Is Arbor Heights a nice & safe neighborhood!?

[kknob]

We’re looking at buying a house and we’ve seen some really nice houses UNDER our price range that we like in Arbor Heights. I wanted to reach out and see what other West Seattleites had to say about this neighborhood. Our main concern is safety. We don’t want our house and cars broken into and our personal safety. What are your thoughts!? Do you live there? If you don’t, would you? Why or why not?

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[hammerhead]

There is no perfect place. Arbor heights is right up the street from me. I thought I was safe and robbed twice in 5 days.

While it is nice, it too has it’s bad spots. Lock your doors. If a robber wants to get in he will get in there is no way to prevent that.

I had those key pad locks where the dead bolt just spins and spins once locked. Well the robbers some how vice gripped the deadbolt so hard they were able to open it. Even the cop said it was a first time for him. Alarms, well most of the time the police do not respond to them either. Sorry to be a debbie downer but this experience, well even took me by surprise. If I knew how to get the picutres up I would show you what they did.

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[Talaki34]

Kknob,

Aug of last year, I bought a house in Arbor Heights. A few of the reasons I bought in this area:

• Very quiet.

• Residential but within easy travel distance of stores, freeways and downtown Seattle.

• Close to The Junction and Alki.

• Within walking distance of Fauntleroy Park and just a few minutes by bike or car to Lincoln Park.

I have walked all over Arbor Heights by myself and I always feel safe, however I do pay attention to what is going on around me no matter where I am.

I really like it here, hope it works for you too.

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[Kevin]

@kknob – We have lived in AH for over a decade (100th and 42nd) and have been fortunate to have never had a loss. I would say it is a “safe” neighborhood.

Just use common sense. Outdoor lighting – alarm system, fences, outdoor video cameras, strong block watch, etc. TV (volume turned up) if you are away, etc.

Crime can happen to anyone, just as HH just said. Take the time and effort to reduce your chances of being hit.

Arbor Heights is a great neighborhood!

.

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[Bonnie]

I live just outside AH and my daughter goes to school there and I like the area. I don’t like that there are no sidewalks but other than that it is a nice area. I wouldn’t hesitate to move there. (we are just a few blocks north of AH)

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[kknob]

@Hammerhead: I’m sorry that your house was broken into. I hope everything is working out better for you now. Haven’t burglaries become a recent problem in West Seattle?

@Talaki34: Thanks for the feedback. We also came up with those pros!

@Kevin: I agree. We’ve already been talking about alarms and cameras for any house we get.

@Bonnie: I agree that the lack of sidewalks is a bummer, but maybe someday! :) Is your daughter at Arbor Heights Elementary? If so, how is the school? We don’t have children, but maybe somewhere down the road!

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[Bonnie]

AH is pretty good. I have 2 kids, one is at Pathfinder (he’s in a special program) and my daughter at AH. We’ve been happy so far. The school needs a LOT of work. Meaning the school needs to be torn down and rebuilt! Overall we’ve been happy.

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[Talaki34]

FYI:

The little Pocket of Arbor Heights east of 35th has sidewalks and a few homes for sale.

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[suzanne]

We’ve lived in AH since 1998 – 37th and 100th. I have always felt very safe and walk around the neighborhood a lot. I was totally unfamiliar with the area when we first moved here and was a little nervous because I didn’t know anything about it, but I love it! It’s quiet, we have great neighbors and the yards are much bigger than you’ll find in other parts of West Seattle. And Fauntleroy Park is a real treasure. The downside is definitely the lack of sidewalks, but the pluses far outweigh that one thing. Good luck!

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[kootchman]

Dogs. The #1 reason cited by burglars themselves as the most effective deterrent to crime. Good running and walking companions too. I dunno what good it does to watch videos after the fact. Good neighbors too! Make that block watch thing work .. it’s worth the time and investment.

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[HelperMonkey]

LOVE Arbor Heights. It’s super quiet, and everyone I’ve met so far is very nice. I currently rent here, but if I were to ever buy a house in WS, it would definitely be in Arbor Heights. Just out of the way enough, but still fairly central (or at least a short drive to central!)

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[celeste17]

My brother and his wife live in AH and have only had a problem where their mail was stolen and my sister-in-law bought a locking mail box and no problem after that. No matter where you live there will be problems. What I would do is to drive the area you are interested in at different times of the day and night and see what the area is like.

Suzanne you and my brother and sister-in-law are neighbors (he is closer to 102nd and 37th). Maybe you know each other. Tall house on the West side almost to the corner.

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[MargL]

Speaking as a ex-Arbor Heights resident I vote for Arbor Heights being a great affordable neighborhood. We were lucky to live in one of the areas that does have sidewalks, near 104th and 34th right across from Hillcrest church. We moved in June and now we’re in San Fran. Boy, do I miss West Seattle, really really miss it!

During the time we lived there, for 14 years, we never had a house break in, tho’ our cars were broken into at night a few times for random things like spare change and our Civic was stolen and stripped (found by the Sheriff in Burien). We also had a few cars dumped after joyrides and at least one abandoned couch set on fire across the street.

That being said, I felt always felt safe walking around the neighborhood and had some fantastic neighbors and friends in the area. Crime can and does happen in any neighborhood. I don’t think Arbor Heights is any less safe than high-priced areas of Admiral or Alki.

It is a less accessible by transit or walking, so we did tend to drive everywhere. On the plus side, it’s only 15 minutes to the airport and the Burien Trader Joe’s.

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[anonyme]

I purchased a home in AH about 6 years ago. I’ve never had a problem with crime, although a drunk did climb over (and break down) my fence the first New Year’s Eve I was here, and then try to break in my door. He was looking for drugs, and was too drunk to know he was in the wrong place. But I digress…

AH is a very affordable neighborhood, with lots of options in terms of housing styles. I’ve never had a crime problem, although there are ‘problem’ houses scattered throughout the area. That’s true anywhere, I guess. The lack of sidewalks is a bit of an issue, as it encourages a lot of strange and illegal parking practices – including car ranching. Even so, it’s a pretty walkable neighborhood. There are no ameneties within reasonable walking distance, so it’s quite suburban in that way. That’s a problem for some, especially as the bus service is horrendous and about to get worse.

I used to walk a lot in Fauntleroy Park, but the combination of off-leash dogs and transients got a little too creepy. Probably fine if you’re not alone. And whatever you do, don’t buy anything on 35th, or “I-35” as it’s called locally. Good luck.

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[luckymom30]

Have lived in Arbor Heights since 1990, my husband has lived here since 1980 and the neighborhood is pretty safe but use common sense and lock your doors and don’t leave windows open. We have not been broken into, but the houses around us have and in 1996 there was a drive by shooting. Years ago there was a house with renters who were selling drugs but thankfully they are gone. We live on 35th where there are sidewalks. We know our neighbors well, and for the most part they are friendly and we all watch out for each other. On our side of 35th there is no parking on the planting strip. The bus service is every 1/2 hour. Stolen mail is a problem and we have avoided placing any mail with checks in the mailbox.

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