Good suggestions, Jake. 

Browns Point has some nice amenities such as parks and some water access.  I'd certainly prefer it to Auburn.  Puyallup has more of a recognizable (low-rise) downtown area than either of those (or Federal Way) so if that's a priority you might give it a visist to see what you think of it.

I think that Jake's best tip might be University Place.  It might not be as convenient as Brown's Point if you'll be commuting to the north, and it has less of a downtown than Puyallup, but the schools are good and it has much better access to Tacoma proper than the other areas mentioned here.

If you don't want to live in the 'burbs, don't!  There's no reason to.

If you are really considering living in the suburds, you should at least watch the movie End of Suburbia.

Here is the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHr8OzaloLM

As Jenyum hints at, some of the promises of the suburb are deceptive and you will likely find yourself living a life stranded at the end of a montonous cultisack broken up only by trips to the mall.

Before you buy that tract home with the dark green lawn, determine out how many places you can walk to and whether you really want to fight traffic everytime you pick up a quart of milk.

Also, do you really want to be depressed?

Researchers found that among 740 older adults living in the Seattle area, men who lived in more walkable neighborhoods tended to show fewer depression symptoms than men from less walker-friendly areas.

http://www.healthcentral.com/depression … 46-66.html

Last edited by Erik (2007-12-06 00:42:22)

Stadium Bistro, and then you can swing through the North End before or after dinner.  Stadium Bistro is on St Helens. 

From St Helens, take a left on Division, (or go past stadium and then turn onto division) take division to North I street.

Drive up I street from the Stadium District, past Lowell elementary, until it turns into 21st street.  Then stay on 21st and take a drive down Proctor.  From Proctor, take a left on 30th and drive up to Stevens.  take a right on stevens, and follow that to the traffic circle, go left onto 46th, and follow 46th past the beautiful seminary and the views of the bay.  It will curve around and eventually come to an intersection with Pearl St.  Take a right on Pearl and drive down to the end at Point Defiance.  Drive around the five mile drive.

You might want to do the Sunday brunch at stadium, that way you'll have time to take all this in in the daylight. 

Edited to remove unwarranted grouchiness.

It's a beautiful drive, really you should check it out!

Last edited by jenyum (2007-12-06 03:00:11)

In terms of city versus suburbs, we do already live in the suburbs, but it's an inner-ring suburb--Shaker Heights, Ohio, if anyone is familiar with it. It was one of the earlier suburbs in the country, built in 1921 as a suburb to Cleveland. It's a beautiful, walkable, diverse community with one of the best school districts in the country--why again are we thinking about leaving?

From your description, and the map of the city, it sound like a traditional neighborhood you live in, not really the suburbs.





























Most neighborhoods in the US built before 1940 were on a traditional grid.  Given that, I don't think you will be happy with Federal Way or UP which were very recently built sprawish suburbs.  Federal way is little more than a series of disconnected strip malls and suburban tract homes.  University Place did not even become a city until 1995 is is working now to try to get some sort of center to the city.  Neither is described as "walkable."

I would suggest looking at one of the neighborhoods in Tacoma as they were designed about the same time as yours and are on a traditional grid.  Many have "mixed use centers" with stores within walking distance.

Here they are:



http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=11

Which one you decide on depends on your budget. Stadium District is often mentioned as it it safe and has a bit of everthing and is still pretty affordable.  Plus, most of the bloggers seem to reside there.   Also, the West End is a later development in Tacoma as well.

Last edited by Erik (2007-12-06 04:35:54)

gerette wrote:

I'm not opposed to a new build, but again, don't want it to be in a former corn field or whatever. I don't know if anyone is familiar with the Kentlands development outside of Washington, DC (we moved to Cleveland from the DC area two years ago), but it's a community that combines multi-family housing, single family housing, townhouses, and commercial real estate. Yes, it's a bit of a Disney version of creating a community, but it's better than nothing. Is there anything like that in the Tacoma area?

The most similar thing I can think of around here is the Northwest Landing development in Dupont, which is about midway between Tacoma and Olympia, sandwiched between Fort Lewis and Puget Sound.  Dupont was originally a company town for (you guessed it) Dupont, and now Weyerhaeuser is developing a community there that includes houses, townhomes, apartments, etc., as well as a small commercial area (restaurants, stores).  There are also a couple of corporate plants here, notably Intel and State Farm.  Now, I'm not really a huge fan of the development, but I do admire the fact that the houses are built with the garage in back, creating a more walkable/neighborhood-like environment.  And I believe the Steilacoom school district is pretty good.  (Speaking of which, downtown Steilacoom, the oldest incorporated town in the state, is pretty charming itself, but sorta spendy for real estate.)  No former corn fields, but there was some deforestation involved...  I personally would see no reason for someone to live there if it wasn't close to their job, but there is a transit facility for buses, and eventually the Sounder train may reach there, so I guess if it's your cup of tea it might be something to consider.

Jemyum, That is a nice house. I have shown it twice to clients. The upstairs is a bit small.  I don't think offering a $3,000 commission on a $300k house is helping their cause or the smell of gas when you walk in the door.

Gerette,

If you are concerned about schools, I would try Puyallup.

Puyallup is not a suburb.

Puyallup VALLEY, does not contain any more strip malls than Tacoma. SOUTH HILL and the SOUTH HILL MALL area of Puyallup, yes. Puyallup VALLEY, no.

Puyallup has great schools.

Puyallup VALLEY, is walkable and is formed on a grid street pattern.

Puyallup VALLEY is well served by buses and offers commuter rail via the sounder. Northbound AND Southbound.

I plan on moving to Tacoma soon, but I have spent a great part of my life in Puyallup VALLEY and in Tacoma, and your preferences seem more geared towards Puyallup.  There are good schools in Tacoma however.

Puyallup is not a suburb. Tacoma has far more Strip Malls than Puyallup could ever want.

I would not recommend moving to UP or Federal Way. I wouldn't even recommend moving to NE Tacoma. The areas are not walkable, there is little historic housing stock, and it is heavily dependent on only a few key roads.

University Place was not recently built.  Most of it has been there a very long time.  My house was built in 1971.   My mother has lived there since 1956.   

That said, it is definitely a 'burb' bedroom community.  I don't think it's a 100% match for the requirements requested.  But it's definitely much much better than Puyallup, Federal Way or Auburn. 

Why hasn't anyone suggested Steilacoom?  I love that little town.  If I could only afford one of those houses with the sweeping views of the Sound.... sigh.

Another vote here for downtown Puyallup.