True. John and others have me convinced that I-5 is last choice. Hwy 99 is much smoother. And if you got a place not more than several miles or so north, then you'd probably use surface streets in relative tranquility compared to I-5 or Hwy 99.

A few years ago, Ballard was a doable option - no more. The Norwegians have all sold out I guess.

I'll let others fill you in on the remaining decent options today - probably near Tacoma! (like the NYC joke - Pennsylvania is the nxt New Jersey).

Be aware that altho Progressive in may ways, Seattle is incredibly regressive in terms of mass transit & traffictransportation in general. They just lost a battle to get rid of or bury Alaska Way (by the waterfront) and make that a park. That is something that SFO and PDX did decades ago. Now, they are enjoying the huge increase in property values from increased amenity where they knocked down the Fwys.

Personally, I would like to see the viaduct removed and replaced with a tunnel. But bear in mind.....I handle labor relations matters on large, public construction projects. Self-interest. That project would be MASSIVELY expensive. But.....it would also make sense. It could give Seattle a waterfront to rival any other in the world.

Yes, Seattle has not invested in enough transportation infrastructure in recent decades. Sound Transit is moving forward on some of the mass transit stuff including and especially "light rail." A friend of mine works in downtown Seattle and lives in Auburn. In my 911, disregarding speed laws, I could make it from downtown to Auburn in a half-hour safely if there were no other cars on the road. She makes that trip, in that time frame (half-hour) every day during rush hour. Trains are good.

I guess I kind of knew the traffic sucked, and the housing was expensive. It is what it is.

Any experience with Trident Seafoods? They're the one's located at the address I listed...

Just that they've been around forever.

Why do we need to (further) impress tourists? Do you want more bunker-fuel burning cruiseships coming to Seattle? As it is now, a few hundred thousand people (per day) get to enjoy the city and waterfront views as they travel along the viaduct--THAT is cool in my book.

btw, the tunnel option turns the battery street tunnel into the steepest road in the city, as it would have to drop hard before getting to the train tunnel. ...of course, Seattle will think they can rip that out too, no doubt.

leiny's and chez curds????

where?

my folks are coming go town next month and they just got done with a family reunion in Green Bay. i havent seen curds out here ever.

Actually, while I agree that it would make for a GREAT tent-city, there are a few waterfronts in say, Hawaii, that would still beat the infrastructure-less Seattle waterfront.

I heard this when you mentioned it the first time, a year or two ago. Spot on, I'd say. I certainly appreciate the view from the 'duct. Indeed, I certainly appreciate many of our views here. I LOVE Seattle deeply. If it were a woman, I would.......nevermind.

But I don't think I could support a deliberately ugly or inconvenient strategy for the specific purpose of dissuading immigrants. Something about spite, and a nose and face.

Perspective. You can't see the Space Needle from Waikiki Beach. Or Mount Rainier. Or Mount Olympus. Or Ballard.

Lets try and focus here... ;) This post is about me getting in and out of downtown. Well, not downtown really but Ballard. And getting in first, as I've just started my search. But during the search I want to know some of what I'd be getting in to. and out of...

Anyway, what were we talking about again?

I live in Lower Queen Ann and work in Magnolia (on the Seattle side, right before the Ballard Bridge)..If I was going to live in Ballard (over the Bridge) and work downtown, I would seriously consider Vallium.

I can see the traffic lines over the bridge, and morning and afternoon traffic sucks.

I looked for houses in Ballard, nothing was less than 250K and most are old and need total restoration..before moving in, or there are the "slap-it up and hope it stays-up" town houses.

However, if you are a Porsche owner, we can fix your car!!!!and we are close to Ballard.
Always a silver lining in any cloud.

So realistically, what kind of money does someone need to make to live in the Ballard area?

I just spent a long weekend there and I hope to never return. IMHO, Seattle traffic is every bit as bad as LA or DC.

While walking around Pike's Place on Friday, the produce there was at least 25% more than anything I've seen even in the gourmet stores in Phoenix. Gas was about $.35 more per gallon than here. The other night we stayed at some friends' house near Belliingham. It was a $750k house, which might have brought that much in a nice neighborhood in NoVA and maybe half that much in Phoenix. I left Anancortes yesterday and it took 45 min. to get to the 5 - a mere 20 miles away. From there to the airport was almost three hours to go about 100 miles. I could not believe the traffic. Just wow. I could never live there, even if I worked from home.

I live in Auburn and work in Seatac. In ideal conditions, the commute is probably about 22 minutes. It virtually never takes me more than 30, and usually it's 25-27. How do I do it? I have alternatives and I look at the traffic report before I leave home or office. With this current question, the Ballard thing, Joel could find a place that allows him to use a similar strategy.

But.....yes, traffic here commonly SUCKS (On Fridays, when my commute was between Tenino and Seatac, there were days when it took me 3.5 hours to get home which was 65 miles!). If I am in Seattle at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon, I will find a place that has good beer and good food. By 6:00 it will probably be clear.

There are quite a few who live cheaply in the parks, loading docks, and doorways off Ballard Ave. :cool:

There are a lot of apartments for rent in Ballard too. Condo's are being built like crazy there. (Urban densification planning w/o parking accommodations = parking cluster-mess)

It's hard to say, w/o knowing what your acceptable accommodation needs are. For you to get an idea on housing check www.windermere.com, or craigslist.org. There seems to be some more affordable houses between 3rd-15th ave NW (east west) and the 4500 to 9000 blocks (north-south) ...not view property, but close to central Ballard, w/o being in the densification zone.

So you're one of those people doing 5 under on the viaduct that I have to weave through every day! Get the fuch outta the way!!!! ;)

:D, yeah, I'm doing 5 under. ...when traffic is doing 15 under. ;)

I think my wife will be pushing to live north, Lynnwood, Everett, maybe even Marysville as that is where her family is. I will be trying to keep a bit of a buffer zone. :D

NOOOOO!

If you are working in Ballard, the furthest I would go north would be Shoreline. (north of 145th-the Seattle city limit, but staying to the west of I-5, west of a Aurora (hwy 99))

Why not buy/rent in Ballard or Fremont (the neighborhood next door)? Ballard is growing like crazy, cool little downtown area. If you live close to the water you will be right by the Burke Gillman trail, a bike/walking trail that acts like a highway for cyclist through the area.

I think Ballard would make a great RE investment.