Any flat neighborhoods? (Seattle, George: lease, safe area, living in)

[nja2016]

So I've been considering moving to Seattle for a few years but haven't been able to because of my phobia of driving up steep hills. I spent a few weeks (rain-free so the roads weren't even slippery) in Seattle a couple of years ago and was terrified of driving there because of the steep hills all over the city. I already know that I can't drive in West Seattle, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Madison Park, and downtown.
My current city does have a few steep hilly streets, but I know where they are and avoid ever taking them.

Since I took the bus all over the city even though I had my car with me, I can't remember whether Ballard, Fremont, Greenlake, or Wallingford have a lot of the steep hills. Do they and are there any safe areas within city limits that are fairly flat?

[Neerwhal]

Seattle is pretty hilly.

http://faculty.washington.edu/momara...7a79d5960b.png

While somewhat safe, the areas which are not hilly are few and far between. The flat part is the industrial area.

In addition, how would you get across the city to meet friends? While there is a lot to do within a neighborhood, you wouldn't want to get stuck.

Portland is much flatter, relatively speaking:

Topographic map Portland

[CrazyDonkey]

Belltown/Denny Regrade is flat - that's where they sluiced Denny Hill away: https://seattle.curbed.com/2016/4/21...y-regrade-1905

North Seattle isn't very hilly. More "slopey".

[Kayela]

Out of curiosity, why Seattle? Is there something unique here that you can't find in a flatter area that won't stress you out so much?

[nja2016]

Originally Posted by Neerwhal

Seattle is pretty hilly.

http://faculty.washington.edu/momara...7a79d5960b.png

While somewhat safe, the areas which are not hilly are few and far between. The flat part is the industrial area.

In addition, how would you get across the city to meet friends? While there is a lot to do within a neighborhood, you wouldn't want to get stuck.

Portland is much flatter, relatively speaking:

Topographic map Portland

Portland is a pretty city too, but I already lived in Oregon (not Portland) for a few years and the bridges are scary if you have a fear of heights like I do.

Maybe all the people who are afraid to drive just take Lyft/Uber/cabs/buses around the city. Since I just signed a 3-year lease and I like my car, it would be nice to at least be able to drive some places.

I'm already used to having to mostly only see friends who live within a few miles for traffic reasons so that wouldn't be much of a change, but if I ever had to work downtown that could be a real issue. Logically, I know that even the buses seem to be able to go up the hills without sliding down backwards, but I feel like it could happen at any time and panic. Going down steep hills is mostly okay though -- I just can't drive up them.

[nja2016]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Belltown/Denny Regrade is flat - that's where they sluiced Denny Hill away: https://seattle.curbed.com/2016/4/21...y-regrade-1905

North Seattle isn't very hilly. More "slopey".

That would probably be okay. So Ballard, Greenlake, and Fremont don't have lots of steep hills? I haven't been north of Greenlake (and only went to the lake itself) but have heard mixed things about the safety of some of the neighborhoods further north.

Also, I think I remember seeing some interesting characters walking through Belltown a few years ago (2011?), not sure whether I'd feel comfortable living there even being from a big city...

[nja2016]

Originally Posted by Kayela

Out of curiosity, why Seattle? Is there something unique here that you can't find in a flatter area that won't stress you out so much?

The unique thing about Seattle is it has a large highly educated population, has good weather, and it has real trees (not palm trees). I've lived on the West Coast my whole life and am really only interested in living in a big city on the West Coast. The weather thing is important since I have reverse SAD, I don't like year-round heat because it's depressing, and liked Oregon's weather except summer.

Also, I've had bad luck dating here because so many guys are shallow and time is running out to hopefully find a fellow introvert and start a family before I'm too old instead of being alone for the next 50 years or so here. So basically, I need to be in a large West Coast city with smart introverted men and cool weather.

[amaiunmei]

The topography of Seattle is such that there's no way to avoid the hills. AT ALL. It's not possible.

Going from east to west pretty much guarantees a change of elevation (so much so that there are microclimates in the city where one neighborhood might have one type of weather and a neighboring area may have different weather). It's unavoidable.

Fremont has steep hills.

North Ballard has some serious elevation. So do parts of the U-District.

I can only think of two neighborhoods that are mostly flat: Ballard and Madison Park. But to get to those places, you would likely need to traverse some serious elevations.

It seems like a terrible idea to move to a place that is geographically fighting against you.

[Neerwhal]

But how will you avoid bridges? How will you work?

How likely do you think you are to find a guy who also wants to avoid bridges and hills? Again, not to be rude, but that's a pretty rare phobia and even more so in Seattle considering how impractical it is.

Have you tried therapy for your phobias? I can't imagine living in Seattle with a fear of bridges and hills. I understand you can't control it but I think there are treatments that help.

You aren't afraid of boats are you?

[Sockeye66]

Georgetown is one area that lays flat but if living Seattle you'll need to accept hills and bridges come with the mild climate and trees.

Georgetown is also a mix of industrial/commercial/residential properties, I like it but if my goal was to raise a family I'd be looking elsewhere.