Best Neighborhoods for Singles? (Seattle: apartment complex, lease, crime)

[Azure Ray]

I have read up on the neighborhoods around Seattle, but which are the best for singles? I am a straight, 26-year old professional female. I like "city life" (I don't mind some traffic and enjoy walking to resturants, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.) I also would like some sort of easy access to a lake or the Sound to kayak! Any input?

Thanks!

[stuffbuff]

I recommend Ballard

[rmkiefer07]

Madison Park has restaurants, coffee shops and is walkable. It sits on Lake Washington and is easy access to the UW boathouse and ship canals.

[tobester]

A less pricey alternative to Madison Park is Columbia City, a little 'younger' neighborhood.

[thegreatnathan]

Capitol Hill is trendy, hip, with lots of bars, restaurants and clubs, a twenty minute walk to downtown. Belltown's next to downtown, it's more urban and professional, with lots of cool bars and clubs.

I walk from capitol hill to downtown and belltown all the time. It's easy to use the bus to get from downtown to any other neighborhood, but it's not always so easy to get from neighborhood to neighborhood outside of the city proper unless you have a car.

Personally I like the urban city life pace of Belltown, but some people say there's a crime and homelessness problem there. It's nowhere near as sketchy as some other parts of cities I've seen.

[JesseJB]

Check out Lower Queen Anne or the northern (safer) side of Belltown.

[ijoe13]

Originally Posted by thegreatnathan

Personally I like the urban city life pace of Belltown, but some people say there's a crime and homelessness problem there. It's nowhere near as sketchy as some other parts of cities I've seen.

Which other parts of the city do you find sketchy?

Thanks.

[Azure Ray]

So far, all signs are pointing to Belltown for me. In terms of apartment hunting, which is the best method: craigslist, other online sites, or simply going there, finding one, and signing a lease? Also, are there more apartment complexes there or individual apartments that people lease out? Thanks! You guys have been very helpful.

[irishimm]

I don't know you personally or your preferences, but I think it's worthwhile to point out a few things to help you make your decision.

Belltown is much more oriented towards the mainstream, financial industry "yuppie" types. It's a very vibrant neighborhood for Seattle, but it also has kind of a sterile feel to it, IMO. Of course there are exceptions within the neighborhood (the most notable being a strip on 2nd Ave with divier, more low-key bars) but that is generally how I would characterize it.

Capitol Hill is more quirky and alternative, and also has very good--and a better range of--cafes, restaurants, and bars. It's good for singles (including straight people!), and is fairly close to Lake Union. It may be over-infested with hipsters, but it just seems to have more character than Belltown. It's also urban (at least, by Seattle standards) and is relatively close to downtown.

Ballard has a nice self-contained downtown area, but it sounds like it would be too remote for you.

I guess if you're goal is as urban as possible, Belltown would be the way to go as it is basically integrated into downtown. But Capitol Hill is a cooler neighborhood, IMO.

If possible, I would definitely suggest visiting both Belltown and Capitol Hill before comitting to anything. Both could match your criteria, but they are very different neighborhoods that will lead to a completely different Seattle experience!

Originally Posted by Azure Ray

So far, all signs are pointing to Belltown for me. In terms of apartment hunting, which is the best method: craigslist, other online sites, or simply going there, finding one, and signing a lease? Also, are there more apartment complexes there or individual apartments that people lease out? Thanks! You guys have been very helpful.

[shoegal111]

Originally Posted by Azure Ray

I have read up on the neighborhoods around Seattle, but which are the best for singles? I am a straight, 26-year old professional female. I like "city life" (I don't mind some traffic and enjoy walking to resturants, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.) I also would like some sort of easy access to a lake or the Sound to kayak! Any input?

Thanks!

Try the downtown proper. That's where I lived. Close to everything and much more energetic than some of the other neighborhoods and there is always something to do. Feel free to PM me if you are interested in a safe, secure apartment complex in a good stretch of the downtown. I lived at two and would be more than happy to share the details.