Moving from Puyallup to Seattle (South Hill: condominiums, townhouses, neighborhoods)

[swimshaun]

I am considering taking a job in downtown Seattle next year. Right now my wife and I live in South Hill/Puyallup and are thinking we want to move closer to the city and have a shorter commute. We don't have any kids yet but are looking for a Seattle neighborhood that still has a urban feel (trendy shops, walkable, with parks, etc) but still want someplace that would be acceptable for starting a small family or a young child. Our price range would be somewhere in the 425-550 range and we'd be looking for a 3BR, 2BA, 1300+ sq ft. condo/townhome. We don't know much about the Seattle neighborhoods but would like to do something a bit different than the monotony of South Hill-esque suburbia. Does such a place exist? Is it possible under 550k? Thanks!

[MichaelinWA]

In addition to any input you receive here, this site was mentioned in the Seattle Times this past Saturday. It's for new condos:

UrbanCondominiums.com

[FoxyKnox]

Try Greenlake.

[CourtneyCooper]

I like Ballard and early Greenwood - the townhouse choice is pretty big and the commute is easy. There are also a ton of things for kids to do there. In addition, you can get a view or two there.
The townhouses going in right now have been pretty fabulous in the finish work I have seen - a lot of planning is going in to making Ballard into a real little urban town. I miss the old Ballard as well, but think that there is a new wonderful energy.