Best area in Spokane to raise a family (Seattle, South Hill: home, rent)

[Medryn]

The Mead school district (in further North Spokane) is notorius for being the best schools in the region and many many people make extra effort to have their kids there. They have outstanding teachers, great academics, superior sports and music programs, and they make sure to get the best educational material that many other public schools do not such as the reading/math curriculums that help kids learn it easier/better/quicker. The other added bonus is that if you are in the Mead school district area you are most likely living in one of the nicest areas of town to live in as most of the school district covers middle to upper class residential around new or very well kept commercial areas as well as beautiful recreational, park, and outdoor/countryside areas.

Wow, I'm amazed at how many whiney QQrs there are on here with irrelevant opinions. Fact is, wherever you live, some people will HATE it and some people will LOVE it. Funny thing is, the people whining about how they hate it and why are generally the ones who are known to make up junk and find a problem with everything. The ones who love it are usually the more positive realistic people who know how to live and enjoy life in the area.

Spokane is a fantastic town for TONS of reasons. Many of the negatives you will find/hear about it are common place for just about any town of its size but what is nice about Spokane is that it is a region full of just about any lifestyle or enviroment you are looking for. Quiet suburbia? We've got it. Outdoors/Country living, We've got it. Urban/Modern, Were not like Seattle but we've got it to the point that people who aren't looking for a huge metropolitan can still enjoy a sense of living in a city (if in the city is directly where you choose to live). I think you get the point, you name it and I'll match it with a great place to live in Spokane.

Spokane wasn't voted one of the top 10 cities to raise a family for nothing, it is a wonderful place, the problem is most people are to lazy or don't know how to get out and enjoy it. Spokane is very agricultural and is full of orchards and country type events and places to take the family to year round. If you know where to look or at least try to find them you will find TONS of activities in the area for families and kids. Lots of them are free or involve a small fee. Also, it is one of the best well known places for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, mtn biking, camping, fishing, etc. It is surrounded by TONS of fun lakes and many people who live in the area also enjoy life at the lake or cabin in the summer time.

Trust me, if you move to Spokane and your someone who knows how to enjoy a great place and have a good time you will love it. I spent many teenage years here (I'm from Seattle though not Spokane) and during those years was surrounded by lots of other teengers who whined about how Spokane was so boring and they are going to move out ASAP but all they ever did was go to school and stare at the TV, I even had that mentality at one point as a kid but then I grew up and when I moved back to Spokane I realized how much of an amazing place it really is.

Also, the comment about the rock band on Sat night and there was nothing really bugged me. I'm a musician, (well a drummer anyway) and was huge into the music scene in Seattle (which is notorius for it's music talent) and after coming to Spokane was amazed at how big the music scene is here. Not only is it a large enough town to get most of the big concerts and tours but there is a huge local music scene. Tons of local bands play at TONS of local places CONSTANTLY and they have their own music magazine/newspaper/events much better done than any other town of this size I have ever seen. Again, obviously someone who does not know how to be a part of things choosing to complain instead of discover.

Also, talking crime, Spokane is not high. What gets people complaining is the fact that it went form practically no crime to little crime over the last 10 years or so and when you go from almost nothing to a little it is very publicized and becomes a big deal. Although Spokane has lots of appeal to urban and country lifestyles and has grown immensely it is still a small enough town that you hear about every little thing that happens here. Even so we are still below the state averages. Still, be careful of your mentality when looking at a town for its crime. Most people think Seattle is a wonderful low crime metropolis and when it comes to a major city its one of the best by far in many areas but then you may be suprised to know it was #2 on the national charts for murders not that long ago, but then I can tell you if you asked the residents there 98%+ would have never had thought so and could not ever understand why. Be careful what you focus on. Research everything but focus more on what is good about a place not on what is bad about it because you aren't planning on moving into the bad area that gives it that are you? of course not.

[wawawa]

What's it like living in downtown Spokane? Is it scary?

Which direction is safest.. north, south, west, or east?

