Welcome to our first neighborhood guide! We’ll be featuring these periodically on our blog as a way to take an in-depth look at Seattle’s individual neighborhoods. Seattle is a city with a lot of nuance and variation depending on where you are, and we think these guides will be a good way to showcase some of our city’s best sides.
We’re going to look at real estate trends in West Seattle, so that prospective home buyers know what they should expect during their housing search. Then, we’ll talk about what makes West Seattle special: where to get your morning coffee, the best parks in the area, and where you should go when you just need a slice of pie. So let’s get to it: welcome to West Seattle.
West Seattle: Housing Trends
What types of homes are you likely to find in West Seattle? The majority of West Seattle is zoned for Single Family Housing. This limits the number of apartment buildings or highrises you’ll see in this part of town. Instead, expect to find plenty of townhomes, condominiums, and traditional single-family homes. Recent relaxation regulations for detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) means that you’ll start seeing more of those housing options pop up as well. (Link to previous DADU post.)
Right now, many people are working from home. But that won’t last forever--which means commute is still a relevant concern. Even with the West Seattle Bridge currently out of commission, it only takes 25 minutes to get from Alki Beach to Seattle’s city center. And there are several bus lines that will take you into town if you prefer not to drive.
Living in West Seattle
West Seattle offers all the joys of living in the city while also affording you a slower way of life. West Seattle has a reputation for being more laid back and relaxed. With a plethora of fun activities, good food, and outdoor access, you’ll never have to leave if you don’t want to!
Once you settle down in West Seattle, you can begin to experience all that it has to offer.
Stop by the West Seattle Farmer’s Market for fresh bagels, coffee, and other treats. Open in some fashion all year round, this is a great spot for picking up your weekly groceries.
Avoid the crowds on Alki Beach by taking a walk through Lincoln Park. Enjoy the urban forest while gazing out over the Puget Sound.
Go antiquing on California Avenue, or stop in for some music at Easy Street Records. In addition to vinyl, they often host live shows.
We mentioned pie earlier, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t tell you where to go get it. West Seattle has some pretty divine culinary options, including neighborhood favorites like Lady Jaye, Ma’ono, and A La Mode Pies. (We recommend a slice of strawberry-rhubarb to go.)
Welcome to West Seattle
The truth is that this neighborhood has so much more than we can link you to in one post. But there are many ways to make a home for yourself in West Seattle, and we hope this neighborhood guide helped you visualize your life here. Follow us on social media to get updates about our future neighborhood guides!