If we're to be honest with ourselves, 95% of Seattle neighborhoods are total trash (Bellevue: countertops, house)

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by KonaldDuth

If I were to take a map of Seattle and highlight which areas are actually "nice" -- meaning that the yards and home exteriors are maintained and sometimes it even looks like someone lives there -- it would be just a couple small areas:

* A few sections of Lake Washington Blvd
* A few sections of Magnolia
* Laurelhurst
* A few tiny sections on the West side of Sand Point Way
* A slice of the perimeter of Green Lake (the innermost row of houses on the Southeastern side)
* A couple blocks between Ballard and Phinney Ridge
* NE Ravenna Blvd between 17th Ave and 55th St

You need at least $10,000,000 to afford a house in those tiny areas, and the rest of the city is a complete dump. You don't realize it if you've been here for too long because your standards lower.

How long have you been in Seattle? I think you get accustomed to a certain style which I was accustomed to Texas style and when I first came to the PNW, I thought it looked a bit grungy (early 90's). I recently made a trip to Houston and a lot of that style of architecture there now looks either ostentatious or old fashioned to me now.

[Botev1912]

Seattle is nice by US standards and run down by European and Asian standards. This is the ugly truth. US cities are not as nice as developed European and Asian ones. They have many bad areas, appalling infrastructure, potholes on the roads and crime. In comparison, developed cities have amazing public transport, clean and safe streets and very few if any bad areas.

[elkotronics]

Would you consider Vancouver, B.C., a "developed" city, Botev1912?

[homesinseattle]

Yes, I would say so Elk. We lived in Vancouver for 3 years. Quite different than Seattle, Vancouver has had downtown living for many years, resulting in well established in city neighborhoods like West End/English Bay. The restaurants, pubs and amenities nearby feel less contrived, more organic to the area. The cool buildings (including historic ones) and population density that has existed for many years adds to the flavor. The people who live in this area, if they can afford it, have super walks in Stanley Park, easy stroll downtown on Robson and quick access to Granville Island via the water taxi.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

Would you consider Vancouver, B.C., a "developed" city, Botev1912?

Yes, Canadian cities are better than US cities in general. The nicest US cities are small suburbs that have low crime, good roads and high quality of life.

[Seacove]

OP has posted continually about dislike for Seattle. That is great, we have too many people moving here and apparently one of the big reasons for the high cost of houses is low inventory because no one is selling their houses. Perhaps the OP would be happier moving to a location better suited?

Seattle home prices are so high partly because barely anyone is selling, despite chance for big profits

https://www.seattletimes.com/busines...r-big-profits/

[saturno_v]

I was born and raised in Europe and I live in Seattle since 2002. Sure many European neighborhoods have more character and style (history and traditions is on their side) but that are quite trashy places in European cities as well.
What Seattle neighborhoods need is to take better care of their roads.....a problem that goes almost away as soon as you leave the city of Seattle proper.

[saturno_v]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Yes, Canadian cities are better than US cities in general. The nicest US cities are small suburbs that have low crime, good roads and high quality of life.

They are not nicer, simply they often take better care of maintenance (Road repaving and re-painting what needs to be re-painted)

[mhays25]

Canada does have better cities on average...no US-type sprawlers or half-empty cities. Better density and transit, pound for pound.

Europe (and Canada) do have slums, just not as much since they tend to be more egalitarian vs. the US rich/poor emphasis, and the slums are generally not near the city centers.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by saturno_v

I was born and raised in Europe and I live in Seattle since 2002. Sure many European neighborhoods have more character and style (history and traditions is on their side) but that are quite trashy places in European cities as well.
What Seattle neighborhoods need is to take better care of their roads.....a problem that goes almost away as soon as you leave the city of Seattle proper.

Seattle neighborhoods have bad roads? As a general thing? I'm not aware of that. It's not true of the neighborhoods I or my friends have lived in.