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(19 posts)

What's it like living in Burien?

Started 2 years ago by pd245
Latest reply from dawsonct

pd245
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Hi there: I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has lived near Old Town/ Three Tree Point in Burien, or knows anyone who has, and what they thought about it. I dont know anyone who has lived there, and Ive found nothing on the Internet. The things I love about it are the views, the affordability, and the quiet. The things I don't love about it are that the shopping isn't great (no PCC), Ambaum reminds me of 99 with the car dealerships, and we'd miss being West Seattlites!

The reason we're considering moving is that we've seen quite a few really beautiful houses with Sound views that are relatively affordable - we seem to find more houses that we like there. It's also quiet and beachy.

Anyone love living there? Anyone regret ever living there?

Thanks so much!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
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Burien is great! Like West Seattle the people are very friendly. They also have a great farmer's market on Thursdays, a brand new library and great shopping.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
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Burien also has the best Veterinary Clinic, and great Mexican restaurants & groceries. I have a feeling that Burien will be the next undiscovered gem of real estate.

Posted 2 years ago #
saney
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dont forget...they have a trader joe's!

Posted 2 years ago #
pd245
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Thank you so much! These are words of encouragement. I do appreciate your opinions.

have heard other people say the city is pouring (or was pouring) money into Burien to make improvements. Hopefully the economic downtown won't affect that.

Posted 2 years ago #
celeste17
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You can also check out the B-Townblog.com site. I don't know if they have reader forum like we do haven't spent to much time on the site.

Posted 2 years ago #
WSB
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Oh, don't leave!

If you want to know a bit about Burien city government, you can plug into their streamed city council meeting live online in a couple hours. http://www.burienwa.gov

I've learned a bit more about Burien in the past year or so than I'd expected to need to, because we cover White Center for http://whitecenternow.com and Burien has annexed part of the coverage area.

Unlike Seattle, it's a "strong city manager" government - not to say the mayor/council are weak, but the city manager is the major face of the city, rather than the mayor. Right now they've got a hot issue re: shoreline development and the rules surrounding it.

Probably TMI but there you go.

Posted 2 years ago #
hammerhead
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It is fine, where I live is now Burien, I guess it has been anexed. As with every city you have the good and bad.

The B town blog sucks to tell you the truth very hard to use. I know because I do use it.

The biggest thing Burien is dealing with is what to do with the animals that are no longer going to KCAC.

IF you see stray cats call me they are everywhere LOL

Posted 2 years ago #
rockhills
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I worked in Burien for a couple of years and did some house sitting in 3 Tree Point. I LOVED Three Tree Point. The only thing that has kept me from heading down there permanently is that I would miss Alaska Junction's walkability. Old Town has several great restaurants and shops, and I still head to the south end of town regularly to hit Trader Joe's. As a general rule, the farther West you go from 1st Ave, the better, but it looks like you've already figured that out.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
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There is also the Little Burien Theater.

Posted 2 years ago #
pd245
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Thanks for your posts. I'm clueless about annexing. What are the repercussions of burien being annexed? Thanks again.

Posted 2 years ago #
carter
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Can't help myself . . . I've been shopping at Trader Joe's, Freddies, and The Grainery (Screw Yourself Whole Foods) for years. It seems that Burien is the last stop before death. I've never seen so many unhealthy elderly people. Freddies seems down right like purgatory most of the time. It's definitely down market from West Seattle. I LOVE Three Tree Point, but too long of a commute to downtown. As a realtor once said to us when we were considering a house down there, "Sure it's a lovely property here, but just think what your friends, family, and clients have to drive through to get to you"!

Posted 2 years ago #
Erik
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And Burien has a skate park, next to the Little Theatre.
And a great yoga studio in Olde Town (Karuna Arts).

Posted 2 years ago #
hammerhead
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Burin annexed is not that big of deal, i guess i am still a little confused. I am closer to the top hat area, so 509 is really close by. I personally don't like trader joes myself. I am not that exciting i guess, don't care for their food items.

it is a nice area over all. yeah it is not as "hoty toty" as west seattle but is nice.

don't get me wrong i love west seattle but it is the "IT" place to be. LOL

Posted 2 years ago #
rockhills
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PD, There is a chunk of unincorporated King County that lies between the cities of West Seattle and Burien. That is what is being annexed. The southern half of it has (I believe) already been annexed by the City of Burien. The northern part, which includes White Center (and maybe Shorewood??? somebody more local help me out) has yet to be annexed. It will either go to Burien or Seattle. Annexation will impact tax base, services,etc.

And while we all know West Seattle is a special little patch of heaven, the port, ratty warehouses, and foundry you drive past to get here don't make that great an impression for visitors, either.

Posted 2 years ago #
pd245
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I do love West Seattle, but the down points I guess in my neighborhood are that I have to regularly pick beer cans and trash out of my yard (and I'm in a relatively nice neighborhood), there are car crashes outside my house regularly (you'd be surprised how many people drive 40 miles per hour through residential intersections without looking), and the drive into West Seattle over the bridge isn't very attractive, that's true.

West Seattle, though, will always be #1 in Seattle in my book, but I dream of being able to see the Sound from my window (any window) and Burien's the only place I can afford to do that. And we've been looking for one year. I've driven into Burien several different ways, and you can pretty much avoid some parts that arent especially scenic (except for Ambaum, which is unavoidable). I see your points though. I do see a lot of retired people but that doesn't really bother me. I like 'em. And I've seen young people my age out and about, too. Maybe Burien will get more vibrant, as they say, as it improves. I did see the yoga studio and thought that's pretty exciting.

Thanks for the explanation on annexing. That helps a lot.

Posted 2 years ago #
kasd
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We moved from West Seattle to Burien last year because we were able to purchase a home in Burien. I adore West Seattle and hope to move back there someday! That being said, we are loving living in Burien! 152nd has lots of great shops and restaurants that we are discovering. Also, the Tukwila lightrail station is 8 minutes away which makes the commute to downtown a breeze! We are in Gregory Heights, near Three Tree Point and Normandy Park and are very happy here.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
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not to mention the express bus service from downtown burien...

i too have looked in that direction for an affordable walkable community. wish my dogs could adapt to living in the new downtown condos:(

Posted 2 years ago #
dawsonct
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Improving.
Southcenter made Burien panic in the 60's, and they went into heavy strip mall mode. This blight is still readily apparent along 1st and the streets radiating from it, but the city has taken an aggressive approach to redevelopment, and it is becoming more pedestrian-friendly along 152nd.
--
It is home to a lot of VERY new immigrant communities, so the grocery shopping is quite diverse. Check out Wayne's Seafood & Meat for some of the widest ranging grocery items I have ever seen in one place. There is also the Balkan Grocery, Pinoy Grocery, a number of Mexican and C. American groceries, bakeries, and butchers, Hans German Sausage & Deli.
In my opinion the best pupusas can be found in a couple of places in Burien (find them yourself. It's more fun and taste is too subjective) and there is a sandwich place down there that folks crow about which I haven't tried yet.
Really is a good area for exploring the street foods and fast foods of the World. The available produce at the farmer's market is also usually the most diverse in the area.
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It IS a bit tattered around the edges, but it is noticeably improving.
The cops are primarily employed for writing traffic tickets, so be careful about speeding.

Posted 2 years ago #