Where to Live, Commute, Schools, etc. (Seattle, Redmond: homes, neighborhood, new construction)

[yabbadoobie]

Considering moving to Seattle from Bay Area. I have 3 kids, 8,6 and 1, and would like to live in a more urban setting. I've been told viewrdige area would be a good place for us, but am concerned about schools and commute to Redmond.

I would welcome input on a good place for us to given the importance of schools and commute, yet still the ability to be tied in to city activity and setting. Budget is about $1mil, although we'd like to spend less.

Finally, any comment on the transition from sunny CA (peninsula) versus Seattle?

Thanks!

[jwb123]

Since school is an issue, and you will be commuting into Redmond, I would recommend you stick to looking in Redmond, Sammamish, Woodinville and Issaquah. You will find a vast quality of life difference in just commute alone, by sticking to these areas.

Commuting from Seattle, into Redmond is maddening. You are commuting over a two lane (2 lanes both ways) bridge across the water, which is maybe 16 miles but will frequently take over an hour, with often, "stop" traffic in which you will sit (unless you travel HOV) for severe long periods of time.

After the bridge, it opens up again, until you get closer into to Redmond, in which it goes down to a one lane road (one lane in either direction), which will again, leave you stopped, sitting. Endlessly.

The quality school districts in these areas far out weight anything you would find east, north or south.

In particular, the "Education Hill" area of Redmond is a really nice area, which is suburban, but sits up the hill from the "downtown" area of Redmond - which I personally really like. It is not a "city", like living in Seattle - but it's "city-like" and Redmond has done a nice job in keeping it walkable, and worth going to.

You can find new construction over there (I like Burnstead as a quality builder) I think, ranging in the $800k+++ and resale between $500k-700k (ish)

[jwb123]

I am not even sure where View Ridge is?? Anyone else?

On the weekends, the commute into Seattle for an activity, etc will be easy.

[jwb123]

Oh, found View Ridge on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/View_Ri...le,_Washington

Yes, it's a nice area - it will be a difficult commute though. I had to go to the Sand Point Way area often, to visit the Children's Hospital - it's pretty out of the way.

In addition to bridge and hwy commute issues - you have to deal with UW traffic... (also over a one lane draw bridge, which goes up through out the day) and fall game days? Forget it.

[scirocco22]

I can't add much more ...Jen's said it all.

A Viewridge to Redmond commute is one that I wouldn't want to tackle daily.

I agree, I'd try to stay on the eastside. Good schools. And closer to work = more time to spend with those 3 kids.

Oh, one thing Jen said that's not quite correct but still doesn't get away from what she's trying to emphasize, the Montlake bridge has more than just one lane.


Thanks.

--'rocco

[jwb123]

One lane each direction, isn't it? Maybe it's two...

Either way, it sucks!

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

One lane each direction, isn't it? Maybe it's two...

Either way, it sucks!

Yeah, two NARROW lanes in each direction.

But we knew what point you were trying to get across.


Thanks.

--'rocco

[Grittlebit]

you can reach the children's hospital coming in from woodinville

Grittlebit

[Grittlebit]

you do not go near the stadium or the montlake bridge if you locate in woodingville
Grittlebit

[jwb123]

Do you mean coming down Bothell way? In my opinion, that's even more convoluted. It's stop light (stop and go) traffic almost the whole time.

The Sand Point/View Ridge area is just kind of an odd little pocket neighborhood, that's desirable because of Magnusen Park and cute homes, an Urban suburb... like Ballard, but also like Ballard, difficult to easily commute to.