West Seattle to Bellevue ... is that doable? (White Center: safe area, public schools)

[mrape]

Hi,

I will move to the Seattle area soon. Work in Belleveue, but probably living in West Seattle (White Center). Is that good location (safe, quiet,...). How would be commuting to Bellevue/Factoria?

Peter

[west seattle gal]

Just quick questions, but 1) are you sure you want to live in White Center?, 2) how long do you want to spend in the commute?, and 3) what are your work hours? Though there can be quieter neighborhoods around White Center, and it is seeing a minor revitalization, it is generally not known as a safe area. Do you have kids? I LOVE West Seattle, but would not raise my family long-term around Delridge Way or much below SW Holden St. The best areas of West Seattle are around the juntions (Morgan, Alaska, and Admiral), and the Northern and NE portions. Basically, any area found in these school zones: Gatewood, Lafayette, Alki, and Schmitz Park. The other school zones must be looked at on a case-by-case basis, for they have good and sketchy parts:

http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1583136/File/Maps/boundarymaps/pdfs/Denny_Adopted.pdf?sessionid=10f207600f1902f2a12212 d3081731e1 (broken link)

Here is a great blog to better understand West Seattle and White Center:
http://westseattleblog.com/white-center
http://whitecenternow.com/categories/crime/
http://www.westseattleherald.com/201...-now-available

From West Seattle to Bellevue, you will absolutely not want to take 520 on the return trip. It can be a parking lot, and the HOV lane requires at least 3 people in the car. I90 is probably your best bet. The drive to Bellevue is sometimes a real pain in the butt in terms of time (about an hour during peak times, worse if there is a traffic accident), but at least you'll have the gorgeous scenery to look at (that's my consolation). Many people here try to van-pool in order to use the HOV lanes:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/employees/Transportation/Vanpool.aspx (broken link)

[Ira500]

I like White Center, and parts of it are safer and nicer than other, but a commute from White Center to Factoria would be brutal.
Why White Center? If I were working in downtown Seattle and looking for an inexpensive neighborhood to live in, I'd consider White Center, especially if public schools weren't an issue. But if I were working in Factoria, I'd rule it out due to the painful, stressful commute.

[sean98125]

They'll probably start tolling I-90 in 2012 so keep that in mind.

[Hemlock140]

If you have kids and need good schools live near work in Bellevue. If no kids then White Center is one of the more affordable areas of Seattle (for good reasons) but not really bad for a single person. Though better than a few years ago, I would still not call it safe and quiet. Bellevue has affordable areas up east of 148th from Northup to I90.

That evening reverse commute from West Seattle can be brutal, I90 is backed up from Bellevue way all the way in starting about 4pm.

[Inkpoe]

Also the West Seattle bridge can also be notoriously unreliable. If there's an accident or something, then it gets *really* bad. My friend once was stuck on the bridge for 2 hours (there was some government inspection with the Mayor and other bigwigs there). You'll probably end up foregoing the West Seattle bridge and using the Michigan st. exit which will definitely be crowded until you get into White Center.

Beacon Hill, Columbia City and Capital Hill would be better Seattle location options.

[Vinylly]

It's doable and perhaps millions are doing it already, -that's the big problem, millions are doing it already, so, expect a nasty commute. However, avoid White Center, this is not a very good area to live.