When I announced my decision to join Microsoft, Don Box asked the question: “East side or West side”?
Well, the time to decide is not far now. I will be living in a Microsoft-provided flat for few weeks while trying to find my own place. I am thinking of renting for few months while I get to know the area and only then start looking to buy a house/flat. But even renting seems to be a difficult choice. Where do you try to find a place? East or West? I don’t have to make up my mind yet but I have started looking anyway.
I like busy places, with a vibe, night-life, restaurants, etc. However, it’s my understanding that by choosing to live in Seattle and the West side you pay the “commute” penalty. Staying at the East side you lose the fun of being in big city. Is this accurate?
Steve thinks West. What do other people with knowledge of the area think? Any advice is appreciated even though I do not have to make a decision for a couple of months from now.
7 responses to “East vs West side?”
How I envy you, Savas 🙂 I was back in Seattle a few months ago for a conference and renewed my love of the place! I think west side, but that’s because I’m addicted to the Seattle Center 🙂
West of course Savas! You’ll get totally bored with the suburban lifestyle in or close to Redmond.
I voted for the West side. I lived in corp housing in Kirkland and looked in Kirkland/Bellevue but ended up in Ballard which has a great vibe, great night life, food and is close to downtown Seattle while still retaining a small town feel. I’m able to commute during off hours and have figured out how to minimize the on-the-freeway time to only about 20 minutes each way (taking surface streets the remainder and getting great views to boot).
The choice is pretty easy but it depends upon your own situation – it all comes down to one simple question: do you have kids?
If so: Eastside is your best choice.
If not: You may find West more culturally stimulating (and the pay the price you pay for this is additional traffic and less convenience).
As a data point, I live in Yarrow Point (it’s between Kirkland and Hunt’s Point/Medina), which is on the west side of the east side.
During non-rush hour periods, it takes me less than ten minutes to get from my front door to the Mercer St. offramp (for Seattle Center/Needle/Opera/Key Arena). Add another 3-5 minutes for Union or James offramp for going to belltown or for shopping.
I do this at most twice a week, and at least twice a month.
In contrast, it takes me 8 minutes to get from my front door to a freeway offramp near campus (either NE 40th or 148th NE southbound), and another 8-12 minutes to get from the offramp to a parking space in Building 40. That last 8-12 minutes is a price you pay no matter which side of town you live on.
If I had it to do over again, I’d live in Kirkland as close to the water and downtown Kirkland as possible.
Getting to the 520 would be slightly more expensive than my current location, but I’d gain the ability to walk to pubs and some decent restaurants.
In contrast Yarrow Point/Hunts Point/Medina has almost nothing to walk to except a Tully’s coffee stand, and I don’t drink coffee.
Personally, I’d have a much harder time over on the “east side of the east side” in areas like Redmond/Issaquah/Sammamish. The MS commute isn’t bad (although sometimes worse than mine), but the Seattle commute is a real issue.
From where I’m at now (or Kirkland), deciding to go into Seattle is comparable to deciding to go into the office, which I really like.
YMMV.
Thanks to all! I was given the choice between corporate accommodation next to the MS campus or Settle downtown. I opted for the latter because that will give me the chance to experience the “commute cost” for the next few weeks. Then i can decide where i want to live.
Again, thanks to all!
I chose Seattle, because I grew up in the area and wouldn’t be able to bear living on the Eastside. Currently I have to commute at peak hours, so when I take the bus it’s an hour each way, a half hour to drive in the mornings, and around a half hour to drive home if I carpool. I chose to live in the U District because I like the vibrancy and the bus service, but Ballard, Wallingford, Green Lake or Queen Anne are nice neighborhoods too. Check out the Commuter routes, that’s the MS-internal bus service.