Where Exactly to Live in Seattle (Bellevue, Redmond: 2015, safest area, construction)

[dance3]

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of moving to Seattle for work within the next year or so. The company is currently located in Redmond, but I'm looking to live closer to downtown Seattle. I'm a 29 y/o single female, not opposed to roommates but looking at rents up to $1200 max. Want to be around the nightlife and social scene, happening area, but safe. I know downtown is pricey - any other suggestions, or is downtown the place to be?

[Andy]

Redmond to downtown is not a fun commute. Eventually there will be a light rail linking the two, but that is many years from happening. There are some quicker bus routes, but the ones I know about run along the 520 corridor north of downtown near the Univ. of Washington.

In Seattle, I'd look at neighborhoods north and east of the downtown core. Neighborhoods with or near the action are Capitol Hill, Belltown, Lower Queen Anne, Eastlake, Wallingford, Fremont, and Ballard. A little further north is Phinney Ridge and Greenwood which get more affordable as you head north. Montlake and the University District are also close enough to the action while being close to bus lines across the lake to Redmond.

If the trans-commute is too much, check out Kirkland on the eastside.

[lightning31]

It depends on where in Redmond your company is located that will determine if it's a doable idea or not. I agree with Andy that it's not a fun commute. You're commuting with everyone else and it seems that everyone's jobs are located in the opposite location from the lifestyle they want to have when they aren't working. Thus, horrendous bridge commutes.

So, if work is on the Redmond border with Bellevue over by Microsoft (Overlake), probably not so bad to commute between Seattle and there as transit is relatively decent between the two places.

If it's in the center of Redmond or anywhere other than that that's even less convenient and likely you will have to take the Sound Transit bus and then switch if you're going anywhere too far off 520 which decreases your convenience because Metro coverage on the Eastside is notoriously bad.

If you plan on driving and not taking transit at all, forget the trans-lake commute. You will want to live on the Eastside period, end of story. The 520 tolls and traffic aren't worth it.

Also, keep in mind, 520 construction is in its infancy and once it revs up, it might be a real pain to deal with on a daily basis until the new bridge is completed in 2015.

I'd agree with Andy's recommendations on Seattle neighborhoods except that I think Fremont, Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Wallingford (though affordable) are getting a bit more out there for someone commuting to Redmond. Stay south of the Ship Canal, I'd say.

The more happening areas in Seattle aren't necessarily the safest areas as well, unfortunately. But fortunately, things can change drastically from block to block and you don't necessarily need to live exactly where the action is to benefit from it.

If you decide to live on the Eastside, Kirkland, Redmond itself and maybe even some of Bellevue will be doable for you on your budget. Bellevue is attempting to cultivate a bit of a social scene but it's a long time from being self-sustaining like Seattle's.

[Inkpoe]

As it is right now (because of the tolls), the 520 is the easiest to commute on during rush hour.

You have a couple options:
South Lake Union
Eastlake (which could be too quiet in terms of activities, but... it's close to the action)
Capitol Hill (which could be too young, but depends on your preference)
Ravenna (which could be too quiet, again it's close to the action... and you can use the side roads to get to 520)
and... U-District... but that's not going to be appealing at all.

[CarlB328]

You'd be better off living on the Eastside (near Redmond) and driving downtown to go out in the evening when there isn't bad traffic, as opposed to living downtown and commuting to work.