Sweet a$$ city apts/condos and even sweeter prices... (Seattle: apartments, high crime)

[Florian1980]

Originally Posted by JL1585

Hey Florian, do you live in/or around that apartment complex? I'd love to ask some questions if you do..

Nah I don't live there. I've just driven by there a couple of times. I live near the Columbia City light rail station so not too far away.

[Xeon1210]

the moda is right across the street from recovering drug addict section 8 apartments and addiction services. While I suspect many or even most are on the straight and narrow, i've seen quite a few vagrants populate that stop and the stop immediately before it (if going to belltown from downtown).

So if you want a little adrenaline with your morning commute than it's the perfect spot. Cheaper than a cup of coffee.

[Ancalagon]

We got a pretty sweet apartment in Columbia City for $1045. Not Luxury like The Station at Othello but pretty nice. Genessee Park Apartments I think. There are signs for some newly renovated places down at the other end of DT Columbia City, I'll try and get their name.

[JL1585]

Hey Ancalagon!

Thanks a bunch for the info, I was actually trying to find info on Genessee Park Apartments, I found nothing except some apts with the same name in San Diego, and some info about pricing but no pics or anything on the apts. I would go drive myself and check it out, but Im in Chicago lol. If you could get the name of those renovated ones that would be excellent or any info on the Genessee Park.. also, how did you like living in Columbia city? Did you feel you could walk around the neighborhood and enjoy it a lot?

[usernametaken]

Try padmapper.com.

Also, you might want to consider downtown Bellevue if you are willing to spend over $1100. Avalon Meydenbauer is right next to downtown Bellevue Park and had a decent sized studio for $1150 or so last week. I know that the OP is focused on Seattle, and Bellevue has a bad/snobby reputation amongst many in the Seattle crowd, but I have been here for almost two years and truly love it (I live in a poorer part though, and not in downtown Bellevue).

Service at apartments is also much better in comparison to what I saw at several skyscrapers in Seattle (Belltown).

[Florian1980]

I think Columbia City is great... walkable, convenient... lots of restaurants, grocery stores etc, light-rail to downtown and the airport. Also probably the most diverse neighborhood in Seattle. Maybe a little less safe than other neighborhoods but also a lot cheaper. I've actually never felt unsafe walking around CC at night.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by JL1585

Hey Ancalagon!

Thanks a bunch for the info, I was actually trying to find info on Genessee Park Apartments, I found nothing except some apts with the same name in San Diego, and some info about pricing but no pics or anything on the apts. I would go drive myself and check it out, but Im in Chicago lol. If you could get the name of those renovated ones that would be excellent or any info on the Genessee Park.. also, how did you like living in Columbia city? Did you feel you could walk around the neighborhood and enjoy it a lot?

We love it. Go walking about almost everyday. Great shops and restaurants, today was the Farmers Market (every Weds from May till Sep). Genessee Park is cool, and it's a quick walk to the Lake. We do a walking loop north through Genessee then walk down along the Lake to Seward Park, and then South to Othello, walk to the train station and take it back home. We walk or run that a couple times a week.

Here's the walkscore of a place on the other side of DT Columbia City:
3916 S Pearl St Seattle WA 98118 - $825/mo Apartment on Walk Score

And the website of the complex:
pearl street commons - Home

[WELTSMERTZ]

I too have been considering the Station at Othello Park. I keep hearing different things, safe, not safe, high crime on MLK stay away, lovely place, ont he link...I CAN'T take it. I really need some more honest opinions about the area, I do not want to move there and then regret it and be stuck and not safe.
Thanks. Also, I am trying to find a decent apartment locator service, any ideas?

[slapfish318]

If you haven't been using it yet, I'd recommend using Apartmentratings.com to cross-check the feedback on the apartment complexes you're looking at. It's not perfect, and you have to take the requisite grain of salt with it (since people are more inclined to **** and moan on sites like this), but it could be helpful to see the nature of complaints that people have. I was turned off my Moda by the location, as well as the fact that the owner was pushing me towards them when I visited a completely different property...kinda set off my BS alarm. Also, from what I understand, their units are pretty small...so if you're willing to accept that, it's a matter of how the $/sf compares to whatever else you're looking at.

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by WELTSMERTZ

I too have been considering the Station at Othello Park. I keep hearing different things, safe, not safe, high crime on MLK stay away, lovely place, ont he link...I CAN'T take it. I really need some more honest opinions about the area, I do not want to move there and then regret it and be stuck and not safe.
Thanks. Also, I am trying to find a decent apartment locator service, any ideas?

Okay, so basically minorities scare native Pacific NorthWesterners, so they find the Rainier Valley to be very unsafe, lots of brown people here. Anyone who grew up NOT from the area thinks it's a big joke, and jumps on the great prices.

Now, that's just an opinion. Here's some data, compare the area you are looking at with where you are now.

South Precinct - Seattle Police Department