Seattle & SeaTac (Kent, Tukwila, Rainier: apartment, home, neighborhoods)

[Guerita]

Is it possible to live in Seattle and work at SeaTac without a crazy commute? Would be working “normal biz hours.”

Or would the commute be too much? Also, is public transportation available? I would want to live in an area of Seattle which would be fun for a single 33 yr old female moving from Manhattan. Housing prices not an issue.

If I have to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, I would much prefer to just stay in Manhattan.

Thanks!

[sean98125]

Look at West Seattle, particularly around the Admiral district. Your commute to the airport would be easy and there are lots of good little restaurants and stores in that area.

[chris]

public transportation is available but it would probably not be worth the time.

It's a quick commute from Seattle especially going against traffic. 20-30 minutes depending on where you would live. Public trans, look at 45-75 minutes depending on if you needed a connecting bus. I've taken the bus from Seatac to Lake Union and that took almost 1.5 hours.

[sean98125]

In 2009, light rail will begin that connects downtown Seattle to the airport. It will go through Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill and Tukwila on the way. Those aren't great neighborhoods now, but I have a feeling they are going to be much different and much more in demand in 5 - 10 years.

[scirocco22]

You may want to keep an eye on the Brighton area of south Seattle. It hasn't had the best of reputations but with the new light rail line going through the Rainier Valley, the last time I drove through there, I noticed a lot of new development taking place. Some other parts of the valley may be improving also. It will be a convenient location for you i that you'd be able to take the train to the airport for work and in the other direction to Seattle for fun and pleasure.

[malarkey]

anywhere close to 99 will work for that commute. I live on Queen Anne and commute to Seatac and it's a breeze compared to negotiating the bridges.

[pwright1]

When I first moved to Seattle my first apartment was on Belmont Avenue on Capitol Hill and I commuted to Boeing's Defense & Space in Kent. I traveled down I-5 everyday. I had the reverse commute and it was quite easy. Coming home in the late afternoon the commute was fine until I reached the I-90/I-5 interchange. It got jammed there but not too bad since I would get off on Madison or Olive. I thought my commute was heaven compared to my Washington D.C. commute I use to dread everyday.