WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS

When choosing a new neighborhood it is important to drive around at night and by day to really get a feel for the area.  It is also perfectly acceptable to talk to the neighbors that live in a neighborhood you are exploring.  Neighbors can be a fantastic resource as they have no stake in whether or not you buy a home and will be candid with you about what living there is like.

Admiral

Ahoy! This West Seattle neighborhood has it all, including convenience to downtown by way of the free DART shuttle to the Water Taxi and the West Seattle Bridge.  Close to Alki Beach and the shopping and dining excellence on California Avenue. This neighborhood is in a view sandwich with the Sound on one side and views of downtown on the other, with every amenity easily available at the Admiral Junction. Be sure to drive the Scenic Drive 4 route down California. Click through the photo of the Admiral Theatre for more photos from the Admiral Neighborhood.

Alaska Junction

Home of the Year Round West Seattle Farmer's Market! Browse the records at Easy Street and have a top notch breakfast while you're there. Stop by Cupcake Royal for their delicious Happy Hour. Getting anywhere in West Seattle is a breeze from this neighborhood, although you would have no need for a car as the Junction is the 39th most walkable neighborhood in Seattle with a Walk Score of 75. Alaska Junction has mostly condominium buildings with some town homes and fewer still single family homes.  Because the area is so convenient and desirable there is a good amount of development happening in this area, much of it new rental housing and retail space. Manny of the higher floor units in this area have sound views, and quite a few of the buildings in the neighborhood offer owners the opportunity to access the view from common roof decks. Click through the picture of Easy Street Records for more photos of the Alaska Junction Neighborhood.

Alki

Life's a beach in this Sound side neighborhood. All year round neighbors enjoy biking and walking along the beach. Alki has the solitude and quiet of a beach town during the winter months and the hustle and bustle of weekend long Volleyball tournaments on the beach to watch during the Summer months. This neighborhood is home to some of West Seattle's best restaurants including some of my favorites. The Alki neighborhood isn't all new expensive condominiums it is definitely has an eclectic mix of wonderful 100+ year old beach cabins as well. Click through Alki Beach photo above for more photos of the Alki Neighborhood.

Arbor Heights

There are still plenty of streets in Arbor Heights with no sidewalks. It's easy to forget you are in the City in this neighborhood. Neighbors like to call 509 their secret highway because it's rarely backed up, and it is very convenient. A short drive along Marine View Drive leads down to Endolyne Joe's restaurant and a few other local eateries. Westwood Village is only a mile north and it offers grocery stores, gyms, clothing stores and any other amenities you might need.  Also, for those in the market for a Mid-Century home this neighborhood has a very high concentration of homes built between 1945-1965 in West Seattle. Many of the homes built in this neighborhood were built as a place for the Boeing employees to live. Click through the picture of Arbor Heights School above for more photos of the Arbor Heights Neighborhood.

Arroyo

Arroyo Heights is known for its views. Views take in Vashon Island, Blake Island, Mount Rainier, and more. Many streets have underground wiring. The homes often feature generously sized lots. Westwood Village Shopping Mall, is about ten minutes away. 

Down the road from Arroyo Heights, you’ll find Arroyo Beach. This is a residential community (no shops at this end of the beach).

One huge bonus of living in The Arroyos is the proximity to natural areas. The areas create a buffer against traffic and development, while helping to preserve the quiet of the neighborhood. Seola Park is to the east. Click through the photo with view of Mt. Rainier above for more photos of the Arroyo Neighborhood.

Beach Drive

Is just up the beach from Alki and certainly features a much quieter night life with homes on both sides of beach drive many with private beach access. Folks interested in this neighborhood should check out the Beach Drive Neighborhood Blog.

The view can't be beat even on a cloudy day in Seattle, there are several public beach access paths or barbeque at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and enjoy the view.  Grab a bite to eat at La Rustica Italian Restaurant in the Summer you can get a peak-a-boo view and some wonderful fresh seafood.

Belvidere

 If you are looking for a home with a view, Belvidere is the place to be. Homes in Belvidere offer spectacular views of Sound and City, often at a fraction of what it costs in Bellevue or Queen Anne.

Delridge

This neighborhood near by the Duwamish waterway has a very active association of homeowners who organize a Delridge Day Festival each Summer. There is lots to do nearby including a skate park and community college.

Fairmount

Has a great residential feel and a Walk Score of 73. Fairmount features 3 arterials (California Avenue, Fauntleroy Way, and 35th Avenue) filled with amenities.

