mikemrtz wrote:
Facing the possibility of having to move to the Seattle area. More than likely working downtown on or around 2nd street.South of Pike Place Market. I am from the SF Bay area but have lived in the midwest the last 13 years. Any recommendations on locations. So far I have looked at Renton, Bellevue, Issaquah and Auburn. Looking to rent a house versus buying for now.
Does anyone have feedback on those locations. Mass transit, schools (Middle school). Weather and anything else positive or negative?
Working downtown is a bit of a traffic nightmare but manageable in right location.
Cross Renton and Auburn off your list. The 405 heading north to I-90 then downtown is a nightmare, as is getting home.
Issaquah - heavily built up over the past few years, which means a lot of surface street traffic, small home lots, and a continuously longer commute on I-90 getting downtown. Could be made manageable by bus, which does have direct routes. Decent schools and relatively cheaper suburb. A Pro is you are 30 minutes from Snoqualmie Pass for skiing. Good biking around and MTB'ing
Bellevue - expensive, but manageable if you are looking to rent a Condo. Try to get into Chinook Middle School zoning. You would go over 520 bridge, which is a toll bridge so ~$4.50 each way and pay for parking downtown. If you live there I would recommend bus. Multiple go downtown. Bellevue has a decent downtown with restaurants, lake front, etc. Also look at Downtown Kirkland, which is similar. Good road riding.
Ballard is a Seattle suburb that is not on the eastside and has a more community feel and a little less expensive than other parts of Seattle and might be an easier commute for you. Its hyper-liberal so any school your child goes to will get BLM t-shirt monday, white privilege, yada yada yada. Ballard is also pretty bad for cycling.