Seattle has buses. Use them! In which case you might as well find a place to live along a line. One line at a time. Here's the next one, selected at random for the fun of it.
So, you want to live in Seattle and look at Seattle, but also keep it at a distance. That's West Seattle, inside the city limits and yet its own place. Route 55 will get you from one to the other, as long as you're commuting to downtown in the morning and back home at night.
↑ Live on Ferry Ave and be within an easy walk to the Water Taxi. Maybe that means the street name should change. For almost a million, $999,950, you can buy a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 3,290 square foot lot that has views of the city and at least two ways to get downtown: by bus or by boat. It's a three story, which gives it height, which gives it better views. The price has been chopped $300,000, which is more than enough to buy the adjacent lot with an asking price of $150,000. That would give you over 11,000 square feet of view property to go with the polished marble kitchen and bath.
↑ It's a 1924 Classic Craftsman, which evidently must be capitalized. Of course, take a look at the details and the emphasis is appropriate. The window treatments, the built-in bookcases bracketing the tiled fireplace, and the rich wood floors are great examples of the era. The inevitable kitchen remodel managed to modernize the space without stepping out of character. Spend $969,950 to get this 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,200 square foot house and you'll also get a west view and a patio for enjoying it.
↑ Please help fill this partially finished basement. It looks so lonely and empty, but with enough trim that it won't take much to create a sanctuary, refuge, or play room. Above it is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath rambler with 2,390 square feet for $574,950. The style is set by its 1950 heritage, which raises the question; was the hardwood hidden under wall-to-wall for decades, or has it always looked this good? There isn't a view, but there is a fenced backyard, which is a handy way to corral the kids and pets. The landscaping is well established, so there's less work to do there, and more time to enjoy the hot tub. No skinny-dipping, though; the neighbors might see you.
↑ Chamfered ends and a sweet sweep to the roof over the door make this house more likely to stand out. It was built in 1926. Now, it has 1,420 square feet, 4 bedrooms, and 2 baths with an asking price of $569,500. The garage is now a shop, which makes sense for someone taking the bus everywhere; but could probably become a garage again. The photos make it look like indoor parking for flying carpets, which sounds like a great business idea. There isn't much to mow. Much of the backyard has been turned into walkway, patio, and outbuildings. There's probably enough room for a garden, at least one in pots.
↑ Add enough decks and patios and the only place for plants is around the periphery. The bricks and boards define the outdoor space, civilizing it. Whether you use the outdoor fireplace for food of ambience, you'll have it available for an excuse to get out of the house and make some smoke. Want to hide indoors? The basement is finished as a wood-paneled rec room, though it looks like a set for the blue collar version of Mad Men. The upstairs is more refined. There are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in 1,502 square feet for $529,999, with an updated interior. It's a 1942 design, which probably explains the lack of eaves. Would a buyer be nice enough to pay one dollar more, just to make it a nice, even number?
· Water Taxi [KCDOT]
· Route 55 [Metro]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath