living on Mercer Island? (Seattle, Bellevue: real estate, sex offenders, home)

[bella_mocha]

Hi there

What is Mercer Island like to live on- apart from expensive?! How big is the island, what is there in the way of shopping, recreation and medical facilities? What are the ferries like? Is it a good place to get involved with neighbourhood activities? Is there a library and coffee shops? And places to walk a dog?

I have been told (by friends who lived in Seattle about 2 years ago) that this is the place they would recommend for all of the above reasons, and that the High School there is fantastic. Not sure how up-to-date their info is?

Thanks everyone. And if you can recommend any websites about Seattle in general or mercer Island, that would be great too.

Thanks again

[scirocco22]

How big is the island? I’d guess about 12 to 15 square miles. Shopping? The retail core is on the north end of the island. I-90 runs right through the north end and the shopping area is right off the freeway. You’ll find small shops, some restaurants, fast food places, etc. There is a small shopping area at the south end of the island that has a small chain grocery store and a gas station. Most of your shopping will be done either in Seattle or the Bellevue/Factoria area as Mercer Island is in-between Seattle and Bellevue. There is no ferry. Access to the island is across I-90 from either Seattle or Bellevue.

Medical facilities/major hospitals, again, are in either Bellevue or Seattle although there are a few doctor’s offices on the island.

Yes, it is a very good place to get involved with community and neighborhood activities. There is a library, coffee shops, and many places to walk a dog.

The Mercer Island School District is one of the best in the nation.

I’ll give you some links when I get the chance to look them up or somebody else might be able to post some in the meantime.

[scirocco22]

City’s website: City of Mercer Island - HOME

Chamber of Commerce: Home - Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce

School District: Welcome to the Mercer Island School District

Parks and Recreation: City of Mercer Island - Parks & Recreation Homepage

The City-Data reference page: Mercer Island, Washington (WA) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

[AzDreamer]

Shopping: Everything you need for daily living but not a lot more. There is lots of shopping is about 10 minutes from here.

Recreation: Lots of outdoor possibilities like biking around the island, tennis, basketball. There is a nice community center with exercise equipment, a gym, pool tables and meeting rooms. There is an indoor pool. No bowling or video game hangouts.

Medical facilities: No hospitals but plenty of doctors and dentists.

Ferries: none, we have about 8 lanes of interstate highway going East and West.

Library: yes, a good one that is part of the King County system, King County Library System -

Coffee shops: plenty of Starbucks and other drive-through locations.

Places to walk a dog: On most of the island well-behaved dogs are allowed off-leash.

Neighborhood activities: Are you asking about things for kids to do in their spare time or for adults to do to get involved with the community?

Schools: run by the same kind of people that provide all government services. The difference here is most parents make the effort necessary for their children to be successful.

Expensive: the median price is high but this is due to a lot waterfront property. There are less expensive neighborhoods where $700k will get you a 1960's vintage split-level.

Commute: If you work in Seattle or Bellevue it's pretty good.

[SunInHair]

I lived on Mercer Island for 35 years and loved it. Living on the water is ideal but even for those who don't, there are 3 large beach parks, the largest of which is Luther Burbank Park on the northend. LB has a small off-leash area with water access. Best off leash park is a half hour drive--Marymoor Park in Redmond--a must for dogs and dog lovers! Good bus service on "the rock" and to off-Island, too. There's lots to do on the Island and nearby. Be sure you're comfortable living among "upwardly mobile" folks.

[AzDreamer]

I know this is a zombie thread and we should let die a peaceful death, but this article was in the news today.

Mercer Island, where 37.1 percent of residents over age 25 have advanced degrees, is No. 20 on the Forbes list of the Most Educated Small Towns...

Mercer Island on Forbes 'most educated' list | Local News | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington (http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_010509WAB_mercer_island_forbes_list_SW.3fea3a2e .html - broken link)

[tobester]

Comments to AzDreamer - dogs are allowed off-leash only in posted off-leash areas ... not just anywhere they are well-behaved - I witnessed a young girl attacked by a well-behaved off-leash dog on the lid. It says a lot about MI when $700K for a older home is considered "less-expensive".

[AzDreamer]

Originally Posted by tobester

Comments to AzDreamer - dogs are allowed off-leash only in posted off-leash areas ... not just anywhere they are well-behaved - I witnessed a young girl attacked by a well-behaved off-leash dog on the lid. It says a lot about MI when $700K for a older home is considered "less-expensive".

I think you have your off-leash rules reversed. Dogs are allowed off-leash everywhere except where posted.

The general rules are dogs and not allowed on school grounds, sports courts, swimming beaches and playgrounds. Dogs are not allowed off-leash at Luther Burbank and a couple other places except in the specific off-leash area. Other parts of the island dogs are allowed off-leash.

City of Mercer Island - Leash Law