Mercer Island area (Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond: crime, big home, schools)

[Beat02]

The rundown please.

[eskercurve]

Originally Posted by Beat02

The rundown please.

From a Mercer Island resident, myself.

95% of the island is quiet residential community. Big homes and bicyclists. Old money and accidental software millionaires. Very safe and most crime is done by spoiled kids making too much noise and people from off the island car prowling.

The other 5% is:

- Thriving commercial district on the north part of the island with some chain restaurants and some really nice sit down restaurants that aren't overpriced (except Bennett's, but that place is meant to be a little more upscale)
- Some nice parks with great views looking eastward. There's some smaller public beaches and parks that look westward too, but they're hard to find along Mercer Way.
- If you are a bicyclist or a driving fan, Mercer Way is a squiggly road which is fun to drive. Be careful of bicyclists though (it's one of the biggest issues in the city).
- A ton of trails to explore the wooded areas of the island.
- You could bike from Bellevue to Mercer Island to Seattle then on to West Seattle if you wanted. The bike trail is pretty well established.

[AzDreamer]

A nice town with great access to downtown Seattle and Bellevue.

[Beat02]

Thanks!

[KikiMonster]

MORE PLEASE!! We are considering a move back to the PNW and MI is one of the areas we are looking at--primarily because of the schools......

I am not even sure what to ask--have so many questions..... Are the schools worth the premium? Does living in the island make you feel removed? Do you ever get used to zig-zagging around the roads (I got dizzy driving around!).....

Exercurve--any input you can give me would greatly be appreciated.... I have a good friend who lives in MI and she is convinced I will love it--me, I only know the Eastside so I just don't know. I am sorry I don't have more specific questions--I guess it's hard to really drill down what I will need beyond a good school for my kids (one is ADD) and an opportunity to be part of a community.....

THANK YOU!

[Ira500]

Mercer Island doesn't make you feel removed the way living on Bainbridge or Vashon does to some people, because you're not dependent on ferries, and not only is getting to downtown Seattle from Mercer Island faster than getting to downtown Seattle from many parts of Seattle itself, getting to downtown Bellevue is also incredibly fast.
Mercer Island is safe. Mercer Island is pretty. The schools are great, and they have a historic tavern, the Roanoke, that's friendly and been around forever.
Mercer Island strikes me as being expensive but not pretentious.

[Radnor]

Every time I drive past on I-90 I think "I wouldn't mind living there." because it's so close to everything I frequent. The Mercer Island Park & Ride has frequent bus arrivals, and when the East Link of the light rail is completed it'll be even easier to get to downtown Seattle, UW, and Bellevue / Redmond.

[AzDreamer]

Originally Posted by KikiMonster

Do you ever get used to zig-zagging around the roads (I got dizzy driving around!).....

If you go to maps.google.com you'll see a main road, Island Crest Way, runs down the center of the island. If you live on the South end you would most likely use this road. East and West Mercer Way get a bit of car traffic and a lot of bike traffic.

If you work in Seattle or Bellevue then the location easily makes up for the extra expense. You would probably come out ahead not spending a lot on gas and wear on your vehicle. Also, not all the houses are multi-million dollar waterfront mansions.