So what is wrong with Bothell? (Seattle, Bellevue: renting, buying a home, neighborhoods)

[just*us]

Originally Posted by jenlion

I've been to homes in Bothel in they've been fine, the neighborhoods seem totally normal.

Every time I hear something bad about Bothel, it's the traffic. It's inconvenient to commute from there to pretty much anywhere. Tough drive to MS, tough drive to Seattle, etc.

If you don't have to commute someplace else at rush hour, by all means, keep that option open. :-)

Would the traffic from Woodinville be any better? It seems that Woodinville is even further from Seattle and Microsoft areas?

[Ira500]

Woodinville also suffers from awful traffic...From Bothell, going into Seattle on Bothell Way/Lake City Way, there is a transit only lane, so taking the bus has some advantages.

[badgersgirl]

I live in Bothell and as previously stated there is nothing wrong with Bothell, it is just not as green or as prestigious as other places. I personally chose Bothell over Redmond, Sammamish and Issaquah.

When looking for this house, I fell in love with two homes. One in Woodinville, which was a beautiful home in the cape cod style, on an established development with 1½ acres. I still think of that house and how much I liked it. The other was a house in Bothell on a new sub-division with a much smaller lot, but is within walking distance to school and has loads of children in the area. If my children had been older, I maybe would have made a different decision.

My hubby works for MS and the commute is easy, his average commute is anywhere between 25 and 35 minutes. We did a test commute when we were considering the house in Woodinville. We tested the route at various times of the day and I wouldn’t say there is much in it. Maybe a tiny bit quicker from Woodinville, but not anything life enhancing.

Also, I really like the fact that Alderwood Mall is close by and that I can shop in one place; instead of driving all over. Alderwood has all the major stores there. Pottery Barn, Williams and Sonoma, Pier 1, Best Buy, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Macys, Nordstrom, J C Penney, Janie and Jack, Gymboree, Pumpkin Patch, Abercrombie Kids, REI, Target. The list goes on.

[just*us]

Originally Posted by badgersgirl

I live in Bothell and as previously stated there is nothing wrong with Bothell, it is just not as green or as prestigious as other places. I personally chose Bothell over Redmond, Sammamish and Issaquah.

When looking for this house, I fell in love with two homes. One in Woodinville, which was a beautiful home in the cape cod style, on an established development with 1½ acres. I still think of that house and how much I liked it. The other was a house in Bothell on a new sub-division with a much smaller lot, but is within walking distance to school and has loads of children in the area. If my children had been older, I maybe would have made a different decision.

My hubby works for MS and the commute is easy, his average commute is anywhere between 25 and 35 minutes. We did a test commute when we were considering the house in Woodinville. We tested the route at various times of the day and I wouldn’t say there is much in it. Maybe a tiny bit quicker from Woodinville, but not anything life enhancing.

Also, I really like the fact that Alderwood Mall is close by and that I can shop in one place; instead of driving all over. Alderwood has all the major stores there. Pottery Barn, Williams and Sonoma, Pier 1, Best Buy, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Macys, Nordstrom, J C Penney, Janie and Jack, Gymboree, Pumpkin Patch, Abercrombie Kids, REI, Target. The list goes on.

Thanks, my DH will work at MS as well and one neighborhood we looked at was within a mile of the MS Connector. We liked the new homes and generally had a sense there were younger families (as opposed to areas like Klahanie which we have since heard is mostly teenagers from someone who lives there) and we have a 3 and 7 year old. I guess we'll have to see what feels "right". I appreciate everyone's responses.

[orangeblossom]

Hmm we were just at a neighborhood in Bothell last night to trick or treat. Its really family friendly and very nice. Maybe not as ritzy as Woodenville,but is still fine. There was a house for sale in the neighborhood for $415,000. Pretty good deal for such a new house in a nice neighborhood.

[robertpolyglot]

Bothell is fine. The western part is more vanilla and the eastern part near Woodinville and the Sammanish River can be nice. Woodinville is more upscale, with nicer housing stock and a neat little main strip and shopping area, complete with a Barnes and Noble (culture). If you can afford Woodinville, go for it. I used to live there and liked it ok. As a damn Californian that once lived in the PNW, is it any wonder I stuck to the Eastside? LOL.

[btp2k2]

I live in Bothell, and love it. You think the traffic is bad in Bothell? You ever tried to get through downtown Woodenville on a saturday afternoon when all the soccer fields are full and the soccer moms are clogging the streets? Now that is some traffic! I avoid Woodenville like the plague!

I own a home near the Thrasher's Corner area. The thing I love about this area is it is still woodsy, it has that country feel.....there are frogs croaking in the wetlands behind my house, and a hawk has made a nest in the green belt across the street, I lay in bed and night and fall asleep to the sound of coyotes howling in the woods sometimes, and I see little fuzzy bunny rabbits when I pull in the driveway every once in awhile.....but I am still close to everything. I can get to work in Bellevue in less than 20 minutes, I can go to the mall and get a pair of pants in no time. I love it here

[eponabri]

Northshore school district is one of the best in the state. My nephew teaches music at Bothell High school. My sister and her family have lived there for nearly 30 years and no problems.

[seattlenextyear]

The Alderwood mall looks on Google maps like its in Lynnwood. Is there any good shopping in Bothell itself?

[tudorjason]

I personally have never been in Bothell, but it is between several major shopping centers. The Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood is one. There is also Northgate Mall in North Seattle, Bellevue Square in Bellevue, Redmond Town Center in Redmond, and a nice shopping strip in Woodinville.