[WendyK]

People who live in what I would consider "downtown" Spokane are most likely living in condos or apartments. Many of the newer condo conversions and new construction are high $$$ luxury type places. Also some loft style condos. Not scary - if I wasn't already living where I am, and didn't have kids, I would LOVE living downtown in one of the nice condos. It's a different lifestyle than being in the suburbs. You can get around by walking, close to shops & restaurants, concerts. I wouldn't live downtown with a family but for a single or couple, it would be great - especially if you worked downtown, too.
I'm not sure what you mean by "safest" direction - are you talking about all of greater Spokane county or just the downtown area?

[wawawa]

I guess direction in both.

We don't have any kids, just a dog but may have a baby on the way in the near future.

I found a cute and very affordable apartment downtown on W Railroad Ave, that's why I ask. It would be a five minute commute to work. But its hard not knowing what its like in person.

I'm trying to compile the best apartments/houses so we can drive by them when we're in Spokane and maybe walk through them while there.

[metrospokane]

Originally Posted by wawawa

I found a cute and very affordable apartment downtown on W Railroad Ave, that's why I ask. It would be a five minute commute to work. But its hard not knowing what its like in person.

Very nice apartments! Within a two block area:

• Davenport hotel
• baby bar
• Brooklyn Deli
• Fox Theater-Spokane Symphony
• Far West Billiards
• Spaghetti FActory
• Big Easy - Live music venue
• Slick Rock Burrito
• Art Galleries
• etc.
• etc.

Generally, but not always, between 2nd and 5th avenue it's a little more sketchy, but it's safe. Mostly lowrise drivethroughs all along 3rd. On the other side of I-90 you hit the lower south hill and the medical campuses that are slowly consuming it. Perfectly safe.

North, east and west of the railroad viaduct is just fine. If you've lived anywhere with significant crime, you'll laugh.

[Deena160]

Thanks, Medryn. Great post and very true. I've been very impressed with my research on the parks and activities in and around Spokane. I was very happy to find that there seem to be lots of trails/camping available that's handicap accessible for my daughter's wheelchair--especially up around 9 mile.
My husband is full throttle about moving now and has started back on our home renovations(burnt out a couple of years ago). I'm still not 100% certain. The thought of getting our house ready for the market is so daunting and I'm not really one for new adventures.
So...Anyone interested in a 3 bed, 1 3/4 bath, handicap accessible house in Everett? Just let me know!!! :~) D

[kena]

Those apartments are a great spot downtown. I was very jealous of a friend that lived there for a while. If you want to be in a more urban environment I think you'll like them. Close to everything downtown, tons of things to do within easy walking distance. I have a family now so we're in a more traditional setup but I wish we could have lived downtown for a while.

[kimkimber2]

Hi. I have been reading the postings about the good and bad about Spokane and I am thinking about relocating there with my family from California. My husband may have a job opportunity there and we love the acreage feel of the town. My problem is that my husband is hispanic and I am white. Is this a racist area where my children may feel the segregation for being blended. My husband is a light mexican, doesn't speak Spanish fluently, you know but I wonder how my kids will be responded to and my husband as well. I know that Colorado, Fort Collins specifically is called Vanilla Valley. Is that how Spokane is too?

[metrospokane]

Originally Posted by kimkimber2

Is this a racist area where my children may feel the segregation for being blended.

No more/less racist than anywhere else in the US. And how would you quantify that anyways? You'll be fine.

[Deena160]

When we went for our visit, we went to the Valley Mall for lunch. It was pretty busy and we took notice of the ratio of minority families sitting around us. We've gotten used to a pretty good variety here in the Everett/Seattle area and there did seem to be a lot less there. I would have to say that Hispanics seemed to be the majority minority(if that makes sense?). There were very few Asians or African Americans compared to what we're used to though. Of course, it might be a lot different in other areas of Spokane. Have you looked at some of the stats available on City-Data? Go to the home page and you can type in different places and find out everything you ever wanted to know about most anywhere, including the numbers of the nationalities. You can type in Spokane and then it'll let you view them by their zipcodes.
Good luck! :~) D