How is Federal Way these days? (Moving in less than a month) (Seattle: 2011, condo)

[blueshogun96]

Okay, I'm finally getting a chance to move out to the happiest place on earth, Seattle area, WA! My flight is booked for August 31 and the city I'll be staying in is Federal Way (which is where I lived before I got dragged to the stupid mid west) and since it's been 16 years since I've lived there, I was wondering... what is it like now? I lived there between 1989 to 1993 and enjoyed every single year to the fullest. The neighbourhood around Brigadoon elementry was nice and I really enjoyed the quality of life there. Is it still a good place to live? Has it started to go down hill since then? Just thought I'd ask before I get there. Thanks.

[secret_squirrel]

I don't want to rain on your homecoming parade, but Federal Way has gone downhill the last several years. Crime in high; in fact, the neighborhoods on the hill above Campus Parkway petition the city to purchase their roads to privatize and make it a gated community because they were so tired of the persistent property crime. The city declined. My doctor is in Federal Way and I've seen the driver in the car next to me lighting up a drug pipe at the intersection of 320th and Pac Highway right near the Commons (renamed SeaTac Mall).

The positives include that Federal Way is still centrally located and housing is affordable. You may still enjoy living there, just chose your neighborhood with care.

[Seattleite61]

The area around Brigadoon is not all that great these days. There are a lot of gang-bangers in that area.

[blueshogun96]

Ouch! That's sad

Are there any recommendable areas of that city anymore, or should I just not stick around there too long?

[Prple]

The Twin Lakes area is okay. But Federal Way does not have a very good overall reputation, IMO.

[LucaBella]

I just wanna say that the happiest place on earth is IKEA not seattle, teehee.

I go to federal way to the walmart where everything is a billion times cheaper than qfc, but I wouldn't want to live there....

[VeronikaW]

The best thing I can say about Federal Way is that there's a Del Taco there. And somehow, they still have pretty highly ranked schools. I still wouldn't want to live there, though.

[blueshogun96]

Well, I'm going to take your word for it, but I've dealt with and seen some really rough areas (ever been to Michael Jackson's hometown Gary, IN?) and I still don't think it's as bad as many areas in nothern Indiana or worse yet, Chicago land area! I already live in a ghetto-ish area though, so I guess I'm used to it.

I found some photos of 305th St.
Panoramio - Photo of 305th Street, Federal Way, WA

Looks A-L-O-T better and a hell of a lot safer than where I am now. Looks can be deceiving though, that I do understand. The only thing that appears worse than normal is the house I grew up in (Click here and paste this into the search box: 3606 SW 330th St, Federal Way, WA, United States. It's to your left with a semi truck in front of it). You all might be right, but I guess I'll have to find out for myself. Escaping from Indiana is all I care about now.

[jessicazi]

I grew up in Federal Way and the Brigadoon area has definitely gone downhill as has Twin Lakes as a whole. There are still some okay neighborhoods, such as the really nice one near Adelaide Elementary but the homes in that neighborhood are close to a million dollars (they have great views). There are still some okay neighborhoods in Federal Way, Stonebrook and some other areas.

FW is a great commuter city because you are close to I-5 and they have the new transit center so you can take an express bus to Seattle (or Tacoma?). There can be affordable housing, but when I was shopping for a 2bd. condo, the prices weren't that much better than other cities, such as Kent, Renton, Des Moines, etc.

The city built a new community center a few years ago that is supposedly really nice and cheap (you can workout there) but it is losing money very quickly.
They have Celebration Park and you are close to the water, so you can go to the "beach."

Shopping has deteriorated with the loss of Old Navy, Linens and Things, and some stores in the mall (the mall is horrible), but the newish theater in the mall is pretty nice and they have great popcorn. You are close enough to the Supermall and Southcenter Mall (which has GREAT stores, but can be a bit scary with the crime, though police have an increased presence since last winter's shootings).

Light rail is supposed to be extended to Federal Way around 2011 or so, so that will be great. If you have a nice car, park it inside a garage because there are a lot of gangs and criminals who tend to vandalize cars.

[beautifulword]

I like Federal Way. My parents live there and are really happy with it. Their neighbors are friendly enough and they have had few problems. No crime to speak of.

They've been there a dozen years. Their neighborhood is near Dash Point Park. They disliked it that there is now a parking fee of $5 dollars at Dash Point.

For the most part Federal Way seems really nice and much less expensive than the eastside. A good place to live IMO and close to Seattle and everything.