safe neighborhoods near Univ of W? (Seattle, Starbuck: apartments, rental, low crime)

[yeldarb205]

I am applying to graduate school and am looking for advice on safe neighborhoods to live new University of Washington. I will be living alone and probably renting a studio apartment. I would like access to public transportation as well. Any suggestions?

[SaltyDawg]

The 48 bus runs frequently from Greenlake directly to the U district, and is a great neighborhood. Also an easy (5-10 minute) bike ride, with dedicated bike lanes the entire way.

Greenlake is the most popular park in the state, with two swimming beaches, multiple tennis courts, indoor and outdoor hoops courts, a wading pool for the kiddies, and a jogging-biking-blading loop going around it.

It's got a small business district with some restaurants, a Starbucks, a gym, etc. There is another place on the Northside of the lake with a few more restaurants as well.

[AzDreamer]

If possible, before signing a lease, check out the area at night. Walk around and see if you feel comfortable. Talk to folks you bump into and see what they know about the area.

Everyone has their own standards and desires, make sure yours are addressed.

[martina26]

You might want to visit first. The area around UW is transient, full of college kids that come and go and dont really take care of the apartments or the area. If you want to feel safe, you might want to live away from the campus in a family neighborhood. Personally, I would not want to live in the U district.

[kmfseattle]

Agreed - definitely check out the area at night before moving there. I lived in the U District for 5 years while attending UW, and had my car broken into multiple times and was constantly kept awake at night by students stumbling home. As was mentioned already, the surrounding area (with a few pockets of exceptions) is very transient and the properties are generally not well kept and highly overpriced.

Ravenna is nice and close and has a lot more long time residents, but apartments may be scarce and expensive.

If you're looking for a younger crowd in a nice urban area nearby, Capitol Hill is great. I've lived in the heart of Capitol Hill for over two years now and have had absolutely no problems with crime myself. Noise is still a problem - may just be where my building is though. I pay $735 a month for a studio, which tends to be near or at the low end of the price range for the area.

[Wanderlust07]

Originally Posted by kmfseattle

Agreed - definitely check out the area at night before moving there. I lived in the U District for 5 years while attending UW, and had my car broken into multiple times and was constantly kept awake at night by students stumbling home. As was mentioned already, the surrounding area (with a few pockets of exceptions) is very transient and the properties are generally not well kept and highly overpriced.

I agree with kmfseattle, and wouldn't recommend the U District as a place to live. I have lived in the Wallingford area, which was convenient to the UW and offered nice amenities like coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping, but the area has undergone quite a bit of growth since I lived out there, and that probably means higher rent.

I think you should also be able to get to the UW by bus from both West Seattle and Ballard. The Sandpoint area might be another worth checking out, there's the close proximity to campus, plus the University Village shopping center (University Village). Nice parks out that way, too.

Here's a link to SPD's crime statistics, so you can check out the crime stats by precinct: SPD | Crime Data.

[louisegabriel]

i have a list of low cost housing for my daughter, but do not know the areas of seattle since i live in florida. looking for low drug and low crime areas, anybody ...please help

[allforcats]

Hi Louise. Most of western Washington is "low drug and low crime", so I'm sure you'll be able to find a place that would work well for your daughter.

-- How old is your daughter?
-- Will she be living here independently or with a roommate?
-- Why will she be here -- school? If so, which one, so we can suggest neighborhoods near the school. Work? If so, what town or company, again so that we can suggest neighborhoods.
-- Will she be using a car every day or our excellent public transportation?
-- What's her monthly rental budget?

Look forward to your replies.

[AzDreamer]

Here's a map that shows Seattle crime hot spots. I like the Montlake neighborhood just south of the UW.

SeaStat Statistics

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by AzDreamer

Here's a map that shows Seattle crime hot spots. SeaStat Statistics

Az, what a neat map! I've used that site in a hundred ways and didn't know that was there. Thank you!!

AND Louise you can coordinate that with the Seattle City Clerk's neighborhoods map:
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/nmaps/fullcity.htm