Smokey Point

Many major companies are moving into Arlington, and they are bringing lots of jobs with them. If you want to live where you work, it doesn’t get any more convenient than Smokey Point. “Smokey Point is more of a retail district. It has a lot of the big box stores,” says Amanda Woods, a Realtor with Keller Williams. “It’s a little more urban as far as the density of homes.” With easy access to popular restaurants and shops and just a quick drive away from the industrial business parks in Arlington, Smokey Point puts homeowners at the center of everywhere they’ll need to go.

Most of the homes in Smokey Point are ranch-style houses with wood siding. You’ll find houses with shades of green, blue and gray, matching the natural colors around the area. There is a mix of hipped and gabled roofs throughout the neighborhood, and most homes have spacious built-in garages. Other housing styles include Craftsman homes with front porches and wood railings. The houses are pretty close together, giving the neighborhood a suburban feel. Tall evergreen trees reach toward the sky and provide natural beauty and shade over the community. Three-bedroom homes typically cost between $400,000 and $500,000. Four-bedroom houses in the neighborhood will likely cost upwards of $600,000.

Students in Smokey Point will likely be part of the Lakewood School District and might attend Lakewood Elementary School, Lakewood Middle School and Lakewood High School. Lakewood High School is rated a B overall on Niche and serves approximately 750 students. The school building is relatively new, opening for the 2017-18 school year. Lakewood High offers several clubs, including a book club, a creative writing club, a choir and a jazz band. Students in 11th and 12th grades can enroll in the Running Start program, which allows them to take tuition-free college courses while still in high school through a partnership with local community colleges.

Smokey Point is home to a growing business area, including some of the largest companies in the country. “Arlington has one of the largest Amazon fulfillment centers, which opened recently. Tesla just leased a 250,000-square-foot space. They’re adding millions of square feet of factory and business space for businesses to come in. There are some really interesting business opportunities,” says Woods. The Amazon center in Smokey Point is the company’s largest fulfillment center in the state and will employ around 1,200 people when it is fully operational. Much of the southwestern part of the neighborhood is full of industrial spaces and warehouses home to several large companies.

Head to J Rudy York Memorial Park for some outdoor time. This community park has a basketball court, a playground, picnic tables and short walking paths. If you’re in the mood for a longer walk, check out the Arlington Airport Trail. This trail surrounds the airport and is accessible at several locations. The mix of gravel and pavement provides 5.5 to 6 miles of trail for running or walking, and dogs are allowed on the trail if they are on a leash.

If you’re hungry from all that walking, head to Moose Creek Barbeque on 172nd Street for generous helpings of smoked meat and comfort food. Locals enjoy the brisket, cornbread and macaroni salad at this casual restaurant inside a strip mall. If you’re not in the mood for barbecue, you can choose from several other nearby restaurants offering everything from hamburgers to Korean food. The neighborhood has several fast-food restaurants if you need to get something quick.

You can shop for groceries at the Safeway on 172nd Street. There is a Walmart just down the street for any other household items. You’ll also have easy access to big box stores like Target, Best Buy, Lowe’s and Petco. Several smaller stores are open in the neighborhood also, giving you local options for clothing, music and jewelry. For any drive you need to make throughout the Puget Sound region, the proximity to Interstate 5 gives you an easy start to your trip.

Written By

Matthew Atkins

Photography Contributed By

Erik Knudsen

Video By

Taylor Noll