What to know about Mount Vernon? (Seattle, Vancouver: crime rate, co-op, new house)

[CapitalBat]

My husband and I are fleeing the Seattle-sprawl and soaring rents to settle in Mount Vernon. I read through their 2016 city vision and plan and it appears to be dedicated to managed, sustained growth in both industry and housing, while still focusing on retaining the charm of its small town feel.

But that’s just what it seems like to an outsider - what’s going on there nowadays? What should we know about neighborhoods? City council? I assume the weather pretty much the same? Upcoming developments or projetcs we should be aware of?

We are mid-30s, child-free, and I work from home, so we have a lot of flexibility. Thank you!

[Seacove]

Small town, lot of tulips.

[CapitalBat]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Small town, lot of tulips.

Ah, I love the tulips!

What is the downtown area like in the evenings? Are the community groups - the ones organizing the art walks and the like - having a significant and positive impact on the community? How does it compare to Sedro Wooley?

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by CapitalBat

Ah, I love the tulips!

What is the downtown area like in the evenings? Are the community groups - the ones organizing the art walks and the like - having a significant and positive impact on the community? How does it compare to Sedro Wooley?

I've only gone to see the Tulip Festival that happens in April every year. I think that is a big contributor to their economy considering they have tulips on their bridge, tulip road signs, tulips painted on various structures in town. Otherwise, it's a pretty small town that looks nice around the main arterials but looks older the further you get from I-5.

TULIP FESTIVAL

http://tulipfestival.org/events

http://tulipfestival.org/brochure

[Hemlock140]

With only 31,000 people you may have to wait to get a response from a resident. We also go to see the tulips most years, and always stop for breakfast there at the Calico Cupboard when driving up to B.C. We also considered Mt. Vernon, for retirement, but the crime rate seems pretty high there. We have found that cheaper home prices are always for a reason. The climate is very similar, a bit less rain, and a little warmer in summer. If you have never been there during the tulip festival, the traffic on I5 in town and that whole area is a nightmare on weekends.

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by CapitalBat

Ah, I love the tulips!

What is the downtown area like in the evenings? Are the community groups - the ones organizing the art walks and the like - having a significant and positive impact on the community? How does it compare to Sedro Wooley?

I'd guess downtown is pretty quiet in the evenings. Pretty much everything is closed by 6:00, except for some of the restaurants and Lincoln Theater (https://www.lincolntheatre.org/). There's a nice path where you can walk along the river. There are concerts and plays at the college, which isn't downtown.

The recent big accomplishment was the much-needed new jail; hopefully that will change the catch-and-release practice that law enforcement has had to use.

Mount Vernon has a plan, which the county is getting involved in, to build a new library. The Sedro-Woolley library and a county library just merged and will be building a new library.

Here's an article about a current plan for part of Mount Vernon: https://www.goskagit.com/news/mount-...08ac7dd0d.html

There's a daily newspaper, the Skagit Valley Herald.

Mount Vernon has a lot of thrift stores.

Mt. V. and Sedro-Woolley both have seasonal farmers' markets.

Sedro-Woolley doesn't have much now, but they're trying. If you like to go to a real barber, they have several of those. It's also the chainsaw carving capital of the world, with a loggerodeo to showcase it. http://www.loggerodeo.org/

Burlington, just across the river from Mount Vernon, has an outlet mall and a dying mall. In June they have a Berry Dairy Days celebration and parade.

ETA: The thirty-somethings that I know are raising children and/or riding horses. I don't know what the rest of the population is doing.

[bartonizer]

Originally Posted by CapitalBat

My husband and I are fleeing the Seattle-sprawl and soaring rents to settle in Mount Vernon. I read through their 2016 city vision and plan and it appears to be dedicated to managed, sustained growth in both industry and housing, while still focusing on retaining the charm of its small town feel.

But that’s just what it seems like to an outsider - what’s going on there nowadays? What should we know about neighborhoods? City council? I assume the weather pretty much the same? Upcoming developments or projetcs we should be aware of?

We are mid-30s, child-free, and I work from home, so we have a lot of flexibility. Thank you!

I'm curious, why not consider Bellingham? It's a much livelier, more happening place, especially for child-free mid-30 somethings. It's much more progressive than Mt. Vernon, has a major university that keeps things fresh and complements- not dominates- the cityscape. That's not to say that it's all negative down there- there's a nice little downtown with new things popping up somewhat regularly. And as people get priced out of Bellingham, there are more and more people moving to Skagit County-of course, it's all relative if you're coming from Seattle. Anyway, Skagit is definitely a little bit more country and a lot more red. It is, however, conveniently located with quick access to NCNP and the islands/ferry. But day in/day out, IMHO the aesthetics of town and cultural cachet of Bellingham are worth the premium, not to mention that it's much easier to meet other well-educated, child-free couples in their 30's and beyond.

[CapitalBat]

Originally Posted by bartonizer

I'm curious, why not consider Bellingham? It's a much livelier, more happening place, especially for child-free mid-30 somethings. It's much more progressive than Mt. Vernon, has a major university that keeps things fresh and complements- not dominates- the cityscape. That's not to say that it's all negative down there- there's a nice little downtown with new things popping up somewhat regularly. And as people get priced out of Bellingham, there are more and more people moving to Skagit County-of course, it's all relative if you're coming from Seattle. Anyway, Skagit is definitely a little bit more country and a lot more red. It is, however, conveniently located with quick access to NCNP and the islands/ferry. But day in/day out, IMHO the aesthetics of town and cultural cachet of Bellingham are worth the premium, not to mention that it's much easier to meet other well-educated, child-free couples in their 30's and beyond.

When we started making offers on houses six months ago we were actually considering Bellingham, but by the time we got an offer accepted we’d effectively been priced out of it as you mentioned (first time buyers). We will definitely be doing a fair share of our socializing there.

But I am physically disabled and living within walking distance of a small and pedestrian-friendly downtown was a top priority for us. Once that become financially out of reach in Bellingham we had to get creative! I’m hoping that the S Kincaid subarea plan and the future phases for three other areas around it - within which our new house is located - will make MV ultimately an ideal community for me to be able to access. With two (or is it three?) new breweries that just opened up and in the top 5 of the VEROS report for both of the past quarters, I have hope it won’t stay too red for long. I have to say, however, I’ve really liked the people I’ve met there - exchanges feel more authentic than they do Seattle and everyone has been very genuine and kind. We are really looking forward to getting to know Skagit and Whatcom.

[pnwguy2]

Mount Vernon is quite pleasant. But it also attracts lower income residents. Nice access to both Seattle and Vancouver BC, but I don't get that many commute to either. Someday, with an expansive transit system, it might be worth your while, but transit today isn't an option. Living in this area today would require working in Everett, Arlington, or even Bellingham.

[west seattle gal]

Mount Vernon downtown has some really great businesses popping up, and a nice community feel. I ate at the co-op today, was an ideal morning for this ex-Seattlelite. We've seen a few productions at the theater & eaten at the brewery a gazillion times (nachos with brisket are just the best). C3 has perfect espresso and locally smoked ham on fresh baked bread. Moving proximal to that downtown is a smart purchase, it will only grow as Seattle pours outward.