Relocating to Fort Lewis (Seattle, Tacoma: apartments, homes, safe area)

[L98smile]

I am originally from the Chicago area, but I have lived in South Dakota for the past 4 years (I worked with Indian Health Service). I accepted a job at Fort Lewis (as a civilian health care provider), and I will be moving in May. I need some advice on where to live. I am a 27 year old single female. Safety is my main concern. I do not mind traffic or busy "city life". I also do not mind more rural areas as I have adjusted to South Dakota. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[worldpremier_slott]

Hello there...
I recently moved out of the Ft. Lewis area 2 years ago. My husband was stationed there. My advice would be to move to the south. Lacey, Tumwater, or even Steilacoom is nice. I would try to stay away from the Tacoma area if you are concerned about safety. Not that Tacoma is bad, just a little scary. Yelm is a good place too however it is a drive to Ft. Lewis. About 45 minutes. Out in the country. I hope this helps you. And if you need to buy a home let me know.

[LindsayWimpee]

Me and my husband are moving to fort lewis in mid-march. We don't know anything about the area. We would like to know the best place to live. Or should I say the safest place to live near Fort Lewis. Any help will help alot. Thanks

[Laakealight]

Check Lakewood, Olympia, Steilacoom or University Place. *University Place is safe, clean and the folks are very nice.

[grizzly9829]

Originally Posted by LindsayWimpee

Me and my husband are moving to fort lewis in mid-march. We don't know anything about the area. We would like to know the best place to live. Or should I say the safest place to live near Fort Lewis. Any help will help alot. Thanks

If moving to this area,as stated from the last person who asked and they said,Stellicoom,Lakewood area and Roy wa,are VERY safe areas. Stay away from Tacoma,unless you want broke into all the time and Spanaway is getting bad to. Too many people and not enought streets,getting back and fourth is a bear.....aviod Spanaway....

[faulkton]

I grew up in north tacoma (proctor district), and currently live in South Dakota.

The north end of tacoma is quite nice, but can also be quite expensive. There are a lot of cool old apartment buildings in/around the stadium district, (North I, North Yakima ave., pretty much anything west of Stadium with a north address), and there is freeway access close by. Old town, proctor district, 30th street hill area, and even parts of ruston are all nice safe neighborhoods.

Parts of university place are alright but it also has a lot of strip malls and apartments complexes. Not a very interesting place and definitely not the sense of community you find in south dakota. Fircrest is nice and well patrolled by their own police, but cliquish.

Lacey isn't bad and i bet it would probably be cheaper than the decent places in Tacoma.

Spanaway is the meth capital, avoid it like the plague. Parts of Lakewood are very nice, but my family who still lives out there keep telling me that a lot of the problems in the old hilltop are being pushed out that way (crime/drugs/gangs) and into the east side.

I have heard that there are some nice new buildings around downtown, and the neighborhood is drastically improving.. but i bet it would still be an adventure.

[melia_nicole]

Originally Posted by L98smile

I am originally from the Chicago area, but I have lived in South Dakota for the past 4 years (I worked with Indian Health Service). I accepted a job at Fort Lewis (as a civilian health care provider), and I will be moving in May. I need some advice on where to live. I am a 27 year old single female. Safety is my main concern. I do not mind traffic or busy "city life". I also do not mind more rural areas as I have adjusted to South Dakota. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

If you really want safety move to Dupont. Dupont is one exist down form the last Fort Lewis gate. It's a really new community. Every store, restaurant, etc... are less then three years old. The majority of homes are new and range in the 300's. There is the orignal neighbor hood of Dupont that has older homes if you like that. It has bike paths and sidewalks in the neighborhoods, a great school system and community center, a drive thru starbucks, pizzeria, pub, library, and some other odds and ends. So far there is no grocery store but if you have commissary privileges then you can go on post. The city is surrounded by trees and the sound and North Fort Lewis (basically trees on North Fort). It does not border any other town. The freeway divides Fort Lewis Main post and Dupont. It really is an isolated town but only 10 minutes from Lacay, Wa which has Costco, Home Depot, Target, Walmart Super Center, Jamba Juice (my favorite) Safeway and much more. The Olympia mall is about 20 minutes south. If I had to do it all over again I would have moved to Dupont. Great place for singles and families. Lots of options from apartments to duplexes to homes and food and shops within walking distance. Too bad we are moving to Idaho in three weeks once my husband is out of the Army!

[melia_nicole]

Originally Posted by L98smile

I am originally from the Chicago area, but I have lived in South Dakota for the past 4 years (I worked with Indian Health Service). I accepted a job at Fort Lewis (as a civilian health care provider), and I will be moving in May. I need some advice on where to live. I am a 27 year old single female. Safety is my main concern. I do not mind traffic or busy "city life". I also do not mind more rural areas as I have adjusted to South Dakota. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

There are some very beautiful parts of Lakewood. Larges homes on the Lake, movie theater, mall etc...The problem is there is one main street (Bridgeport) running through the town, so get used to traffic on your way to post. As I said the main part of Dupont is literally across the freeway one one exit up or you can take a road that runs along the freeway about 1 mile to the original Dupong area and cross the overpass which leads right to the Dupont Gate of Fort Lewis. If you are working at Madigan you may just wanted to take the freeway since the Madigan gate is 3 exits up that way you won't have to drive 25 miles p/hr through post.

[infantryfamily]

We are also relocating to the ft lewis area and I will need to commute to Seattle area at the same time.
What about NE Olympia, Roy, Bonney Lake, and NE Gig Harbor areas?
We are looking at homes with a little space, with room for family and projects, in a sort of progressive enviroment - maybe access to cultural events, arts, or even more important local or organic type grocery stores or co-ops.
We like woodsy and space, but not so far as to be too remote. Schools for little ones are really important too, and even a "university town atmosphere" would be great.
Any reccomendations would be apprecitated!

[soldbysloane]

Hi,

We got PCS'd last year from Hawaii, and it was a huge change. Especially the weather. I've been a licensed Realtor for some time and have gotten to know the areas very well. I'd check out Lacey, and Dupont are my personal favorites, traffic and location are exceptional. If anyone needs any relocation advice I'd love to help, stay out of Tacoma-Lakewood. Olympia, Tumwater are also great locations. I know what a relocation is like, but WA is beautiful in the summer!!!

Infantryfamily-by your request I'd sugest Gig harbor, or even Booney Lake....Great places fabulous schools and the woodsy atmosphire, and it's between seattle and ft lewis...

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