Kenmore Undressed

Seattle Magazine Ranks Kenmore #1 Neighborhood 2009

First It Was Family Circle, Now It’s Seattle Magazine

OK, as a resident of Kenmore, WA it’s strange to have “my fair city” show up on the radar screen of any major publications. Earlier this year Family Circle Magazine ranked Kenmore as one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for families to live. Now the August 2009 issue of Seattle Magazine has ranked Kenmore the #1 Neighborhood of 2009. Here’s the list of the top 10 neighborhoods:

Here are the top 10 neighborhoods:

1) Kenmore, 2) Shoreline, 3) Bellevue, 4) Mountlake Terrace, 5) Mercer Island, 6) Redmond, 7) Federal Way, Des Moines, 9) Northgate, 10) Kent

SOME PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

First and foremost, I’m not a fan of “top 10 rankings” of any sort. Indeed, these rankings are, in many ways, self fulfilling creations. So go ahead and read what Seattle Magazine has to say about Kenmore and all the other communities. BUT, let me tell you why I, a resident, homeowner, Realtor® and neighbor like Kenmore, the town I call home:

1) My wife and I have lived in several Seattle-area communities over the last 24 years: Capitol Hill, Shoreline and now Kenmore. You’ll note that Shoreline was #2 on this year’s list of best neighborhoods (I guess we know how to pick a winner!!). We were Shoreline residents for 16 years before moving to Kenmore, so it wasn’t a move we took lightly.

2) Kenmore lies at the top point of Lake Washington with easy access to the lake, bicycle and walking trails and parks. Even though it is dissected by SR522 which is a very busy road, the neighborhoods here tend to be quiet, safe and well-kept.

3) Kenmore is also strategically located near several major highways (I-5, I-405 and SR 522). We are also close to the wonderful town of Bothell, the “wine country” of Woodinville and we are a moderate distance from the shopping Goliaths: the Northgate and Alderwood Malls.

4) If you read my sister blog, KenmoreMerchantsUndressed, you’ll discover that Kenmore is home to some incredibly successful and interesting local businesses, some of which have been here for generations.

5) Kenmore is one of those towns that is experiencing a major transformation. It’s hard to envision how the city will look in the next decade; however, the community has been working to change Kenmore from what I consider to be an amorphous place that people just pass through, to a focal point where people will someday come to visit for it’s great location and livability.

I’ll admit it, I like the suburbs. I certainly enjoy Seattle and all it has to offer, but I also like having neighbors I know and trust. I like the fact that we live very close to the regional Burke-Gilman Trail. We have a blue heron rookery and resident Bald Eagles and one of the largest murders of crows in the U.S. One can also sit out at night and see the stars. Yes, I’ve really grown to like Kenmore. It’s turned out to be a great place to live!

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