Charming towns for a creative person (Seattle, Tacoma: theatres, university, to live in)

[jacqueg]

Vashon? Lots of million-dollar homes here. In fact, quite a few artists have left, because it’s getting too suburban.

I hate to tell you this, but I don’t think what you’re looking for is to be found in Washington. In fact, I can’t imagine where it might exist. Because suburbia and free-wheeling artists just don’t tend to go together. Once the wealthier folks start moving into an arty community, the artists start to leave.

[ndcairngorm]

The OP wants an up-market Mayberry, and wouldn't we all like that? Unfortunately I don't think it exists anymore, if it ever did.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

Vashon? Lots of million-dollar homes here. In fact, quite a few artists have left, because it’s getting too suburban.

I hate to tell you this, but I don’t think what you’re looking for is to be found in Washington. In fact, I can’t imagine where it might exist. Because suburbia and free-wheeling artists just don’t tend to go together. Once the wealthier folks start moving into an arty community, the artists start to leave.

actually.. there is a LOT of very successful "artist and suburbia" in a few other 'affordable' waterfront cities (as there has been for 150 yrs).

Milwaukee
Chicago
Detriot
Cleveland

WA... several options (Olympia is most predominant) but many MANY other nice choices.

For us 'farmers' / employers / businesses with many assets and employees... ... gentrification / SPRAWL / voter regulations / increased tax and reporting burdens...

We have to leave the state (requiring a few yrs and quite a few semi-trucks to move), then we start the process all over (building soils, orchards, buildings, water systems...) takes a couple generations to resettle and recover.

Fortunately we are very 'creative' (and stalwart)

[NW Crow]

If Issaquah was "too isolated" for you, I doubt you'd be happy in Vashon or Langley. Neither have easy access to the hills or mountains. If West Seattle is "too much", then maybe consider Olympia or put a different label on Edmonds. You might also consider Poulsbo or Gig Harbor.


If view from in house is super important, get a realtor and pay big to huge. If renting, find the most expensive place. May not be enough though. The greatest views generally will be occupied by multi-million dollar homes. The view from a nearby park may have to be enough, unless you are a super shopper and hunt out an exceptional case that isn't priced to the hilt for it. I found an affordable place on a lake with a Mt Rainier view (on good days) outside Olympia before, so it could be done. Or at least long ago it could.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

actually.. there is a LOT of very successful "artist and suburbia" in a few other 'affordable' waterfront cities (as there has been for 150 yrs).

Milwaukee
Chicago
Detriot
Cleveland

WA... several options (Olympia is most predominant) but many MANY other nice choices.

For us 'farmers' / employers / businesses with many assets and employees... ... gentrification / SPRAWL / voter regulations / increased tax and reporting burdens...

We have to leave the state (requiring a few yrs and quite a few semi-trucks to move), then we start the process all over (building soils, orchards, buildings, water systems...) takes a couple generations to resettle and recover.

Fortunately we are very 'creative' (and stalwart)

Few up-and-coming artists can afford suburban housing prices. If VAshon, with its high median housing prices is too rundown for this person, then I really cannot think of a single community in Washington that would meet the requirements of being arty and not rundown and not suburban.

The only place that comes to mind is Taos, and that is not in Washington. And actually, I haven’t been there in years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is more suburban now than it used to be.

[NW Crow]

There are subdivisions and satellite communities like Ranchos de Taos.




Taos itself, I consider mostly run down. Or at least the commercial downtown looks and feels that way. Of course there are expensive homes but there is more low end looking places than obvious high. There though the fancy is mostly on the inside.


Super high crime rates.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by pikabike

What the OP described is a strange kind of trustfunder town. Money, loads of free time yet not old/retired or “shabby.” Intolerantly liberal enough to disallow other political flavors yet NIMBY about having nonprivileged nonpretty people around. Safe yet devoid of any military or gun taint.

Affordability or job market was never mentioned. Maybe OP can establish his or her very own Bubble Town filled with clones desperately trying to pass as creatives.

Every genuinely creative hotbed I’ve ever been in has plenty of messy or weird people in it. Goes with the territory...

This wishlist town sounds like a very conformist group, not creative.

Santa Fe and Taos, NM, are trustfunder towns. Santa Fe is nicknamed "The Trust Fund Capital of America", and it, and Taos, check the OP's boxes. OTOH, there are plenty of non-trust-fund towns in CA that check the boxes, too. But they're expensive.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by NW Crow

There are subdivisions and satellite communities like Ranchos de Taos.




Taos itself, I consider mostly run down. Or at least the commercial downtown looks and feels that way. Of course there are expensive homes but there is more low end looking places than obvious high. There though the fancy is mostly on the inside.


Super high crime rates.

Taos' downtown? I don't see it as rundown. It's kind of disguised, by the quaint adobe architecture, that's the thing. People tend to find it charming. I agree re: Ranchos de Taos, too.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

Few up-and-coming artists can afford suburban housing prices. If VAshon, with its high median housing prices is too rundown for this person, then I really cannot think of a single community in Washington that would meet the requirements of being arty and not rundown and not suburban.

The only place that comes to mind is Taos, and that is not in Washington. And actually, I haven’t been there in years, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is more suburban now than it used to be.

Might need to be more 'creative' in your thinking.

There are a LOT of towns in WA and OR mentioned above that are "arty and not rundown and not suburban"

I don't find Taos at all 'suburban' (by it's very nature of not being anywhere near a metro area)

If I were looking for "arty and not rundown and not suburban", I could compile a list of 100 western USA towns in less than 1 hr.

[happygrrrl]

What you want doesn’t exist, maybe it did a long time ago, but not now.