My neighborhood (Highland Park) and WC in particular remind me of my hometown, which is right outside of Washington DC. Silver Spring, MD--which is ALSO an unincorporated area and used to have problems that make White Center's look mild by comparison. Several years ago the Discovery Channel took over a huge chunk of real estate near the Metro station and the character of the place changed pretty much overnight; in some ways for the better, in some ways for the worse.

Anyway, when I say this part of town reminds me of home, I mean that in a good way.

What you said, Zenguy! In my mind's eye WS inhabitants are as endearing, eccentric and independent as the characters portrayed in Northern Exposure.

Zenguy...

if that's the case.. i think i grew up here:)

Growing up here there definitely was some classism going on..."really, you live EAST of 35th?". White Center was called Rat City, probably not a term of affection.

But today I would not want to get along without White Center, where would I buy tacos from a truck or have fifteen Pho' restaurants to choose from or buy strange Chinese stuff in cans I can't even read?

As someone said earlier, West Seattle is more of a state of mind, a live and let live all are welcome kind of place.

Austin...

of course.. how silly of me not to notice:)

The person who originally added the tag has the ability to remove it, as well as admin, which I believe is the case with MMBH. While comforting, it had become admittedly off topic since it is now Tuesday morning.

what's up with the recylced tags?

i love the addition of poking bees nest of classism but really miss monday morning bong hits ...

and.. how did you do take that away?

Oh crap! I thought this was the Welsh Seaside Blog...no wonder the "Snowbacle" topics confused me.

Welcome mom2soren! My husband and I live on Delridge itself and always thought we lived in WS. Granted, we just bought over here in August so maybe we don't know anything. Whatever though, we love our neighborhood and our neighbors and welcome you as well! Hopefully we get a chance to meet one of these days!

lowmanbeach/TR #50 - My mistake. I got the years wrong. Thank You for the correction. I remember all three 2007 incidents that you mentioned, but somehow thought they took place in 2008. Time flies. Thankfully the homicide/murder rate in all of WS took a dive downwards for 2008. Let us hope that 2009 results are zero.

Oh that's right Jimmy G - I forgot the tags for this post were "attitude sucks" and "poking bee's nest of classism". Nice.

You all mean rUxbury! ;-)

Clarification to #48. Do you mean the three murders in 2007? There was only one West Seattle murder in 2008 - Tracey Creamer, killed by her husband before he killed himself, last spring, Highland Park (I believe near 4th/Roxbury).

The three 2007 homicides were at Cal-Mor Circle (California just north of Fauntleroy), 59th/Admiral, and 37th/Findlay.

I say "homicides" and not murders because the third case, the 59th/Admiral one, resulted in exoneration of the teenage defendant on grounds of self-defense (in a case covered extensively here on WSB, and inexplicably in my view, nowhere else).
http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=11616

Resolution of 37th/Admiral case:
http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=10069

Resolution of Cal-Mor Circle case:
http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=12391

Wes...same place I got my gardening degree.

She sounds pretty good. Where did she get her dog walking degree?

mellaw with all due respect it doesn't have to make a lick of sense to you at all the decision my dog walker has made in how she chooses to run her business.
She doesn't take any new clients as she has been full up for years, and she chooses not to work in certain areas of WS. Her choice which I support 110%.

Welcome to the 'hood Mom!

...and though WS is one of many neighborhoods that make up Seattle proper, I've viewed Delridge, Alki, the Junction, etc... to all be "neighborhoods" of West Seattle.

I'm moving to Delridge, which I guess is not WS according to the map. Little did I know this while living in North Seattle, since we on the mainland (or whatever you want to call it) consider anything over the bridge "West Seattle". Also, isn't the Duwamish river a natural boundary of sorts? And why does it even matter? I now consider WS my neighborhood, since it's 2 miles to the dog park, 2 miles to California ave, and about 2 miles to Alki. West Seattle is so small, and surrounds my house -- thus, isn't this also my neighborhood? It's where I'll shop, eat, play, send my kid to school, attend church, volunteer, etc... If I tell everyone over here in N.Seattle that I'm moving to Delridge, no one knows what that means -- so I just call it WS.

Here Here.....

Interesting that all three of the murders in 2008 that occurred on the area of land West of the Duwamish River took place on the historically purported 'good' side of 35th. That fact alone should put to rest all the B__l S__t divisiveness that apparently still lingers in some peoples minds. ALL the neighborhoods of West Seatle have different characteristics which make them unique and interesting and taken as a whole quite a special place.

JimmyG - with all due respect that makes no sense. There are pit bulls and aggressive dogs in every neighborhood and park in WS - I can understand maybe not going back to that specific location, but whole areas? Sorry, but I see it as an unfortunate tragic incident, not an event based on where you're walking. As a pet walker/sitter, I face that hazard with animals every day - it's part of the profession.

Mellaw I've had the same dog walker for over 10 years and would never give her up. She lives in WS, and won't walk in certain areas after she and a clients dog were attacked by a pit bull and both of them were hospitalized due to the attack.

Youngs on 16th oh yes its the fav hang out of the SPD also hahaha. So you know its a good spot!! I introduced a friend to mashiko's now she is there once a month. We could sell our house for a mint but I tell you why bother when I can't find another neighborhood like WS.

I agree Lex - Then don't forget Young's for their great omelets for breakfast and Mashiko's for the best Sushi in Seattle:) I always run into WS neighbors in both of those places;)

I tell you i try to keep our community a little secret..but I thought why be selfish everyone deserves to be as happy as we are here and also to gain the extra pounds...

