Bellevue Questions (Seattle, Issaquah, Newcastle: cheap apartments, condos, daycare)

[LongDawson]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Yup, the quality of stuff at that fruit stand in Newcastle is absolutely awesome. At the right time of year, they have melons to die for...And Newcastle is so close to a bunch of great hiking trails.

The trails are here in Newcastle, but the fruit stand in Newcastle has been torn down. I am not sure why but there is a pretty significant effort underway by lobbyists to get rid of all weekend markets.

I farm a few acres. With more experience, and my kids getting older, I'd like to keep growing more.

I have received a few emails about HR 875 and HR 759. The emails have a hysteric tone and I am not sure if it's legit but these proposed laws apparently were created by giant food corps and lobbyists. The idea is to get rid of farmers markets, and local small farms, by couching these things as food safety risks. I wouldn't be surprised.

We are all conditioned to jump at any safety-related concern, in USA. But farmers markets are not only found in every corner of the world, but also have become extremely popular all over the nation.

Is it possible that lobbyists will kill the small farmer, and the local farmer market?

Look into these laws if you'd like. Here is a link to start, there are many more on same subject
We Must Tell Congress to also Protect High Quality Organic and Local Food | CommonDreams.org

[michellewoo]

Newcastle is a south neighboring city of Bellevue. We are right next to the Newport Hills area. Traffic wise from Bellevue, it is a short commute on I-405, but it all depends where in Bellevue your DH is working from. If DT Bellevue, it's pretty easy to get to and from. I do the 5-6 o'clock commute and it takes about 15 minutes on a bad day.

[drewba]

Originally Posted by LongDawson

The trails are here in Newcastle, but the fruit stand in Newcastle has been torn down. I am not sure why but there is a pretty significant effort underway by lobbyists to get rid of all weekend markets.

I think that is torn down every winter and reconstructed in the spring. Perhaps this year is different, but it looked there were signs of life on that corner when we drove by on Sunday.

[sofia76]

This is good to know ... DH would likely be working in DT Bellevue. So I'll put Newcastle on my list of places to further investigate.

Originally Posted by michellewoo

Newcastle is a south neighboring city of Bellevue. We are right next to the Newport Hills area. Traffic wise from Bellevue, it is a short commute on I-405, but it all depends where in Bellevue your DH is working from. If DT Bellevue, it's pretty easy to get to and from. I do the 5-6 o'clock commute and it takes about 15 minutes on a bad day.

[toughguy]

I recommend the Crossroads neighborhood....mid to low end pricing (for Bellevue), very diverse neighborhood, moderately walkable. I believe it is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the entire Puget Sound area. One drawback is that most of the shops and amenities are going to be in the Crossroads mall and in that viscinity...however, I feel like Crossroads is not the typical sterile mall, so it's not as bland as it sounds. Your husband can drive down NE 8th (or catch a bus) to get to DT Bellevue, it would only take him 5-10 by car and about 15 minutes by bus.

They recently turned a former blighted area into a nice park, check it out:

http://www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/crossroads_park.htm

[Pittgal]

Originally Posted by toughguy

I recommend the Crossroads neighborhood....mid to low end pricing (for Bellevue), very diverse neighborhood, moderately walkable. I believe it is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the entire Puget Sound area. One drawback is that most of the shops and amenities are going to be in the Crossroads mall and in that viscinity...however, I feel like Crossroads is not the typical sterile mall, so it's not as bland as it sounds. Your husband can drive down NE 8th (or catch a bus) to get to DT Bellevue, it would only take him 5-10 by car and about 15 minutes by bus.

They recently turned a former blighted area into a nice park, check it out:

Rentals and Facilities - Crossroads Park (Official City of Bellevue Website)

Crossroads area is ok but stay away from the Lake Hills area just a little south of it!

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by Pittgal

Crossroads area is ok but stay away from the Lake Hills area just a little south of it!

I grew up in Lake Hills, it's not a bad area really at all. It's mostly generic suburbia, but its very safe.

[seattlenextyear]

Originally Posted by toughguy

I grew up in Lake Hills

That's the best argument to stay away from it!

[MichaelinWA]

An interesting and only slightly off-topic article in the newspaper about Newport Hills and a dying strip mall/shopping center. It mentions how Lake Hills came up with a good plan in a similar situation.

Newport Hills looks for ways to invigorate shopping center | Seattle Times

I like Newcastle, and it might just be the next place we live.

[Ira500]

I like Newcastle a lot. I don't live there, but I go hiking there at Cougar Mountain and Squak Mountain pretty regularly. Newcastle does have a decent Thai restaurant and a decent Mexican restaurant. Does one need anything more?