Questions about moving to South Everett/North Lynnwood (Seattle, Kirkland: rental, condos)

[kjm303]

Hi, my husband and I have been in Seattle since appx. New Years, and have been living in the U-District so we could get to know the area. However, our townhome is really really cramped and it's extremely noisy all the time, and it's hard to drive, park and get around.

We have decided to move northward because we are starting a family and want more space and a quieter, more removed lifestyle than we can have in the U-District. We want our money to go a bit further. We will be taking the express bus to work, and we are fine having a little longer of a commute. He works for Amazon, and I work downtown for a law firm. We keep early hours at work, usually 7:30 to 4:30. I think our express bus rides shouldn't be so bad.

We have found a really nice remodeled home at a good price in the area that is kind of on the border of Lynnwood and Everett, somewhat close to Mariner High School and Silver Lake, in a residential neighborhood with single-family homes. It looks nice and quiet every time we are there to check it out, and it seems to be in a decent area, from what I can see.

However, every thread I read on this forum is all about how Everett is totally ghetto and not safe at all. I realize that people have their own opinions about what is "good" and what is "bad" and I try to take it all with a grain of salt, but... if it's really and truly unsafe, I would want to know that. We need to make a decision pretty quickly and I just wanted some feedback and information about this area of South Everett/North Lynnwood, aside from what the statistics are giving.

Thanks!

[Blondebaerde]

Having lived in the north end of Mill Creek eleven years, just a couple miles south and east (east side of I-5) from Mariner HS, I might have a relevant perspective.

Some shady stuff happens on that side of the freeway, north of 128th/Airport around all the fast food places, Motel 6 and etc. I "think" it is a bit blue collar vs. Mill Creek and the other side (east), and south of 128th, which is a bit nicer. Then again, there are a couple shady motels in Kirkland, too, so I'm not really casting aspersions here. It is what it is.

However, I not-once had any issues around the area in question day or night, other than the guy who sideswiped a bunch of cars in a rental truck after exiting the freeway right there, and threatened to kill all of us witnesses before making a "getaway" in a five ton truck, c. 2005. That could have happened anywhere, I suppose.

I had a friend who lived in economically priced condos up there immediately south of the HS, and other than the occasional car prowl, she didn't complain much. Her car wasn't really worth prowling, in any event.

Another pal had a nice condo south of 128th/Airport on that side, off of fourth. Might have actually been a Lynnwood zip code, I'm not sure. Nice complex, in a rather dull area that wasn't "bad" by any means. He loved it there, for the same reasons you're stating: more house (condo), less money. He was sorry he sold, some years later (about the time of the crash of '08) though he made a great profit.

My gut feel is that if you'd like to save money, and can live with a bit of the behavior and vibe that comes with blue-collar type neighborhoods, go for it. There are indeed truly sketchy parts of Everett, closer to downtown, where I would not particularly want to live.

Personally, I'd take tonight or tomorrow...hot August weekend nights...and walk the streets in the area. What do you think? That's surely what I've done, the couple homes I've owned in the Seattle metro area past fifteen years or so. Great to get a feel for the street.

[mkarch]

While Lynnwood and Everett both have some less desirable spots, that area is actually fairly nice for the most part. I'd be concerned about owning in some of the older neighborhoods that may be getting run down. Lynnwood in particular seems to have a lot of neighborhoods that were only nice when they were new, and now they're junk.

[Count David]

I spent my summers growing up at a house just NE of there, at 35th Ave SE/116th St SE.

I used to swim at Silver Lake, and learned to swim at McCollum Park's pool. That 24 Hour Fitness at 19th/112th, used to be a QFC, and before that, it was an Olson's. I've even stayed at the Motel 6 Blondebearde mentioned, and lived to tell about it. This area was my summer home.

It is fine IMO. It has gotten increasingly blue-collar and diverse during my lifetime, neither of which is a bad thing, but I'd still live there in a heartbeat. I've never had anything to be afraid of.

These "bad" areas everyone talks about in Everett aren't super close to the area you're looking in. Everyone says to stay away from Casino Rd, and you aren't even close to that.

I say go for it.

[Hemlock140]

Look in the part of Lynnwood near Martha lake, very nice and quiet, and easy access to I5. Also has most of the stores you will need close by. North from Seattle it's the 1st exit (Exit 183, 164th St SW) just after you pass 405, go a few blocks and turn right on Larch and look around on Larch and the side streets.

[kjm303]

Thanks for the replies! We decided to go for it - it seems fine, and we need the space. All the insight is appreciated!