She Came From the Suburbs to Enjoy Urban Life in SLU
In December, 2007 Jeanette James made a brave decision. James, the Director of Admissions & Financial Aid at the Seattle Girls' School, sold her 1400 sq. ft. townhouse in Renton and moved to the Neptune in SLU.
"I had been an owner and decided to sell because I work in central Seattle. The commute got to be too much for me. I felt like I was never home. I would leave at 7:00 a.m. and come home late at night and think 'why am I doing this'?" she said.
James has downsized to 700 sq. ft. of rental space, saying she has everything she needs. She's also filling her gas tank every three weeks instead of weekly. She specifically chose the SLU neighborhood because she says there are quiet, peaceful places designed into the environment that convey a feeling of serenity. At the same time she also likes the overall vibrancy and life of the neighborhood.
The close-in location also allows James to pursue her volunteer passions without having to drive long distances. James volunteers with the Junior League of Seattle, and Delta Sigma Theta, another service organization. She also serves on the boards of Camp Fire and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and helped the Urban League start an organization for young professionals some five years ago. "I go from my day job at the Seattle Girls' School to my evening jobs as a volunteer and then I squeeze social life in between," she said.
One of the things that has most surprised James about her new neighborhood is how family friendly it is. "It's a lot more family friendly than I would have imagined, given that there aren't traditional brick and mortar houses; it's nice to see families living in scaled back space. It's a fun surprise. I like families being in my building and in my neighborhood," she said.
James says there is always something to do or some place to go in the neighborhood. She walks for her groceries and either walks downtown or uses the streetcar and enjoys the restaurants in the neighborhood. "I use all the perks of city living," she says.
The walkability of the neighborhood is a huge plus for her, too. During last summer's blistering heat, she enjoyed walking down to the corner store and cooling off with an ice cream bar.
So, next time you're out and about in the neighborhood, say "hello" if you see James. She's always happy to meet neighbors in the community.
Meet Your New Neighbors: Belyea Graphic Design
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Patricia Belyea,
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After 19 years in the same downtown Seattle building, the graphic design firm Belyea moved to the Terry Thomas building in SLU this June. The move proved to be a breath of fresh air that brought unexpected changes and pleasures to the firm’s associates.
“We got here during the beautiful summer days of June. I worked eight blocks south for 19 years, but for the very first time I walked home to Ballard. It was revolutionary. And, the next week I walked to work,” said Patricia Belyea, principal.
Nick Johnson, a designer who commutes in from Bremerton, initially was worried about the move. He was concerned that his trip to and from work would take longer. For years he had driven his car to the ferry terminal, walked onto the ferry and then jogged across downtown to work. Now Johnson bikes the entire trip. Because he’s on a bike he’s first on the ferry and first off. He actually arrives at work five minutes faster plus he’s saving $1,200 a year not paying for commuter parking on the peninsula.
The move has brought professional benefits as well. Belyea counts Pemco among its client list and now designers can walk to meetings. “It’s been an interesting twist that we can see clients without driving,” said Belyea. She said it’s also easy for people to visit for coffee because parking is so easy to find. “We have people who want to come and visit us,” she said. In addition, Belyea has taken the street car to meetings downtown.
The fact that SLU is a national hub for research and innovation is another benefit for the firm. The location provides easy access to companies and institutions in the life sciences, long a focus of Belyea’s graphic design practice.
The sustainability of the building also drew the firm to SLU. The Terry Thomas building, designed by Weber Thompson, is one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the Pacific Northwest. It is among the 2009 American Institute of Architects’ Committee on the Environment (COTE) top ten projects nationally. “It’s a really progressive building. We experience sustainability right here. With low-flush toilets, composting in the kitchen, and passive cooling, there's a big consciousness right here at work,” said Belyea.
Another pleasant surprise has been the presence of the Cascade Farmer’s Market. When Belyea had a Friday dinner for 20 planned, she stopped at the Market and selected local, fresh produce for her party. “It was handy, fresh and I love it,” she said.
Belyea likes her new neighborhood so much she’s joined the South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce where she found “a great assortment of people and a place for everyone.”
