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Old 10-03-2023, 03:43 PM
 
318 posts, read 628,600 times
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My wife and I are retired and living in Vancouver WA. We're thinking of moving to a 55-plus community either in Black Diamond or Lacey. Thoughts on either location or both? Anyone know what traffic is like in and out of Black Diamond.
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Old 10-03-2023, 06:19 PM
 
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My wife works in Lacey, though we live in downtown Olympia.

This is only me speaking for me... but I HATE this area. It's got horrific, daily traffic on I-5 (there is a lane-squeeze right as the highway bends southwards that prompts a jam EVERY SINGLE DAY), the mass transit solutions are weak at best (there are no real plans for, say, light rail), the views are some of the worst in western Washington (you occasionally glance Rainier, but you have to basically be on top of the Sound to see it). Lacey itself is a non-city - it's essentially just a bedroom for people working in Olympia or JBLM, and doesn't really have what could be described as a city-center or CBD (plenty of statues of children holding hands and flying kites, though. I guess such a thing must have happened at some point in Lacey's history). We are always, without fail, 5-10 degrees warmer than Seattle, which means that a pleasant 75 degree day an hour north is a stifling 85 degree one here.

Honestly, when there are so many excellent places in western Washington, I'm not sure why anyone would willingly choose this one.
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Old 10-04-2023, 11:20 AM
 
Location: Seattle
7,538 posts, read 17,224,480 times
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Any options in Gig Harbor? Massive improvement over both of those potential locations (IMHO)...
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Old 10-04-2023, 03:02 PM
 
Location: Rochester, WA
14,458 posts, read 12,086,413 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NCDavid View Post
My wife and I are retired and living in Vancouver WA. We're thinking of moving to a 55-plus community either in Black Diamond or Lacey. Thoughts on either location or both? Anyone know what traffic is like in and out of Black Diamond.
There are at least two big 55+ communities in Lacey and people who live there love them. What Bjorn says about the lack of a city center is pretty true, it is a city that has grown up without much of a plan and it is therefore kindof sprawling, but all the stores are there, it's just a drive to get to them. I disagree with him on whether it's a good place to live... I think it can be! And I would rather be in Oly/Lacey/Tumwater than in the bigger cities. Depends what you like!

I haven't been to Black Diamond in ages so can't compare. I think you should come and drive them both and see for yourself.
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Old 10-05-2023, 12:46 AM
 
Location: Seattle
8,170 posts, read 8,291,410 times
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Black Diamond has a more rural feel, if you like that. Great access to Mt. Rainier too.
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Old 10-05-2023, 07:51 AM
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
44,550 posts, read 81,103,317 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jabogitlu View Post
Any options in Gig Harbor? Massive improvement over both of those potential locations (IMHO)...
Gig Harbor has become very popular with retirees, and therefore prices have gone up. My in-laws retired there 2 years ago and paid about $900k. Other than that, it's a beautiful town and most everything you need is available there, or a short drive to Tacoma, Port Orchard or longer drive to Silverdale.

Lacey is a very commercial city, with way too many stores and restaurants for my taste in a place to live. We love going to Black Diamond for breakfast at the Black Diamond Bakery and Restaurant on Railroad Ave. It's worth the 20 mile drive from here in Sammamish. The city is very small, maybe 6,000 people, with few amenities. If you like rural and quiet, you would just have to go to nearby cities of Covington, Maple Valley or Auburn for your routine needs.
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Old 10-05-2023, 10:49 AM
 
Location: West Seattle
6,373 posts, read 4,987,814 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jabogitlu View Post
Any options in Gig Harbor? Massive improvement over both of those potential locations (IMHO)...
Yeah, Gig Harbor's walkable town center is small but it at least exists and it's pretty.

If Edmonds has any options in OP's budget, that'd be a top pick. Large and clean town center with great views.
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Old 10-05-2023, 11:07 AM
 
Location: Seattle
8,170 posts, read 8,291,410 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemlock140 View Post
Gig Harbor has become very popular with retirees, and therefore prices have gone up. My in-laws retired there 2 years ago and paid about $900k. Other than that, it's a beautiful town and most everything you need is available there, or a short drive to Tacoma, Port Orchard or longer drive to Silverdale.

Lacey is a very commercial city, with way too many stores and restaurants for my taste in a place to live. We love going to Black Diamond for breakfast at the Black Diamond Bakery and Restaurant on Railroad Ave. It's worth the 20 mile drive from here in Sammamish. The city is very small, maybe 6,000 people, with few amenities. If you like rural and quiet, you would just have to go to nearby cities of Covington, Maple Valley or Auburn for your routine needs.
Hemlock is right about Black Diamond, beautiful rivers around there too. Enumclaw has really spruced up its downtown/historic core, little coffee shops, cafes. That’s within easy reach of Black Diamond.
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