Lex -

I so LOVE your community-building strategy = FOOD ACCESS!!! Not just food, but GOOD food. That'll get 'em every time. ;).

too funny. Once upon a time folks would turn their nose at the thought of West Seattle. The East Side was the place to be. Now all of a sudden its all the rage.....and I have to agree. its a little island if you wish. A tight community where we look out for each other and have such wonderful businesses. I literally don't have to leave WS for a good time, its all here. i love WS have lived her for 12 years (the husband grew up here and wanted to raise our children here). I welcome anyone that wants to join the community. Lets keep WS friendly and not elite. Lets redefine what it means to be a true community without excluding anyone. the one bad thing about WS is our amazing restaurants and bakeries...uggg Damn you Bakery Neauvou and your twiced baked almond Croissant and Baguette, damn you!!!!Jaks damn you and your amazing steaks..Zippys damn you and your cheese burgers....ok thats just my hips talking ..gosh I love WS....

JimmyG - then you should dump your pet walker and pick up someone local in WS who appreciates all the various 'hoods:)

KatHP - I'll walk your dog anytime and in any neighborhood:)

Ummm, has anyone read this Troll's tags for this posting?
W.S. Steve, get off your high horse. If you want elitism then pack up the old suv and head back across the lake to the Eastside.
We are all W.S. here.

Straight outta 21st and Roxbury ( still within city limits, but I can see the "Welcome to W.C." sign from my living room window.) Maybe I will go back to Toddinwestwood/S.Delridge

Has anyone else made the connection between White Center and the letters "WC"?

KatHP, my dog walker won't take clients in certain areas of WS.

I heart White Center and the only time I heard someone say W.S sucks was guy from the Eastside with frosted tipped hair and wearing pooka shells.

nuff said.

Arbor Heights, southside YO!

I always considered White Center to be a neighborhood of West Seattle, just based on it's proximity. I never thought it "sucked". I know it is its own little burg, under the umbrella of "King County".

Burien is its own city, and also does not "suck".

And I have never heard the words "West Seattle Sucks" come from anyone, ever.

Roxbury is the Seattle city limits line, so no. Neither are part of Seattle, west or otherwise. Whereas, the entire peninsula including Delridge, are with-in Seattle city limits with Seattle mailing addresses.

Okay, now it would be interesting to WEIGH the opinions against, where the homes are located, In or out?

I just hear people saying West Seattle sucks and then I figure out they were in White Center or Burien. And they were told it was West Seattle. Is Burien considered West Seattle?

Steve

<In West Seattle Zone>

I agree KatHP. As far as I'm concerned WS has always been from the tip of Alki down to and including White Center even though it straddles Roxberry.

Anything across the WS bridge is WS to me.

Sometimes we are not too original. Stay seated and we will rehash the Mayor, or dogs off leash, or WS bartenders, or, or, or...
Its a blog, its what we do. I'll see you at Jaks I guess, I too live near Westwood! Whoo Hoo!

This topic (and the fact that it seems to be rehashed time and time again) never ceases to amuse me. Is there some particular reason I am supposed to care about the distinction of who lives on what side of what street? Do I get a west-of-35th discount on dog-walking services or something if I live west of 35th? Do I get free pudding if I live near Lincoln Park? Or maybe a free dinner at Jak's if I live near Westwood Village?

Please, the suspense is killing me.

Disclaimer under the map linked above:

"The Seattle City Clerk's Office Neighborhood Map Atlas is designed for subject indexing of legislation, photographs, and other documents in the City Clerk's Office and Seattle Municipal Archives. It provides a way to increase consistency in the way geographic names are used and to allow precise retrieval of documents concerning neighborhood districts. It is not designed or intended as an "official" City of Seattle neighborhood map."

Mike

JoB, Unless I missed something this is the latest (Dec 22) that I've heard on the possible annexation:

"North Highline, one of the largest urban parts of King County that isn’t in a city, could be split between Seattle and Burien if the two city councils and voters decide that’s a good idea. Seattle would become the local government for White Center and neighboring communities in the northern portion of North Highline, and Burien would absorb Boulevard Park and other neighborhoods in the southern part. An estimated 33,400 residents would be affected.

The proposed boundary, tentatively agreed to this month by Seattle and Burien, would run mostly along South and Southwest 112th and 116th streets. The agreement defines how much territory each of the cities could annex through the end of 2011. After that, all bets are off."

There is a zig (or is it a zag) off of Roxbury. The city line is at Seola Beach Dr and 106th. The area west and north of there, while still "south of Roxbury" is inside City limits (Arbor Heights).

Even if I did the Monday morning bong hits, I'd still wake up in W. Seattle - kind of like a "Groundhog Day" syndrome:)

bayou.. if i read the latest discussion correctly, it is more likely that white center will be incorporated into burien... though it will be an odd incorporation with the Roxbury boundary down the middle of town...

I personally don't consider myself any less of a West Seattlite for not living west of 35th or north of Roxbury. I wonder how the boundaries will change if/when White Center is incorporated into Seattle. It is a strange border to say the least.

hmmm...well, I vote AH in! That White Center/WS line is so confusing. Typically inconsistent - AH Elementary is in the "WS South Cluster" isn't it? I'm back to it being a state of mind :)

mrhineh, only point of reference I have is the Youngstown Arts Center that is on Delridge, basically across the street from the community center & park.

OK, I'll bite. Where is Youngstown (besides OH)? I prefer to think of Alki as the Hermosa Beach of WS :)

GHO -

I'm not 100% certain, but I think that the city/county line jags a bit at the AH hood. It also jags off a straight line on Roxbury around Meyer's Way.

Roxbury, lowmanbeach? No Arbor Heights in that definition?

WS IS a state of mind -

*waving to k who provides us w/Palm Springs-WS comparisons* :)
Thanks for not rubbing it in (the weather) these last couple of weeks!

Anyone else here checking in from "off site"?