Just moved to Washington, my first impressions. (Seattle, Tacoma: homes, buy)

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by 41Willys

That's the name of a new movie coming out. "Battle in Seattle".

Really, whats it about?

[41Willys]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Really, whats it about?

Sorry,,not sure.

[chris]

looks like it's based on the WTO fiasco that happened here. IMDB has more info.

[scirocco22]

Yes, based on those infamous 5 days in 1999 when Seattle became a different place.

Any recollection of those days surrounding that conference? I remember being downtown one of those night and thinking "this can't be Seattle!"

--'rocco

[princessvanessa]

Originally Posted by ness

Husband and I have been looking at the Univ. Place area for relocation (we're from LA). We have friend in Gig harbor, but think the commute over the bridge might not be that fun...and we'd like to be closer to Seattle (not that we'll go there a ton). How is Univ. Place? Really. Tell me all the dirt. (see my post asking about univ place, brown's point, and ruston).

University Place is a nice enough town. The only problem I really have is that the city counsel seems to think that they know what the citizens want more than the citizens themselves do. Case in point, about 7 years ago University Place had a vote to see if we wanted "roundabouts". The citizens voted "no". Then we were asked to vote AGAIN, I guess the city counsel thought that we had all checked the wrong box. University Place citizens voted NO to roundabouts again. Guess what, we got roundabouts. Boy oh boy, do we have roundabouts. There are five on Grandview alone. Then we got one on Cirque Drive and now one on 40th. The city counsel just loves their roundabouts. Also, two main arterials were changed (called traffic calming) from 4 lanes down to two lanes with 67th getting a center turn lane and the main drag (Bridgeport) now has a center barrier from one end of town to the other (what a headache). To get to a shop on the other side of Bridgeport you have to go to a traffic light and made a U-turn in the intersection (yes, it's posted as legal U-turn) but sometimes another driver is trying to make a right turn at the red as you are making your green arrow U-turn.
I honestly think that you and your husband would like University Place. It takes me about 50 minutes to get to downtown Seattle during non-peak hours. Also, Tacoma has a lot of nice amenities as well.
Browns Point (near the water) is pricier and Ruston is an older part of town. Also, Ruston was right on top of the Arsarco plant and got quite a bit of the lead and arsenic from the smokestack. Even University Place got some of the lead/arsenic fallout (it's about 5 miles from old Asarco Mill), but not like Ruston.
The problem, now, with Gig Harbor is every time you cross the NEW Narrows Bridge you pay $1.75 (until 7/08) if you have a transponder and $3.00 if you pay at toll booth. Transponders will also be $3.00 for each crossing after July 2008. So I would try to stay off the Peninsula.
Every small town has their ups and downs. Roundabouts and traffic calming seem to be University Place priorities.

[ness]

Thanks for your info. My Mom's British so I guess roundabouts are in my blood and I could probably get used to them. lol. I am impressed by the buzz about the school system in Univ. Place. Husband and I plan to have kids soon. I like the fact that Ruston is near Pt. Defiance park and has older buildings (i work in hist. preservation)....but I hadn't heard about the problem from the plant. How has it affected the area? Bad water? Is there a nice downtown shopping area in Univ. Place? I like the small town feel of Gig Harbor, but wouldn't be a bg fan of the toll. Thank you again for all your info. Husband and I are headed up there in August to check out the areas for ourselves. Any areas you think we should add to our list? We're really keen on being near water so we've sort of eliminated inland areas.

[Karlos2121]

Originally Posted by chris

looks like it's based on the WTO fiasco that happened here. IMDB has more info.

Ah...before you said that I was picturing a movie about the annual Gonzaga basketball games in Seattle that started a few years back.

[jwb123]

Any recollection of those days surrounding that conference? I remember being downtown one of those night and thinking "this can't be Seattle!"

Yes, my husband and his friends were (intentionally) right in the middle of it. Ahhh the young, angry youth of Seattle.

We were living in Cap Hill at the time, preg with our first - and I was worried sick about being caught in something, or him being caught in something. It was unreal.

[ShadowXOR]

And as for an update my fiance got a job with Nintendo, I got a job with a great company and we're both working full-time. Money should be fine (especially after her parents sent us money). Seattle is a bit intimidating since I came from a smaller town but I'm getting along fine...hopefully I can afford to do some fun things soon. I have a brand new car but I have opted to take the bus...it's a pretty good system and my work will only pay for either my parking or my bus pass...I'm going for the bus pass.

[princessvanessa]

Originally Posted by ness

.but I hadn't heard about the problem from the plant. How has it affected the area? Bad water? Is there a nice downtown shopping area in Univ. Place? I like the small town feel of Gig Harbor, but wouldn't be a bg fan of the toll. Thank you again for all your info. Husband and I are headed up there in August to check out the areas for ourselves. Any areas you think we should add to our list? We're really keen on being near water so we've sort of eliminated inland areas.

No, not the water (you would be on public water) but the soil. The plant closed in the late 80's, early 90's and the smokestack came down a few years ago. There are public information ads that run on the TV saying if you live in these areas (Ruston, Fircrest, University Place, Lakewood, Steillacoom, and the parts of Tacoma in between) you need to be aware that the levels of lead and/or arsenic in the soil around your home may be elevated. The answer is to take your shoes off as soon as you enter the house and vacuum often. As I said, University Place is about 5 miles south of Ruston. Ruston was right next to the Asarco plant and got the most exposure. The rest was exposed if the wind was blowing in their direction. Just something to be aware of.
University Place is building a Town Center which is supposed to have upscale stores. Right now there is just a lot of dirt being pushed around. lol
Our beautiful brick library was torn down (to make way for Town Center) and we are in a tiny temporary storefront right now. But not to be concerned, a new and even bigger library will be built across the street from the new Town Center within the next couple of years.
Shops--there is a small strip mall (Twin Firs) that has Trader Joes, Great Harvest Bread Company, Big Lots, GNC, a mail store, Mud Bay Granary (pet stuff), Benitos (teriyaki food), Green Jade (chinese restaurant), Quiznos, a lady's clothing store, El Toro (mexican food), Hair Salon, Hallmark, Starbucks, Tanning Salon, Nail Salon, Rite Aid, Papa Murphy's, Safeway, and a couple of other stores I can't think of. Across the street is Albertsons, Dollar Tree, Radio Shack, Nail Salon, Subway, Smoke shop, Hair Salon, Dry Cleaners. I actually am able to do most of my shopping within University Place boundaries. We also have a Fred Meyer super store. We have two Walgreen's and a Bartell's Drug store. Also a Taco Del Mar and a second Subway shop next to it. There is another Starbucks with a drive-through at the north end of UP. We have several veterinarians. There are two Forenza coffee shops. We have a three to four chiropractors, between five to ten different doctor offices. I am now rambling....really, UP has just about everything and if you can't find it within UP city limits it is not far to go to get to what you want. As I mentioned before, University Place has about 30,000 people. In fact, this Friday and Saturday is the annual University Place Festival. The Drifters are performing Saturday night. It is free to attend. Each year we have a "name" performer Saturday evening--also free. I have been happy enough to live here for 14 years.