature. Discovery Park is great too.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by Arushan

The area around Carkeek Park has good access to nature. Discovery Park is great too.

Yeah, Carkeek Park is also great. Discovery Park used to be a military base in the early years and converted it to a park but some areas have the natural features.