Can anyone tell me about Magnolia? (Seattle: rental, houses, neighborhood)

[Seattlebound1]

Relocating to Seattle from the New York area with my husband and two young daughters in January. We will be renting at first. We were pretty set on North Capitol Hill or Queen Anne, which we have visited and are familiar with. I'm seeing some great rental houses in Magnolia. While I know where it is, I haven't been there. Any insight? Nice community feel? Older houses or a mix of old and new? Good place for young children? I do see a lot of preschool options there. Does it feel isolated at all? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Ira500]

Nice community feel? I'd say so.
Houses are newer than N. Capitol Hill's and Queen Anne's, for the most part. A lot of 60's and newer homes. Some great views. It does feel a bit isolated, feels more suburban than N Capitol Hill or Queen Anne. A lot of Magnolia is quite pleasant, but Capitol Hill and Queen Anne have a lot more going on as far as places to shop and eat.

[cjg5]

I grew up in Magnolia and just posted this in another thread. Going to repost it here for you:









If you insist on living in Seattle proper, check out Magnolia fist. I grew up there on the hill (as we call it) and it's a great place to live! It's like living on an island, or on one huge dead end, because there are only three streets on and off the hill, and they all connect to the same road. So in other words, there's no need to go to Magnolia unless you live there or are visiting. No through traffic!

Despite this, it is still very quick and easy to access Downtown Seattle from Magnolia. It's very close and takes no time at all. Magnolia also has it's own small downtown area of sorts (called "the village") which has shops, restaurants, banks, a gas station, coffee shops, pharmacies, a nursery, a hardware store, a full grocery store (one of two full grocery stores on the hill), a pub, a bakery, a book store, a park with a playground, tennis courts, and baseball fields, soccer fields, a couple of places to get pizza, an outdoor pool, churches, a clinic / doctor office, a dentist office, a community center, and more. There is also a very nice public library just about a block outside of the village.

Magnolia also features three bus routes to and from Downtown Seattle. Of these, two run all day long, and the third one runs only to Downtown during the morning rush, and from downtown during the evening rush.

Magnolia also contains Seattle's largest park, Discovery Park. Awesome, awesome place and more park than can be seen in one day. So many trails, so many areas to visit, an Indian cultural center, a playground, sand dunes, strolls through a forest like setting, strolls by small creeks and ponds, strolls on a beach or through a large open field. Also has tennis and basket ball courts. Discovery Park has it all! There are also other parks to enjoy, and even the lock connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington is a fascinating place to visit, with parks on both the Magnolia and Ballard side (and very nice gardens!), a fish ladder with viewing windows, and a visitor center. Also makes for a quick and easy walk between Magnolia and Ballard.

Magnolia also has two elementary schools. (one K-5, the other K-8). High school students will have to go off hill for schooling. (Ballard HS is closest).

The people on Magnolia are all friendly, have never had a problem with any of them. Also, it is generally a safer neighborhood than most (again, no through traffic).

The only downside is that it's a little pricier to live there than much of the rest of the city, but well worth it if you can find something you can afford!