woodinville or redmond? car-free? (Seattle, Bellevue: to rent, house, to buy)

[isabel33]

Jenbar, I just noticed you have been living in Klahanie. Somewhere I read a few very bad reviews of some apartment communities there that made me think it's not a very safe place for kids. How would that neighbourhood compare to education hill or even Issaquah highlands?

btw., thank you for your very valuable insights!!! This is such a great help for someone that has no clue about where to really start searching on the Eastside!

[isabel33]

What I read in this forum so far is really interesting, however, I wasn't able to restrict the areas to look for homes. So far, the list of communities to definitely look at is (price range around 6-700K):

1. Issaquah (Klahanie and the Highlands, since Downtown Issaquah elementaries seem to have pretty bad test results)

2. Redmond (Education Hill) because of very good neighborhood schools,

3. Woodinville (no specific neighborhood has been recommended)

4. Kirkland (because lots of people say you can actually walk to some places there, not just drive a car). however, what about schools? test results in Krikland aren't so impressive.

5. Bellevue, well, that seems to be split into good and bad neighborhoods, but still, I like the fell to be close to downtown.

6. Maybe Sammamish - although I can't see where it would beat any of the other places and it seem very much just suburbs.

This is an awful lot of places to look at in just a few weeks!

I would really appreciate ANY comment that might reduce this list by half or so, so that we have a chance to land our kids in a good neighborhood/school right from the beginning and don't have to change our mind (switch schools) again after some months. For the kids, the move is challenging enough with just one school change!

Thanks to all of you very active posters!

And: Can anyone explain to me why Highland middle and Interlake High schools have such bad test results and still everyone is talking about the IB program they offer and how good that is? I am confused as to whether considering these schools (Bennett elementary sound very good) for my kids.

[jwb123]

Somewhere I read a few very bad reviews of some apartment communities there that made me think it's not a very safe place for kids.

I don't even know of any apts IN Klahanie... oh, wait, there was one... summer something or another. I think.

I lived there (we bought our first house there) in 2001, and lived there till 2003. I would be very very surprised if it had changed that much since we had been there, to be "unsafe for kids". When I was there, it was pretty much the ideal neighborhood... kids out in the street playing, trails all over, neighborhood school, busy park with families, walkable shopping area with a great ice cream, pizza, coffee place... situated in between a forest area - so it's totally surrounded by trees....

But, of course things change - so hopefully others can chime in.

I remember Issaquah being pretty much the best little community. A great festival (Salmon Days) in October, cute little historic downtown area, a vibrant community center that featured drop in play days for kids... we loved it! But, we were priced out of the area, with our growing family...

Issaquah Highlands is newer, Klahanie was more established - though, they are a stones throw from each other, so I can't see how one would really be better than the other... then again, it's been some time since I have been there... again, hope someone else can chime in.

Again, Education Hill (especially if your husband is working on the main campus at Microsoft) would be my personal first choice.

[jwb123]

1. Issaquah (Klahanie and the Highlands, since Downtown Issaquah elementaries seem to have pretty bad test results)

2. Redmond (Education Hill) because of very good neighborhood schools,

3. Woodinville (no specific neighborhood has been recommended)

4. Kirkland (because lots of people say you can actually walk to some places there, not just drive a car). however, what about schools? test results in Krikland aren't so impressive.

5. Bellevue, well, that seems to be split into good and bad neighborhoods, but still, I like the fell to be close to downtown.

6. Maybe Sammamish - although I can't see where it would beat any of the other places and it seem very much just suburbs.

Re: Woodinville - from what I know of the area, there really aren't too many "subdivisions" or neighborhoods within. I can think of one - Cottage Lake. Oh, and I think Lake of the Woods is one. If there are any others, maybe someone else can mention them. Most of the Woodinville that I am familiar with isn't within a planned community - but rather custom homes on acres.

I don't know any specifics about schools, other than I have a friend who has her two boys in a school specifically with the PACE program, which is based on parent involvement. She loves loves and sings the praises constantly for this program - so maybe google that... her boys are 7 and 9 I think, or 8 and 10...

With your choices, and if you have the ability to afford the areas - I still would stick with Redmond and Woodinville. I would only choose the other neighborhoods IF you found a house that was to-die-for perfect. Redmond and Woodinville, in my opinion, are pretty much the best family communities, with Issaquah as a close second - and really only falling behind becuase of commute... oh, and more severe weather.... being at the foothills of the Snoqualmie pass, you have harder rain, floods, big wind storms, more chance of snow and tends to be a bit chillier.

I don't like Kirkland for a family community to live, unless you can afford waterfront property. I don't know specifics about schools - but Kirkland has some spotty areas.

Pretty much the same for Bellevue.

You are on target with Sammamish. Very nice little area - but it's basically just another suburb, as any of these on the list. In years past, you used to be able to find slightly more affordable homes in this area - but I am sure that's not the case now. It's also tucked behind, and in between other communities (Redmond and Issaquah) and there isn't direct access to major highways... so it can be traffic stalled and frustrating to get in and out of. Again though, if you can afford waterfront property, there is Lake Sammamish, which has some very nice homes & views and that may make the traffic issues worth it.

