South King County is Really Impoving! (Seattle, Bellevue: apartments, lease, condo)

[la_fuerza]

I've been living in the South End down by the airport for a few months now. I wanted to buy a condo in Seattle Proper but I couldn't afford it, so I bought one in the South End. I think it was a really good decision because the whole area is rapidly improving, and when the light rail starts running I think it will get even better! There is new development all over, from Renton to Tukwila and even Burien. I took some pictures with my digital camera. Seattle and Bellevue are spreading south. Is there anyone who feels the same way I do?

Downtown Burien



Tukwila Light Rail Station



Renton Landing

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8832/landing1qf0.jpg (broken link)







Westfield Southcenter

[Ira500]

Is there anyone who feels the same way I do?

I do. It's especially true in Renton and in Burien, where the types of businesses have been transformed. Both of those cities now have wine bars and nice restaurants.
Yes, there are parts of the South end where crime still exists and where most people wouldn't feel comfortable hanging out. But there are other parts that have a lot going for them in a good way.

[jinj]

When you posted "south", I looked, but I consider most of these place in mid or north King county. I don't go north of Kent.

[la_fuerza]

Originally Posted by jinj

When you posted "south", I looked, but I consider most of these place in mid or north King county. I don't go north of Kent.

I'm sorry you limit yourself like that because you are missing out on alot of great areas. As far as where these cities are located, to many of us who come from Seattle proper, cities like Burien, Tukwila and Renton are considered south. The realtors websites even list them as South King County. And people who are relocating to Seattle or Bellevue would definitely consider these areas south.

My point is that this whole 405-518 corridor is booming as some of the affluence spreads south from Seattle and Bellevue. I was shopping at the Trader Joes in Burien and there were hippie types with dreadlocks like you would find in Seattle. There is a more educated, worldly demographic coming this way and I think it will have a great impact on what these areas turn into.

As far as down way south, I think that area is improving too. I'm especially impressed by the Lakeland Hills development in Auburn. That area has great potential. They just need to widen the roads that go from the development to the freeway.

[Brandon26pdx]

Renton has always given me the heebie geebies for some reason. Then you north into the Rainier valley and it gets even uglier.

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by jinj

When you posted "south", I looked, but I consider most of these place in mid or north King county. I don't go north of Kent.

The Kent valley has pretty much always seemed like a toilet to me too.

[Hesster]

Are those buildings in Renton the ones over by Fry's and Boeing? Wonder where people who are going boating on Lake Washington are parking now?

Oh, and on a side note...


YouTube - Cops in Kent Almost Live

[drewba]

Originally Posted by Hesster

Are those buildings in Renton the ones over by Fry's and Boeing? Wonder where people who are going boating on Lake Washington are parking now?

Correct, the Landing was built on old parking lots and surplus Boeing land. There is quite a bit of trailer parking at Coulon Beach, but maybe not enough.

Speaking of the Landing, it looks nice, but the lease rate still seems very low. I think that all of the big box stores (Target, Joe's, PetSmart (or is it Petco?)) are in place, but very few of the smaller shops have anything in them. The apartments are taking a long time to build as well. The economic slowdown definitely appears to be having an impact.

[seamama]

la_fuerza: Thanks for posting this! I feel the same way. We kind of ended up here b/c it was the best we could do when we bought in 2004 (hubby works in Issaquah so we wanted to be reasonably close to there but couldn't afford Bellevue or even Issaquah). But now I'm feeling like I really "picked a good one" as Renton is getting pretty nice. The Landing does have a lot of big box stores but honestly, I was very happy to see that b/c it was annoying to go to Tukwila or Factoria for them. I do like that they are trying to sprinkle in smaller outfits there, too, though... a wine place, a frozen yogurt place, and I think a sushi place even. Rumors of a Trader Joes, too, but I don't know about that one. (If you want to see them put one in here though, please contact them via their website and tell them to think about it!)

[MaikeerinWA]

There is no doubt that the bad economy has slowed openings at the Landing, but I love having the big boxes nearby, and also the nice new movie theater.

I'm pretty excited about the news reports (Seattle PI) that Uwajimaya is looking at opening up a new store at the old Renton Thriftway site on Grady Way.

I heard a rumor at work - and that may be all it is - that Trader Joe's is eyeing the recently closed QFC location in Fairwood.