Fauntlee Hills

Its western border merges into the Fauntleroy neighborhood, which goes down to Fauntleroy Cove and the Fauntleroy Ferry dock. Many all of the homes here were built in the 1950s and early 1960s. Fauntlee Hills has many brick homes. About a mile away is 135 acre Lincoln Park, one of the largest parks in Seattle. Lincoln Park has hiking paths, bike trails, picnic and play areas, a long beach path. The park is also home to Colman Pool, a heated outdoor saltwater pool. Colman Pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Fauntleroy

Just across the street from the Fauntleroy ferry dock, a viewpoint above a wooded ravine Fauntleroy Creek winds through salmon come to fry every Spring

Stretching from Lincoln Park to Arbor Heights in West Seattle is an overwhelmingly residential community. Its business area consists of just a few small businesses up the street from the ferry dock.  A couple of restaurants including Endolyne Joe's a bakery and a dog-grooming spa.

Gatewood

Proximity to businesses means less commuting for all your daily errands. However, for those in Western Gatewood, travel into the city can take a little bit longer due to distance from arterial streets.  This does keep traffic noise down for home owners in the area.

Genesse Hill

Centrally located in West Seattle Genesee Hill rises high above Puget Sound, a collection of Mid-Century bungalows and newer multistory homes. The 53-acre preserve Schmitz Park is near Genesee Hill's northern border. Pride of ownership is evident in the neighborhoods well maintained yards.

High Point

Is a neighborhood near Delridge. It is aptly named because it contains the highest point in Seattle at the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street is 520 feet above sea level. The neighborhood is located on the east side of 35th Ave SW, with approximate north and south boundaries at SW Juneau Street and SW Myrtle Street. It is also home to newer mixed income housing. High Point is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods.

Highland Park

A neighborhood of modest sized homes with the average median home size  being 1,300 Sq. Ft.  This is a very residential area, but it is within close proximity to the shops and restaurants in White Center. Located within the Highland Park neighborhood is Westcrest Park it  is a sprawling 81 acres with four miles of hiking trails, picnic sites a playground and off-leash dog area.

Pigeon Point

A small neighborhood, on a hill, Pigeon Point is a lovely green oasis located between two small industrial areas. The homes in this neighborhood feature a variety of architectural styles, and the neighbors who live here are proud of their annual gardens tour.  This neighborhood enjoys green space on the east, north, and south edges of the neighborhood that feature, wildlife habitat, and great walking trails. This neighborhood is convenient to public transportation, and minutes from amenities in downtown Seattle and within West Seattle.

Puget Ridge

Is a Planned Residential Development, where residences are clustered around common areas. Puget Ridge was built in 1994. The Craftsman-style, cedar-sided houses range from 650 to 1,800 square feet; nobody has a yard of their own. Instead, walkways connect the common courtyards and lawns. 

Puget Ridge is co-housing here is a quote from www.pudgetridge.net. "Here at Puget Ridge, we own our own homes and can find quiet and privacy there. But our site is designed to support our intention to share many aspects of our lives — gardening, cooking, eating, celebrating, and watching our children grow up together. Learn more about who we are."

Puget Ridge's financial structure operates much like a condominium complex, where most residents own their homes and pay their own mortgages.Common dues pay for the property's utility bills and upkeep, and residents divide into committees to take care of common area maintenance like gardening.

Seaview

This neighborhood's most defining characteristic is of course the views of Puget Sound.  Homes in Seaview however are quite affordable when compared to other waterfront view homes in the area. Seaview is bordered by Puget Sound to the west, the Alki and Genesee neighborhoods to the north, Fairmount Park to the east, and Gatewood to the south. Seaview is a quiet neighborhood, making it popular with retirees.

Shorewood

Is a neighborhood that is part Burien and Part West Seattle. Many of the homes in Shorewood were built for Boeing Executives.  The homes there feature great views and for a small yearly fee there is private beach access for the residents of Shorewood on the Sound.

South Park

Is a riverfront neighborhood and home to working Marra Farm. The South Park Community Center offers numerous activities that are open to the public, including recreation and sports, senior, and after school activities. Parks provide open space, including the Duwamish Waterway Park, Cesar Chavez Park, South Park Playground, and Marra-Desimone Park, and River City Skate Park.

Westwood

A great place to live, you will get a lot of house for less money. The neighborhood is friendly and only minutes from downtown, making this an ideal place if you commute to downtown for work. Buying a home in Westwood is a smart investment into the future of the neighborhood. Westwood is rapidly growing, with a Barnes and Noble, Bed,Bath and Beyond and many other stores moving to Westwood Village the past 5 years. Move into a home in Westwood now and watch the neighborhood grow and transform.

White Center

White Center is a diverse and unique community located through two jurisdictions: unincorporated King County, and the City of Seattle. White Center was a historic streetcar-era suburb, and has retained much of the original construction dating from 1912-1933. Due to a large amount of affordable, small commercial spaces and the affordability of nearby housing, White Center has become a destination for immigrants and refugees who arrived, settled, established businesses, and raised families.

BURIEN NEIGHBORHOODS:

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