[jwb123]

Here's the PACE program at Wellington - the program I told you about that my friend and her boys are involved in.

PACE at Wellington

Oh, and you can check the two main Real Estate companies for homes in specific neighborhoods.

John L Scott and Windermere.

[isabel33]

Yes thanks for the link! Wellington does have excellent ratings, too.

Home search over the web is so easy for the US! they have the coolest tools! I am using John L. Scott a lot. Also Live search to see the newest bird-view pictures and google earth, where you can even see bus lines, groceries, schools, ballet schools, everything.

From what you told me, it again boils down to Education Hill as first, then Woodinville, then Issaquah.

I can't tell you enough how helpful you are!!!

[scirocco22]

Just a quick note, Isabel, Metro and Microsoft have been working together in forming both short and long term strategies as far as transit planning go on the eastside and how they will serve the various Microsoft facilities. You'll see a number of new routes not only this fall but in the next few years on the eastside that will be heavily oriented toward serving those Microsoft locations and that in turn will be beneficial for all transit users because of the many scattered Microsoft offices not only in different Redmond locations but in Bellevue and Issaquah as well. Those routes will also include feeders from all over King County ...transit service will be almost doubling in the next few years in King County outside of the inside Seattle service area (if that makes sense).

[isabel33]

Wow, that sounds good! Thanks for the good news! Now I have something to look forward to.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by isabel33

Hi,

We are a family of 4 relocating from Europe to Redmond (ms job). After tons of research, I'm most inclined to Education Hill (schools, infrastructure, ...).

Top priority are schools (public). Next, infrastructure.

A tough question: Is it at all realistic to get around by public transportation? Here in Vienna the metro is excellent and I have never used a car, and even the kids (8 and 10) can get around easily. How is that in Redmond? Is it safe for kids to use the bus? Is it possible to get anywhere (eg. Redmond Twon Center) within reasonable time (say, 45 minutes)?

Another question: How does Woodinville compare to Education Hill (any aspects would be interesting). It is very hard to get a real feel for the area just over the net. Please, just tell me pros and cons, no matter how subjective.

Thanks so much for your help!!!

The public transportation situation here is a complete joke when compared to Europe. Although strides are being made with new light rail construction, we are far behind Europe and alot of other American cities.

I currently live on Education Hill, and commute by bus to Seattle. It takes me approx. 25 minutes to walk to the bus stop, and another 40 minutes or so to get to work in downtown Seattle (approx. 2 hour total commute factoring in the trip home). The bus system is actually pretty efficient and well organized, and is usually very prompt. The bus I take makes a stop at the Redmond campus before getting on the freeway, and MS will provide a free bus pass for your husband. We do own a car, which my wife mainly uses so she can drop our son off at daycare on the way to work. I doubt we could survive without a car.

The Redmond Town Center is a good 20-30 minute walk, but you would probably want to drive, since Education hill is very steep on the way back home (although your leg muscles are probably more developed then most of the couch potatoes that suburban areas like Redmond attract). That takes me to my next point- the area is very boring and suburban, pretty much as bland as you can get. Granted, it's not some vanilla treeless subdivision off the freeway like you would find in Phoenix for example, but it is a very sleepy and car-oriented town. Woodinville is even more distant and car dependant than Redmond (although it is home to several wineries that give it a mini-Northern Cailfornia wine country vibe, which is attractive to many people). After living in various Seattle neighborhoods for the past few years it is a huge change of pace for me. I grew up in Blahvue (Bellevue), and vowed to never return to the eastside, but circumstances conspired to bring me back.

I would recommend checking out Fremont, Queen Anne, and maybe the Central District neighborhoods in Seattle. They are family friendly, safe, and will be closer to what you are used to as far as density and vibrancy of Europe. Many MS employees live in those areas and it wouldn't be hard for your husband to find a van-pool (probably a foreign concept to you) to ride in with. It is somewhat pricier than the eastside, so that is something to consider.

The singular advantage Redmond has is the quality of the public schools, and apparently it is a big advantage. If really good public schools are your top priority, the eastside may be your only option (assuming private schooling is not something your are pursuing).

Keep in mind this is coming from the perspective of one of those "rat-race" young tech-sector people. The eastside may suit you well.

[isabel33]

ok, those are new options to exploit. however, since private schools are too expensive for us, we might have to stick to the Eastside.

Well, we'll see if we like it there. There must be lots of Europeans, Asians, etc., who are used to a different culture. It's a trade-off. I am expecting people to be generally friendlier than here in Vienna, for instance. And for pre-teens or teenagers the city might be too dangerous to hang around by themselves anyway (this is probably the biggest difference. Here in Vienna, even 8 year olds drive around the city by themselves or go tho the park without supervision) - so suburbs might be boring, but then, you just have to organize your own entertainment.

It is funny how one starts appreciating his place as soon as he knows he's leaving...