If I worked in the South Seattle area I would pack (Vancouver: high crime, house)

[87112]

It is completely terrible the number of incidents in South Seattle the last 4 months.
62 incidents! Seattle is basically pretty ghetto in a lot of places.

Woman shot and killed during purse snatching | KING5.com

It is really much safer in Vancouver BC if you can afford it and deal with even worse traffic. My folks live in Beacon Hill, bars are all over the house and they don't leave for long vacations due to worry about break ins.

All this for a house valued at over 500k. How ironic that a house that expensive buys such excess worry over crime. They have a valid reason. I will not expand on it, the links proves the point.

[Hemlock140]

One of my employees rented a house in S Beacon Hill and had a breakin two months later. After a year, they had to move, as the owners decided to sell and take advantage of the economy. 2 br 1 ba and 80 years old, $450k. Despite the crime nearby, people still want to live in Seattle, and move to where they can afford the prices. The same house in Ballard would be $600k.

[Ruth4Truth]

I don't trust for a moment the recommendations that we see here from time to time that the south end has changed and gentrified. The occurrence of frequent "incidents" shouldn't surprise anyone, IMO.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I don't trust for a moment the recommendations that we see here from time to time that the south end has changed and gentrified. The occurrence of frequent "incidents" shouldn't surprise anyone, IMO.

Gentrification drives up prices, and eventually lowers crime, but in the transition the criminals have a better opportunity with more and better stuff to steal.

[mhays25]

It's NOTHING compared to 30 years ago.

I'm laughing at the idea of a grown man "needing" a gun in the city.

[tickyul]

Washington State has some of the most lenient property-crimes laws in the nation. I bet this is an incentive for shifty individuals to live in Washington and carry-out their dirty-deeds.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I don't trust for a moment the recommendations that we see here from time to time that the south end has changed and gentrified. The occurrence of frequent "incidents" shouldn't surprise anyone, IMO.

Except it has. South Seattle is huge, and many of the parts of the south end that used to be dangerous aren't anymore. But gentrification is a slow process. The Central District was supposedly gentrifying 25 years ago, but it's only been the last few years that it's really been transformed in a major way. Twenty years ago Columbia City had high crime and empty storefronts. Now it's vibrant and thriving and much safer.
Also, when you look at crime statistics within the city, it's not like the north end is immune from crime or even significantly less than the south end(Some months it is, some months it isn't).
Murders have happened in Bellevue and Greenlake. But when you read about those, nobody talks about how bad those neighborhoods are.

[87112]

Originally Posted by mhays25

It's NOTHING compared to 30 years ago.

I'm laughing at the idea of a grown man "needing" a gun in the city.

I've been mugged twice at gunpoint in South Seattle. Whats so funny about packing after that.
You seem to laugh as easily as the town idiot.

[fnh]

Thank you Ira, can't rep you again.

[homesinseattle]

I think one of the problems here is that in general, Seattle is pretty safe. It tends to lure one into a false sense of security, leading to complacency and bad decisions. Listen, this is a great place but a big city, bad things can happen. I felt the same when I was walking the streets of Kathmandu Nepal at 10PM last month. My motto "believe in good but watch your back".
Don't be stupid or think you are immune to violence. Get an alarm system, be hyper aware of your surroundings, maybe a little more in certain parts of town and certain times of day, keep personal space between you and others when you feel there is any cause for alarm, keep personal space between your car and others when driving and stopped, so you can bolt as necessary. Get big, get loud, act a little crazy when necessary, bad people often will choose a more quiet victim. By all means, if you are confronted directly, give them what they want, it's not worth it.