North East/North Seattle Living (Bellevue, Burien: apartments, lease, neighborhoods)

[SquidneyGee]

Hello,

My husband and I moved to Bellevue WA in September, and so far we love WA, but Bellevue isn't quite what we expected. Nothing wrong with it, but it does not quite suit our needs. The crowd is a little too high end for my taste, but it was close to Seattle (and a ton beautiful parks!) and we don't like living in downtown cities.

My husband would like to get his graduate degree at the University of WA when our lease is up next year, however we don't really want to live in University District, and living on campus is too complicated of an ordeal (there can be a waitlist for up to 18 months, and there's no guarantee for housing...)

My job will be in DT Seattle, so I would like something within a 30-40 minute bus ride for myself, and about a 15 minute commute for my husband by car to the university. I want as quiet as I can get, walkable is a plus, and somewhere with hip character. Ballard is super cute, but I would like to see if we can find something a little less cramped (but it is an option). I was looking at Wedgewood, Pinehurst, Victory Heights, Maple Leaf area. I dropped the pegman around in Google and most areas look pretty much what we're looking for. Eventually we want to settle down in White Center or Burien, but that's too long of a commute for my husband.

How congested do these areas get? Are they somewhat safe and walkable? What is the social dynamic (sleepy vs more lively)? We have found plenty of apartments in the area in our price range so I am not too worried about price.

Thank you!

[homesinseattle]

Hey Squidney, Maple Leaf is a nice combo of walkability and pretty relaxed, probably the best on your list. Bryant area (just north of U Village) is good too. Parts of Wedgwood (near Lake City) are walkable, not quite as hip but "evolving" that way. Anywhere within a few blocks of 65th St east of I-5 until 25th Ave is pretty walkable. You might want to peek at parts of Greenwood West of I-5 too. Phinney Ridge is great if you can afford it.

[homesinseattle]

You could also live in a place like Columbia City, vibrant neighborhood with great light rail access to both downtown and UW. It is the other direction than what you asked about, just south of central Seattle, but would give you a very manageable commute.

[SquidneyGee]

Thank you, I will try to visit those cities to get a feel for the area. As much as I love visiting DT, I love my quite too, haha. I appreciate your suggestions!

[thatguy950]

Madison Park

[Gardyloo]

I live in the Ravenna district and am quite familiar with all the areas you listed.

I think that "quiet" is a relative term. Generally, anywhere within a block or so of the major arterial streets, like Roosevelt, NE 65th, 25th or 35th Avenues NE, and so on, are going to have good access to downtown and the UW. The City has upzoned (relentlessly) the areas around the light rail stations (Roosevelt, Northgate) so those areas are going become increasingly congested and busy; unfortunately (to me, others will disagree) Ballard is a model of what the City likes - high density, lots of pedestrian traffic, lively day and night.

In your circumstances I'd look at Maple Leaf, Bryant and Wedgwood, in the latter case a block or two off 35th Ave. NE. These are pleasant residential neighborhoods with good access to transit, shops and things to do. But picking a particular location will require you to visit at various times of day and night, just to get a feel of how things change over the course of a day or week. I'd also look around Laurelhurst and Children's Hospital, where there are pockets of affordable housing with great access to amenities.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by SquidneyGee

Thank you, I will try to visit those cities to get a feel for the area. As much as I love visiting DT, I love my quite too, haha. I appreciate your suggestions!

You are welcome, Squidney, though I should point out that the areas I've mentioned are neighborhoods in Seattle, not cities in their own right.

[CrazyDonkey]

Look for places near bus routes that feed into the UW ULink Station:

44: Wallingford, N. Fremont, Ballard
45: Roosevelt, Green Lake, Greenwood, Crown Hill, Loyal Heights
65: Bryant, Wedgwood, Meadowbrook, Lake City, Jackson Park
67: Roosevelt, Northgate
71: Roosevelt, Hawthorne Hills, View Ridge, Wedgwood
73: Roosevelt, Maple Leaf, Jackson Park
78: U Village, Children's Hospital
372: Ravenna, Wedgwood, Lake City, Lake Forest Park
373: Ravenna, Wedgwood, Jackson Park

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transpo...ules-maps.aspx

https://external-preview.redd.it/mBL...=webp&74ef65d7