Tell me about Shoreline (Seattle, Bellevue: 2009, crime, co-op)

[portlandwriter]

We see all sorts of large, relatively affordable (we're looking in the $400 - 500K range) homes listed there, as well as a preschool we're interested in. We have two small children and would love a neighborhood where we can walk to parks and coffee shops. Can any of that be found in Shoreline? Generally, who lives there?

[41Willys]

I dont live there but personally? It looks like a pretty cool area! Hopefully Wythors will stop in and give you the scoop on the town!

[beachy keen]

You would love the Richmond Beach neighborhood of Shoreline! It is the western-most part of Shoreline, from about 3rd Ave NW in the east to Puget Sound in the west. There is the beach, a branch of the King County Library, a park, and a coffee shop all between 15th & 20th NW and Richmond Beach Road. It is a very walkable, safe neighborhood and a lot of families live there. Generally, the closer you are to the "core" (between Aurora Ave N and I-5), the less desireable Shoreline becomes. You also might like Lake Forest Park, over on the eastern side of Shoreline, but I'm not as familiar with it as I am with Richmond Beach.

[Commoncents]

I have traveled the world and been to every State except Alaska and I'm here to tell you that Shoreline is one of the great best kept secrets around. The schools are good, the crime is low and there doing massive improvements to North City and Aurora which were kind of eyesores before. As gas goes up and traffic becomes more of an issue I think you'll be glad to be a hop and a skip to Downtown, University and you can go the back way to Bothell and Kirkland. Home prices are way undervalued here mostly because of cinderblock homes with 600 to 1000 sq. ft which cost around 300,000 and have nice size yards. A home which has 2300 to 3000 sq. ft should run 600-700k but have yet to reach that mark. I see Bellevue homes cost between 600-1Million and yes there nice but unless you work there WHY would you want the commute, it's going to get a lot worse. In Shoreline 500-600k get you allmost anything excluding beach front property and what a bargin for the area. As the cinders get torn down and or fixed up you'll see Shoreline boom,and you'll actually have some time with the family from your short commute.

[CanadianMom]

I've been living in Shoreline for one year after moving from Toronto Canada, with my two kids and husband. We live in the northeast end of Shoreline and it is not a walking city -- many streets do not have sidewalks. There is no central main street -- we tend to go to Edmonds main street for that. It is safe. The prices are better than downtown. It rains a lot! We have been happy with the co-op preschool we joined.

[pw72]

The truth about Shoreline. This area incorporates a large area north of the Seattle city limits that up until about a decade ago, was unincorporated. It includes all classes, wealthy, middle, and to a somewhat less extent, lower class. It is now technically a "city", "suburb" would be a better description. Overall, most areas are comfortable, middle class. Most residents STILL consider themselves "North Seattle", rather than "Shoreline". But that may change over the years.

With all that having been said, it is a very desirable area. Good access to downtown Seattle, Northgate and Alderwood Malls, and Boeing-Everett. Nice combination of single-family and multi-family residential. The weather is somewhat worse than Seattle, in it is the southern boundary of the "convergence" zone, where storms come together and sometimes create less than ideal conditions. But, overall, a minor inconvenience.

[wythors]

Everything previously stated is quite accurate. One thing I would really recommend would be to stay as far away from Aurora Avenue North (Highway 99) as possible. Aurora has problems with crime (especially prostitution), but the neighborhoods get progressively nicer starting three or four blocks off the main drag.

BTW, Richmond Beach is a completely seperate entity and MUCH higher priced than the rest of Shoreline. A $300,000 house in Shoreline will likely be $600,000 in most areas of Richmond Beach.

[wythors]

True, however they maintain a seperate identity to the point where their police cars are even marked "Richmond Beach".

Some info on the area: Welcome to Richmond Beach !

I assure you that you won't find anyone in Richmond Beach that would say that they live in Shoreline.

edit: What happened to your post Scirocco?

[West coast at heart]

This post is a year old, but does this information on Shoreline still stand? I have been looking for a place to live when my wife and I move out there June 2009. I have almost ruled out the "Seattle area", but this might be a possiblity.

wc@h

[Freebird2007]

I live in Mukilteo and sometimes travel down hwy 99 to go shop at some places in Shoreline. I don't know about places away from hwy 99 but I wouldn't want to live there. you see shady looking people all over. I have been harassed by bums wanting handouts, thug wannabe kids being loud and obnoxious. Not to mention a problem with hookers at those small hotels along the strip