Madrona area? What's your opinion?

[seattlefun]

Thanks Ira500 and beautifulseattlehomes I love the feedback. it's all great info. Kind of offsets the negative aspects. I totally get that basically anywhere in Seattle is Urban. I was talking to a mailman in Madrona. He described Madrona as very diverse with different ethnicity, rich people, poor people, gay families and everything in between including crime to go along with it all. When in doubt talk to a mailperson. They typically know the hood better than anyone else. I was hoping to get to talk to others that lived in Madrona. I'm very interested in this area! If anyone has friends, cousins of friends, or cousins of even friends of friends of cousins that has an uncle that lives in Madrona I would love to speak with them on the phone.

Thanks

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by seattlefun

I totally get that basically anywhere in Seattle is Urban.

Actually most of Seattle is suburban with the exception of neighborhoods near the downtown core and a couple of the 'urban villages' like downtown Ballard. If you go up just north of the ship canal into Laurelhurst and Windermere you can see quite a difference between those neighborhoods and Madrona/Leschi even though they're all on the lake and within a few miles of one another.

[fnh]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Parts of it aren't even safe during the day! Read NewbiePoster's comment. On the west side of Madrona, the unexpected can happen at any time. Don't take anything for granted. I haven't seen the east side, though. I've heard it's very nice. If you're thinking of moving there, why not visit the area, and drive around, and talk to the neighbors. Stroll around on the east side of it, and ask questions when you see people out and about. Or check out the shops people recommend here, and chat with the locals. Do some reconnaissance. I always do that before moving into an area.

I was going to tease Ruth4Truth for living in a constant "State of Alert" but then I remembered I myself dialed 911 last summer on the street in Madrona!

Waiting at the bus stop across from the Madrona farmers market (the dreaded western edge) my son espied smoke coming from the utility pole. The fire department arrived within three minutes to chop out the cigarette burning inside before the whole thing went up like a creosote matchstick. Here are the kids cowering on the street in Madrona in the middle of the day.

(All in good fun, Ruth! )

[fnh]

(Oh dear, I hope I didn't scare anyone off of Madrona by posting that crime scene photo.)

I ran out of time earlier but wanted to say, seattlefun, that talking to the mailman was a great idea. When we were considering buying in the CD I chatted with the pharmacist at the Walgreens on Jackson. On our first visit to look at the house the schools had just let out and kids were everywhere, including the drugstore. The pharmacist was so friendly and knew everyone by name, asking after their family members. The scene was so darn neighborly that it clashed with my then view of the CD, shaped by its former notoriety. I stayed just to be able to chat with him and get his insights on the area. That conversation really helped to assuage our concerns.

I wouldn't have similar fears in Madrona, though. If we could have afforded a second home in Madrona or Leschi rather than the CD, we would have bought there in a heartbeat. But after more than a year in the CD, I am content to visit you in Madrona.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by fnh

I was going to tease Ruth4Truth for living in a constant "State of Alert" but then I remembered I myself dialed 911 last summer on the street in Madrona!

Waiting at the bus stop across from the Madrona farmers market (the dreaded western edge) my son espied smoke coming from the utility pole. The fire department arrived within three minutes to chop out the cigarette burning inside before the whole thing went up like a creosote matchstick. Here are the kids cowering on the street in Madrona in the middle of the day.

(All in good fun, Ruth! )

Thank you. I speak from experience. And yeah, in the middle of the day.

[seattlefun]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Thank you. I speak from experience. And yeah, in the middle of the day.

Ruth.... Can you share some of your experiences?

[seattlefun]

Originally Posted by fnh

(Oh dear, I hope I didn't scare anyone off of Madrona by posting that crime scene photo.)

I ran out of time earlier but wanted to say, seattlefun, that talking to the mailman was a great idea. When we were considering buying in the CD I chatted with the pharmacist at the Walgreens on Jackson. On our first visit to look at the house the schools had just let out and kids were everywhere, including the drugstore. The pharmacist was so friendly and knew everyone by name, asking after their family members. The scene was so darn neighborly that it clashed with my then view of the CD, shaped by its former notoriety. I stayed just to be able to chat with him and get his insights on the area. That conversation really helped to assuage our concerns.

I wouldn't have similar fears in Madrona, though. If we could have afforded a second home in Madrona or Leschi rather than the CD, we would have bought there in a heartbeat. But after more than a year in the CD, I am content to visit you in Madrona.

You can visit anytime.... Dinner is usually at 6:30 and Drinks at 5:45. Sometimes dinner gets delayed if the drinks are really good..... and even sometimes dinner turns into a liquid diet!

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Thank you. I speak from experience. And yeah, in the middle of the day.

Recent experience?

[fnh]

Ruth, I'm sorry! I really was just trying to be silly tying your comment to your location (I see you're more relaxed now.) But, when you are a victim yourself I know it is not funny at all and it changes your entire perspective on an area. I love Madrona but certainly understand that if you've had a bad experience there you would want to warn others.