6.5 out of 10

Olympic Hills / Victory Heights

Ranked 47th best neighborhood in Seattle
47.7188860128296 -122.307765400042
Great for
  • Internet Access
  • Public Transport
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • Nightlife
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
2yrs+

"Everything You Need in One Area"

The greatest thing about the Olympia Hills | Victory Heights area in Seattle is that everything you could ever need is in the area so you don’t have to drive all around the city just to run errands. More than four grocery stores are in the area including two QFC’s, a super Fred Meyers and a Safeway. The housing prices vary to affordable to expensive depending on the area you’re looking to buy in. A lot of apartment buildings in the area have been converted to condos so the market its filled with people who have purchased their first homes which helps to make the area pretty diverse and vibrant.

Parts of the Olympia Hills | Victory Heights area can be slightly sketchy and there tends to be a lot of police presences in certain areas especially near small parks or streets with several apartment buildings but other than load radios and teenagers driving just a little too fast down some side streets the area is a great place to call home. It’s also brimming with a nice selection of restaurants and small shops so it’s an area that truly has everything.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"An Integral Part Of North Seattle, Featuring A Major Golf Course And Multiple Car Dealerships"

These adjoining neighborhoods may not stand out in tourist publications, but can dish out character and amenities that challenge high-visited parts of the city. The Olympic Hills/Victory Heights' boundaries are 145th Street in the north, 98th Street in the south, Interstate 5 and 15th Avenue in the west, and 30th Avenue/35th Avenue and Lake City Way in the east.

Several hubs of activity exist, with a strong presence near 125th Street and Lake City Way. Having a small "downtown" feel, several restaurants (including one Seattle's infamous Dick's Drive In shops - http://ddir.com) and a Bartell Drugs (http://bartelldrugs.com) shopping plaza on 30th and 125th, are found here. Our son has attended classes at the Seattle Gymnastics Academy (http://seattlegymnastics.com), near 26th Avenue and 125th, for the past couple of years. A spacious park with a sizeable playground is situated a couple of blocks to the south, off of 26th Avenue. If you are in the market for a new car, many dealerships await on and around Lake City Way.

The corner of 145th Street and 15th Avenue brings multiple choices of shopping and cuisine, where one of the largest Good Will stores (http://goodwill.org) in North Seattle is found. Heading southeast reveals a recreational mecca for many North Seattle residents, Jackson Park Golf Course (http://premiergc.com/jackson-park.php). An 18 hole Championship and 9 hole Executive course, which boasts itself as the driest public course in the city.

Further south, the intersection of 125th Lane and 15th Avenue brings another cluster of shops, including a well known drum school (http://seattledrumschool.com), featuring the expertise of musician Steve Hill.

The residential areas of Olympic Hills and Victory Heights are predominantly in the central corridor, hemmed in by the major intersections and arterials. A couple of small parks, some with play areas, can be found south of 120th Street.

Easy access to the interstate and major routes such as Lake City Way, Northgate Way and Sand Point Way, allow residents to travel seamlessly locally and regionally. It should be noted, however, that heavy traffic volumes are found on Lake City Way and 145th, especially during morning and afternoon commutes.

Overall, these two neighborhoods provide for affordable, yet relatively peaceful Seattle living. Amenities are adequate and close, with a decent amount of green space, even if it does happen to be a developed golf course.
Pros
  • Several car dealerships
  • Gymnastics Academy
Cons
  • High traffic on arterial streets
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"More than meets the eye"

In the Olympia Hills area, the architecture is pretty diverse and demonstrates a spread from displaced U-District homes and apartments to new development and constructions. A lot of the residencies are shielded from traffic noise by hedges, fences, and trees lining the roadways, and the front lawns on most of the single-level house lots offer a respite from city crowding. Expect your neighbors to be other residences and large warehouses and light industry, all connected with streets riddles with potholes. The actual communities are safe, though perceived as being a little rougher than they are. That helps contribute to lower prices in housing, and it’s said that you can walk the streets without any major threats. The worst things that happen are thoughtlessness like leaving a candy bar wrapper out—no huge indicators about violence, drugs, or anything organized.

The area is heavy on retail and business in general ebbs and flows with highway expansion, though it does offer affordable alternatives to the stylish and high-priced retail in the area. It’s semi-unknown simply because the area is assumed to be filled with car dealerships because that’s what lines the major roads, and yet there is a diverse ecosystem of all kinds of different businesses and art displays.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids

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Best Streets in Olympic Hills / Victory Heights

"Residential right next to the arterial"
47.7239970960179 -122.301887928665
"Getting past the grunge"
47.717268048452 -122.30721848373
"Busy street with lots of different things"
47.7084797139477 -122.301336227573

Unranked Streets in Olympic Hills / Victory Heights

"Great neighborhood main street"
47.7148815396868 -122.291549978869
"The Great Aim"
47.7157886024928 -122.312558195323
"Pleasant street running through Pinehurst connecting Lake City to Northgate"
47.7170045072299 -122.304519004562
"New and Interesting"
47.7189321247928 -122.297899797451
"Residential street in Pinehurst, quiet and green"
47.7139655163795 -122.301278928167
"Laid-back neighborhood street in Pinehurst"
47.715695402827 -122.302509436949
"Secluded street parallel to 125th -- easy access to busline"
47.7175171850562 -122.302834233503

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