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1. JamieLawless
   Member Profile

   My boyfriend and I are moving to West Seattle next month and we couldn't be more excited. We are moving to a lovely secure complex right on 35th. I've heard that this is a "bad" road/area, but it's a breeze to get to the bridge and downtown, there are cute shops a few blocks down, and I dont see anything wrong with the area. In fact... I think it's cute. At least where I am. I like the security of being on a busy road because our new place is easily (well kind of) accessable by a ladder, and I fear break-ins. Maybe it's all the shudders of disapproval from my Eastside/North Seattle co-workers, but suddenly I find myself worried about crime levels. GETTING TO THE POINT: I guess I'm just looking for any advice from those who live in the area. Should I invest in a security system? Could 35th really be *that* bad? I feel like punks would have less of a chance of breaking into a place on such a main road. Any insight would be comforting. Thank you!

   Posted 8 months ago #         

2. Diane
   Member Profile

   

   what part of 35th? it runs a long way, through many varied neighborhoods

   Posted 8 months ago #         

3. JamieLawless
   Member Profile

   We are moving to a building on 35th, north of Alaska ST. My main issue is that although the building is secure, our balcony could be accessed by ladder (although I'd imagine that would be quite the clumsy break-in). I think it would be considered the Fairmount Park neighborhood.

   Posted 8 months ago #         

4. SpeakLoud
   Member Profile

   When you get in your car and drive across from the North make sure a semi truck doesn’t hit you-cause that could happen. Oh and when you finish packing up the boxes try to remember to turn off the stove cause all your things could burn down in the fire you start-also a possibility.

   I guess what I am facetiously trying to say is shit happens-anywhere and everywhere. West Seattle is an incredible ‘hood. 35th is a busy street close to lots of great conveniences. Both the Morgan and the Alaska Junction offer shopping, dining, bars and parks as well as homeless, drug addicts and reckless drivers-just like everywhere else.. Oh and watch out for the bike riders.

   And WELCOME.

   Posted 8 months ago #         

5. JamieLawless
   Member Profile

   I know shit happens anywhere and everywhere. My co-workers just freaked me out a little (I don't want them to come over for drinks anyway!) The 3 times my car has been broken into ALL occurred while visiting the Eastside. I am in love with WS and just wanted to know if I *really* had anything to worry about other than potentially crazy traffic on days I'm not taking the bus. :)

   Posted 8 months ago #         

6. Diane
   Member Profile

   

   welcome Jamie; great area; it will be fine, in fact wonderful; Trader Joes will be within a block come about Feb too, which 1000's of us are very excited about

   Posted 8 months ago #         

7. Diane
   Member Profile

   

   and Rapid Ride will be going through there next year

   Posted 8 months ago #         

8. JoB
   Member Profile

   JamieLawless..

   when we moved to Seattle from Minnesota, my husband's new co-workers convinced him that anything on 35th or god forbid east of 35th and south of Thistle was a no man's land of high crime statistics... so we rented a house over on California overlooking the sound.

   When our lease was up, i found us a little house east of 35th bordering on Thistle and we couldn't be happier.

   if you are concerned about buglers coming over a balcony, put an off the shelf alarm on the patio door. I am guessing the only one who will set it off is you.. but you will sleep better for it:)

   facing 35th, did you get a view or are you too low for that? I guess it doens't much matter.. all you have to do is cross the street to the park to get one of the best downtown views :)

   Welcome to the hood.
   You are going to love it here.

   Posted 8 months ago #         

9. anonyme
   Member Profile

   I live on 35th south of Roxbuy in a neighborhood called Arbor Heights. If you were to ask non-West-Seattleites about the area, they'd probably tell you that living in such close proximity to White Center is a guarantee of being victimized by thieves, murderers, and drug addicts. The truth is, I've never has a single problem out here. On the other hand, when I lived on posh upper Queen Anne, my building was constantly hit by thieves, a guy tried to climb in my bedroom window one night, and an elderly neighbor was decapitated in her bed by an axe-wielding transient. Yes, the traffic noise is irritating, but so far no one has tried to cut off my head.

   Posted 8 months ago #         

10. JoB
    Member Profile

    anonyme...

    and let's hope it stays that way ;->

    Posted 8 months ago #         

11. LynB
    Member Profile

    To allay your concerns I suggest you have someone from the Seattle PD visit and/or you consider a security system.

    Welcome to West Seattle. We have lived here for 25 years and have truly enjoyed the sense of neighborhood. (Our home is for sale now that we are moving back East).

