Woodinville??? (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond: apartment, condo, new home)

[haggardhouseelf]

We've lived here only a year (in Redmond Ridge) but know a few people who live in Woodinville and they love it. We've also spent time in Woodinville just running amuck. We found streams awhile back (in the fall) looking for spawning salmon. So much fun for kids like us from Texas! Woodinville has some really beautiful areas. I have also heard really good things about the schools. Sometimes it just makes sense to close a school, so don't let news of a closure worry you. Lots of new developments are going up everywhere and that always plays a role in the school systems - closing some, building new ones, switching things around... it's a constant. As routine and expected as the heavy traffic is here! Just be sure to keep good tunes, healthy snacks, and water with you in your car at all times.

We prefer the Woodinville Public Library over the Redmond Library (it's all part of the King County Library System...). I get a better feeling in Woodinville than I do in Redmond for some reason - it feels more earthy, more relaxed somehow. Maybe because the areas in Woodinville I have spent time in were older more established neighborhoods... Redmond feels either all new construction (after they've clearcut massive amounts of trees and displaces hundreds of birds and animals... sad... but it's happening everywhere...) or old but under construction to me... I feel like I'm living in a constant sonstruction zone in Redmond. Honestly I don't care for Redmond much and I think that's been my negativity problem since we've moved here.


This link might be of interest: Redmond Neighborhood Blog

[haggardhouseelf]

Oh and cats - I think the problem people have with King County (vs Snohomish, anyway) is usually to do with the higher property taxes. Lots of people have suggested to us that when we are ready to buy - we buy in Snohomish so that we save ourselves a bunch of money. We have children, though, and the schools are better here in King County. You get what you pay for!

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Redfin is a "competitor" but their maps are the best! And in addition to the proprietary MLS stuff I use available to agents, Redfin's maps are very useful, though they post stuff a day later than the MLS, which has no effect in a slow market.

Good to know, Ira, good to know. Thank you!!

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

We have children, though, and the schools are better here in King County. You get what you pay for!

YahHUH! You're so right about the schools, and if higher taxes get better schools, well -- duh!

Elf, your info about Redmond feeling like a perpetual construction zone is so useful. My cats and I moved into Bridle Trails in Bellevue early in 1990, and "downtown Redmond" (Leary) felt like this little dopey western mom-n-pop town with insanity for a town plan. Now - BAH! Where did that sweet place go???

I agree completely with your description of Woodinville. Your description is delightful for a delightful place!!

[tolt]

Thank you. Just the kind of "local" knowledge I was looking for. I feel the same way about new developments- depressing.

[allforcats]

Hey "Tolt" -- are YOU responsible for our water supply??? :-) :-)

[woodinvilleguy]

Originally Posted by allforcats

To answer your question, I think we don't often mention Woodinville because most prospective Microsoft employees are asking for short commute times to MS. Depending on location in Woodinville, a commute to the main MS campus could be 45 minutes, even more. But it's a delightful place to live with many different kinds of housing options from older to new. Used to be a sort of hippie area outside of Seattle, back in the mists of history. Now it's very eclectic and suburban with touches of rural at the edges.

I still disagree with your commute estimate here. I can bike from Woodinville to main campus in less than 45 minutes. But I don't want to get into an argument.

We recently moved from Woodinville and we loved it. I would stay to the east side of Woodinville which make traffic easier and you'll get more value for your money. We were very happy with the school district. Our kids went to Bear Creek Elementary and we couldn't be happier.

[mamma mia]

Why did you leave Woodinville? Did you move out of state?
Any thoughts as to why student enrollment continues to drop?

[woodinvilleguy]

Originally Posted by mamma mia

Why did you leave Woodinville? Did you move out of state?
Any thoughts as to why student enrollment continues to drop?

I moved to Texas for a a job. If I was still in WA, I wouldn't have moved from Woodinville.

The enrollment issue kinda mystifies me. It is actually a problem across the entire 405 corridor apparently. With all the new construction going on you would think that the student population would be going up but for the three schools around Woodpile-Duvall road and Avondale the student population has stabilized. I know that in my neighborhood there were a fair amount of kids ranging in ages from babies to young adults. It felt like more younger families where moving into the neighborhood as the empty nest folks left. So I don't really know.

I do think that they made the correct choice regarding school closure, since Woodin is the oldest and most run down school. Both Bear Creek and Cottage Lake were recently redone. Also, apparently the Northshore school district owns a fairly large amount of land that is vacant, planned for new schools. So I'm not sure why they don't sell off some of that land before closing schools, but I am not a politician or a lawyer.

</flame>
Washington state needs to commit to funding the school system better. I now live in Texas and our property tax rate is ~2.65%. While the amount sucks, at least a majority of it goes to schools and you can see a difference. I don't mind paying taxes for Schools and Libraries... I just don't want to spend taxes on boondogles like the rail system for the Seatle that serves the few.
</flame off>

Anyway, I'm happy to answer any questions you or others have. They are my opinion only so take them with a grain of salt.

-Dave

[Seattlemom]

Originally Posted by mamma mia

Thank you all. Would you generally say that all of the good schools are facing overcrowding right now? I'm talking in the Northshore and Lake Washington districts? If you had up to about $575,000 and would like a house built in the past 15 years (and a close commute to MS - 30 minutes), what town would you choose? Again, schools need to be good.

I would look in Duvall for that price range or Redmond Ridge. You aren't going to get much for that in Redmond or Woodinville.