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.
Now, here's luxury; hop on the bus and it takes you to the other end of the route with hardly any stops. Route 15 runs from Blue Ridge to Downtown, without all that pesky shuffling of seats. Settle in. Nap. Read. Whatever. Just ride.
↑ One test of a house: the seller lived there for 37 years. Evidently, it's liveable. There's a 1946, WIlliam Bain for sale at $2,095,000. Inside, there are 3 bedrooms, 4.25 baths, and 4,685 square feet. There's an Italian, or at least ornate, style that carries through the rooms. The idea of Italian really comes from the outside because the listing describes the terraced property as Italianate. Building an Italian house one year after WWII may have been a bold move. Regardless of the labels and names, that owner proved that the combination of architecture, landscaping, and location worked well enough for decades. Who's next?
↑ You can get a bit of land for $1,300,000; about 0.32 acres in Blue Ridge. You also get 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 3,450 square feet - plus, you're close enough to the beach and have private access (along with the rest of the members). This is a 1937 brick house that is more like an estate, perched properly to appreciate the view. Even the fence is from an era when fences were made of metal because they'd last longer than wood. Brick and iron may be a better choice that weathered wood, as long as you keep them mortared and painted. The less maintenance, the more time you can sit and relax.
↑ This may be hard to believe but, there's a house for sale for the first time since it was built in 1953. This Largerquist has had one owner, and is finally hitting the market. Talk about longevity and seniority, 62 years of occupancy may set a record, or at least deserves appreciation for anchoring a neighborhood. The 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house is for sale at $550,000. Inside, the 1,740 square feet have been tended well; but, not surprisingly, the style is retro. It stood still long enough for fashion to come back around. Why remodel to an earlier era when you can just buy the original?
↑ Over by Carkeek is a 2 bedroom and 1.1 bath house asking $548,000. Actually, the sellers set the price. Hopefully, the house hasn't actually said anything. The insides make a statement, though. Someone had fun with paint and tiles, and other decorative trims that give the spaces a bit more life. It was built in 1947, a while after the neighbor Carkeek Park was established, so there'll always be a bit more nature within a short walk. Wander down to the beach and hang out by the water. Check the tide tables, and wash that sand off your feet before going back indoors.
↑ Working on iconic? How about a white picket fence (faded) around a brick 2 bedoom, 1.1 bath with basement that was built in 1949, just in the Baby Boom? They're asking $475,000 for the house and the 8,095 square foot lot, that is also in the neighborhood of Carkeek Park. Maybe that's the way to start and end your day. Wake up in your only slightly retro house that has a few upgrades, head down to the beach for breakfast, head back home, catch the bus, and then reverse that with a picnic dinner by the water at night. It could be like having waterfront without having the spend a few extra million.
· Carkeek Park [SPR]
· Route 15 [Metro]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath