Possible relo to Bellevue from Silicon Valley (initial research)

[Hemlock140]

Welsome!

If you are looking for upscale, the Crossroads area, though I really like it and visit often is less upscale than the rest of the city. There is really no area of Bellevue to avoid, however. Avoid commute times on highway 405. Bellevue itself is bad enough, sometimes taking 20 minutes or more just to cross town. We have had especially nice weather this spring and you are coming at the best time of year, so enjoy before the rain comes back in late September. Be sure to check out Seafair and the Blue Angels air show in August.

[gosteng]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Welsome!

If you are looking for upscale, the Crossroads area, though I really like it and visit often is less upscale than the rest of the city. There is really no area of Bellevue to avoid, however. Avoid commute times on highway 405. Bellevue itself is bad enough, sometimes taking 20 minutes or more just to cross town. We have had especially nice weather this spring and you are coming at the best time of year, so enjoy before the rain comes back in late September. Be sure to check out Seafair and the Blue Angels air show in August.

the crossroads area is upscale? i saw an apt complex near there called the madison bellevue and the complex/location looked pretty good. however, on the other side of that street specifically around crossroads park on 8th and 164th, this side of "the crossroads" was just complex after complex of apts. was not a good look.

how's the traffic going to and from downtown? i'll have to drive by that place again.

[DevanXL]

Originally Posted by gosteng

thanks to those who responded. i'll be moving to bellevue from silicon valley this month and will be working in downtown. i'm traveling to bellevue every week until my move and have been able to check out different parts of bellevue as well as apartment complexes.

some comments:
-bellevue is absolutely beautiful. however, i've been going there while it's 75 and not raining, so i'm sure the winter time will change my mind. i love the green...the trees, the mountains. when i initially wrote i wanted to live in a neighborhood with lots of trees, well, that's bellevue.
-traffic sucks even coming from a person who lived in chicago, la, and norcal. it never gets old and it's crap. even the backroads are congested for those trying to avoid the freeways. frustrating.
-downtown doesn't feel like a downtown a la sf or chicago. that said, i still don't want to live in downtown bellevue. that's just not me.
-i'm not a fan of old town bellevue. wouldn't want to live there mainly because it's off bellevue way and main street, which are congested. it's also just a smaller, congested version of dowtown.
-rent is slightly cheaper than silicon valley so no sticker shock.

are there specific zip codes i should look into or avoid? in silicon valley, there are zip codes to avoid so i'm guessing it's similar in bellevue.

any other thoughts, please share. thanks.

Downtown as in Downtown Bellevue or Seattle?

[GraceKrispy]

I think (?) Hemlock was saying Crossroads is less upscale than much of Bellevue, and I would certainly agree. You're right in that it's filled with apartment complexes on both sides of the mall (164th and 156th). Traffic going that way to downtown Bellevue can be really busy at certain times of day (going down NE 8th), but I haven't really driven it during "rush hour," so can't comment on that. It's not a big deal to head to DT Bellevue that direction on weekends or evenings

[gosteng]

Originally Posted by DevanXL

Downtown as in Downtown Bellevue or Seattle?

downtown bellevue

[gosteng]

Originally Posted by gkrispy

I think (?) Hemlock was saying Crossroads is less upscale than much of Bellevue, and I would certainly agree. You're right in that it's filled with apartment complexes on both sides of the mall (164th and 156th). Traffic going that way to downtown Bellevue can be really busy at certain times of day (going down NE 8th), but I haven't really driven it during "rush hour," so can't comment on that. It's not a big deal to head to DT Bellevue that direction on weekends or evenings

you're right, i re-read the reply. i thought i was missing something because it didn't look that upscale. prices were definitely a bit lower than the rest of bellevue.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by 509

If your going to survive a winter in western Washington having an indoor pool and tennis courts is well worth the money.v

it's not the winter, it's the spring that is bad.