Help! Moving to Everett (Lynnwood, Marysville: crime, home, transfer)

[Aprilpo]

My husband is transferring from So. Cal to Boeing Everett so we are moving to Washington! We were out over the weekend searching for neighborhoods and checking out the area. We found a home in a quiet neighborhood in the Forest Park area of Everett just 5 minutes from my husbands job and the private school we have selected for our daughter. What I would like to know is more information about the area. Is it safe? What amenities are close? The street is Highland there is a foresty park and recreation area just around the corner if that helps. Please any information would be much appreciated.

[the dufferz]

Aprilpo,

welcome back to the forum and congratulations on getting this far so fast! Glad you were able to get up here and take a look. Hope you won't be disapointed with the move.

That area is pretty nice. Generally Everett is not the nicest city in the area, but this area, while being older, tends to be nicer.

There are several Highland streets, not sure which block you are looking at, but they are all in the same general area.

Amenities are a little sparse with the Everett mall being the closest major mall. Compared to the other malls such as Alderwood, it is dumpy to say the least. I would recommend that you travel the additional 10 minutes south(non rush hour) trip to go there.

There is a Safeway and Albertsons nearby, safeway being the nicer of the two. Marysville is the next town north and they have one of the best casino's in Western Washington. Great buffet.

Across the freeway (10 minute drive) is a Costco. Marysville and Lynnwood have Walmart. Lynnwood has most major retail stores within the area of the mall, so any of this is within a 20 minute drive.

Property crime is the biggest safety issue in the Puget Sound area. (not the highest priority for law enforcement for some reason) Secure your home property, lock your cars and you should be fine.

The park you speak of is pretty large and very rural feeling. Nice place to go. Mukilteo and the waterfront is about 10 minutes down the road (watch your speed limit). OK beach for walking and enjoying a sunset, not great for sunbathing like you would have in SC.

So, here is an odd thing to be aware of, for what it't worth. The population of Russians in that area has exploded, big time. I have heard that the Russian Mafia came in and cleared out a lot of street gang issues. The problem is they then took over the seedy business end of things. I am 100% sure of the Russian population gains in the area, but since I am neither in law enforcement, nor to I tend to hang around with the criminal element, I cannot confirm the whole mafia angle.

Let me know if you have any other questions.