What do Seattlites and Eastsiders think about Tacoma? (Seattle, Bellevue: houses, neighborhoods)

[DevanXL]

I was raised in Federal Way, but spent a significant part of my childhood being in Tacoma. To me, though not perfect Tacoma has alot of upside. Nice wealthy neighborhoods mixed with the lower income culture. Beautiful waterfront, great family attractions, lots of great resturants and bars, growing art scene, lots a recreation, all at a reseanible price. Yes the downtown needs to be more redeveloped, the industries (mills and factories) need to be replaced, the inner core needs some work, and the tacoma dome is an abomination, but the soul of the city and upside is there. To me I think its a great alternative for a young person to get city life yet not break the bank doing it. Also great for the middle class family looking for alittle more bang for their buck. But whenever someone on those forum suggests Tacoma it is met with resounding negativity. As one poster looking to the area put "they made it sound like the worst place on earth".

I love Seattle and Bellevue, but it seems there is hate towards Tacoma for not being as exciting as Seattle or nice as Bellevue.

Do you dislike Tacoma? If so why dont you like it?

This entire area will grow and I think Tacoma and the South Sound are lovely places to be.

[Hemlock140]

I think a lot of it has to do with the first impression, and most people in this area experience Tacoma only when driving past on I5 while heading south to Oregon or California on a trip. That first impression often includes that infamous smell as you pass over the Puyallup river, from the nearby sewage treatment plant. Some people claim it's been improved but we just went by there a couple of weeks ago and there it was. I have done some work in the downtown area and found some new development, and more activity during the day, and we go to Rainiers games and find the area around the stadium to be pleasant, but not enough that we'd want to live there.

[flyingsaucermom]

I love that many parts of Tacoma have that feel of being close to the water (and they are!). You can buy a view home for cheaper than Seattle. DT Tacoma reminds me of Grand Rapids, MI (their populations are pretty equal too) with the older buildings looking to be of similar age, style and height. That's cool. a little bit of mid-west flair... and it's not just the infrastructure, but also in the people... *very* different sort of folk resides in and around Tacoma. I've sat in Shake Shake Shake and admired the frequent chance meeting between neighbors and associates... that's kinda nice to see, you know... I suppose it's more "working class".. they certainly don't seem to have as long of sticks up their bottoms as many people around here do. It's also a lot more Caucasian. Hmm... I really like the ethnic diversity of the Eastside... and where are the trees? Now THAT is something that gets me each time: where did the trees go?

I love to visit Tacoma and when I'm there my mind likes to wonder about what it would be like to live in the immediate area (I think I would move to Burien first quite honestly), but really, it doesn't go beyond a few hours... as much as I hate the social demographics, where we are now is certainly more fitting for a mutli-lingual, multi-cultural, higher income, high tech family. Looking to commiserate on dealing with the political shenanigans of mid-level and executive corporate players? Yeah, I can turn to pretty much anyone on the street...

But the mid-level corporate player of the family doesn't actually think about any of those point.. not even the last one.. he just thinks about how screwed Tacoma would be if Rainier blew...

Is that even true?

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

This is coming from the perspective of about 25 people I know all in their late 20s... Every time someone says Tacoma, everyone says "hell no" "what a dump" "I would never move there" "I don't even set foot in Tacoma" and last but not least "Isn't tacoma one of the most dangerous cities in the US?"

Personally, Ive been to tacoma Dome and that's about it. If someone told me I was banned from Tacoma for life, I'd probably be happy about it.

Hey, you asked

[homesinseattle]

I've had a nice time taking my family down for the day, going to the Chihuly Glass Museum (they have great live glass making), checking out the old town, coffee shops, gorgeous historic neighborhoods of North Tacoma, brunch on Ruston Way waterfront. Its also a blast to catch a Tacoma Rainiers AAA game, very high quality baseball. So, I guess I just think of Tacoma in my mind as another neat place in the Pacific Northwest.

[fnh]

True I haven't spent much time in Tacoma but every time I've gone I think, hey, it's charming!

[Ira500]

I love Tacoma. Okay, maybe not the entire city, as there are parts of Tacoma that are flat and ugly, but...Tacoma has some gorgeous views, Tacoma has some very cool old buildings and houses. Tacoma has charming neighborhoods. The fact that Seattle thrived economically while Tacoma lagged has actually helped Tacoma: Seattle tore down some beautiful old buildings, in the name of progress, while Tacoma didn't have that urgency, and has the Rialto and the Pantages theatres.
Seattle folks have long made fun of tacoma. Maybe at one time, some of that was deserved. But nowadays, when Seattle is looking increasingly more like Bellevue( shiny, a little soulless), Tacoma's great.
By the way, when Rainier erupts, it's not supposed to bury Tacoma. Puyallup, maybe. Enumclaw? Perhaps. federal Way? We can only hope so.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I love Tacoma. Okay, maybe not the entire city, as there are parts of Tacoma that are flat and ugly, but...Tacoma has some gorgeous views, Tacoma has some very cool old buildings and houses. Tacoma has charming neighborhoods. The fact that Seattle thrived economically while Tacoma lagged has actually helped Tacoma: Seattle tore down some beautiful old buildings, in the name of progress, while Tacoma didn't have that urgency, and has the Rialto and the Pantages theatres.
Seattle folks have long made fun of tacoma. Maybe at one time, some of that was deserved. But nowadays, when Seattle is looking increasingly more like Bellevue( shiny, a little soulless), Tacoma's great.
By the way, when Rainier erupts, it's not supposed to bury Tacoma. Puyallup, maybe. Enumclaw? Perhaps. federal Way? We can only hope so.

Federal Way would be fine as it is not in a valley and far enough away. Auburn and fife? maybe not. Mud slides could effect Federal Way and Tacoma but that should be the furthest of the extent.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by Seattlephil

This is coming from the perspective of about 25 people I know all in their late 20s... Every time someone says Tacoma, everyone says "hell no" "what a dump" "I would never move there" "I don't even set foot in Tacoma" and last but not least "Isn't tacoma one of the most dangerous cities in the US?"

Personally, Ive been to tacoma Dome and that's about it. If someone told me I was banned from Tacoma for life, I'd probably be happy about it.

Hey, you asked

The Tacoma dome is not a good representation of the city. That hunk of concrete needs to go but that's a rant for another day. The thing about Tacoma is those who have not been there and explored simply dont understand it.

Plus though it used to be dangerous its fine now. It's actually yuppifying as we speak.

[BaconBurgerTaco10]

Originally Posted by DevanXL

The Tacoma dome is not a good representation of the city. That hunk of concrete needs to go but that's a rant for another day. The thing about Tacoma is those who have not been there and explored simply dont understand it.

Plus though it used to be dangerous its fine now. It's actually yuppifying as we speak.

true. I'm merely judging, as are my friends and family.