    Posted 8 months ago #         

12. EmmyJane
    Member Profile

    

    Hi Jamie - I've lived within a half mile of where you're moving for 6 years and it's a great neighborhood. When I first moved here I lived pretty close to there alone and always felt safe. Both my friend and I had decks accessible by ladder and never had any problems. If you want to invest in a security system, I'd highly recommend getting a Pittweiler (a Rottweiler/Pitt Bull mix) who always made me feel safe. :-)

    Also, the triangle area close to where you're moving is being developed.

    However, PLEASE convince your coworkers and friends that you constantly live in terror and make up some stories of break ins. It keeps the rumors alive and people out of West Seattle. :-)

    I absolutely love it here and hope you will too!

    Posted 8 months ago #         

13. celeste17
    Member Profile

    

    Hi Jamie,
    I have lived in West Seattle all my life and I live really close to where you are moving and I can tell you we have had three break ins/walk ins in 47 years. Once they walked into our garage when everyone was home and took some bikes. A couple of times they just happened to come by when I forgot to lock my back door. Crime happens no matter where you go, so just be happy with the area and feel secure.

    Welcome

    Posted 8 months ago #         

14. WSB
    Member Profile

    

    What they all said. Only one thing, that's not Fairmount Park. The Triangle, if you're right there BY Alaska on 35th ...

    We've been tracking crime, by request - when I left TV, it was the last thing I wanted to report on, but it's of high interest to people, so Crime Watch was born - for a few years now. And it really can happen anywhere, but better yet, can NOT happen anywhere, too.

    We moved here from San Diego in 1991 and I too sought out some inside advice. At the time, the warning was "don't live anywhere east of California!" believe it or not. Ridiculous. We rented a Beach Drive condo for the first two years -- about as far WEST of California as you can get - and that's the only place in all this time that crime has happened to us. We're technically east of California now, but not by much - and having come to know the many neighborhoods of West Seattle since starting WSB, in much greater detail than before, we love and admire them all. (And also remember, no matter what anyone tells you, West Seattle is the ENTIRE peninsula, from the Duwamish River to Duwamish Head to the Arroyos to the city limits... TR

    Posted 8 months ago #         

15. JamieLawless
    Member Profile

    Thank you all for the insight and warm welcomes. We love West Seattle and are excited to host friends from out of town. We know that any of our friends who make the "insanely long" trip to our new neighborhood will love it too.
    JoB - We have a slight view, though the balcony isn't *quite* high enough. I know my neighbors have a great view.
    Emmy - No problem. ;) It's almost as if everyone I know thinks WS is some sort of island war-zone.

    Posted 8 months ago #         

16. Kevin
    Member Profile

    @JamieLawless - how do you feel about traffic noise? 35th as you have already seen is a major north south street in West Seattle. It even has a nickname of "I-35" because of all the speeders.

    Don't even think about crossing the street except at a light. The speed limit on 35th is 35, and yet 40-50 happens a lot!

    Posted 8 months ago #         

17. JoB
    Member Profile

    kevin..

    that end of 35th is generally slower because of the number of traffic lights..

    but Kevin is right.. take extra care crossing 35th on foot.

    Posted 8 months ago #         

18. Bostonman
    Member Profile

    I live right behind there on 47th, you will love the area. It can get a little noisy because of the bars around there but not violent. So many things to do.

    The only statement I will make is to your comment about being a breeze to the bridge and downtown. In WS there is no breeze downtown anymore. If I didn't have kids in school at Alki I would move back across the bridge because it takes so long to get to downtown during the week.

    Posted 8 months ago #         

19. 2 Much Whine
    Member Profile

    

    That's funny how two different people in relatively the same area have two opposing viewpoints regarding ease of access(notwithstanding differing political viewpoints). As long as I'm crossing the bridge before 6:45 AM it's generally a breeze. Getting home (from the South) is simalarly easy. All depends on the timing. I guess if I was trying to get off the peninsula at 8:00 AM I might have a MUCH different opinion. You will probably LOVE West Seattle. Many people do. BUT. . . . for every 10 people that are excited about Trader Joe's there's one that doesn't want them here. Living here isn't much different. Hopefully you end up having experiences that endear you to the community so you love it as much as most of us do! Welcome!

    Posted 8 months ago #         

20. Bostonman
    Member Profile

    I can't leave that early unfortunatly. If I had a job where I could show up early and leave early it wouldn't be bad but if you work normal 8 to 5 or so then you will be stuck. If I worked South I would have more options for getting to work. In my personal situation though I rarely ever need to go south and most of my driving is downtown and north to Greenlake.

    The community is definitely a keeper though. Well worth the move.

    Posted 8 months ago #         

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