Get to Know the Woodridge Community

By Ken Urman, Realtor®

Woodridge is a community of 5,116 (2010 census) within Bellevue, WA. It includes the neighborhoods of
Woodridge Hill and Norwood Village, and accounts for about four percent of the City of Bellevue. After World War II, most of Woodridge Hill was an undeveloped tangle of blackberry vines, trees, and undergrowth. The area was developed over the next two decades, and was annexed by the city of Bellevue in 1966.

The Woodridge Hill neighborhood is located immediately south of downtown and east of I-405, and a long strip of multi-family, office, and light industrial development flanking Richards Road. Woodridge Hill is a neighborhood of quiet streets and family homes -- many with views of Lake Washington, downtown Bellevue, or Seattle.

Much of the community’s daily life revolves around Woodridge Elementary School, located at the top of the hill within this neighborhood. Woodridge Elementary School was rebuilt completely in 2007. The 2012 enrollment was 574. Many people consider Woodridge Elementary to be one of the best elementary schools in Bellevue.

Norwood Village was built on Woodridge Hill in the late 1940s by and for World War II veterans. This development began in 1947, when a nonprofit veterans’ organization acquired 48 acres and developed it into Lower Norwood. Local architects designed these homes and positioned them on lots to take advantage of the spectacular views. This prevented the neighborhood from having the uniformity of other post-war tract housing neighborhoods. The community was considered so unique that it was featured in home and garden magazines in 1952. Norwood Village is the oldest community in Washington

State with continuous water fluoridation. Today, it is a Historic District of post-WWII architecture. Before there was a Bellevue, there was historic Norwood Village!

The average household size in Woodridge is 2.2 people, and the average family size is 2.8 members. Among all households, 50.6 percent are married couples, and 19.1% of households include children. The median household income in 2009 was $83,178. Residents are well educated, with 53.6% holding at least a Bachelor’s degree and 12.1% a Master’s degree.

Both Woodridge Hill and Norwood Village built their own community swimming pools, still prized by

residents. The pools provide a range of activities for all ages, and provide swim lessons and competitive swim teams.

There are three parks within the Woodridge Community: Bannerwood Ballfield Park, Norwood Village Park, and Woodridge Water Tower Park, which offers a trail that is well shaded by tall trees and a good spot for serious bird watching. Residents also have immediate access to the Woodridge Open Space, a 20-acre upland forest that is part of the Richards Valley Greenway.

Currently there are five homes listed for sale in the Woodridge area. Here is one example. In the last 180 days, 31 properties have sold in this area, ranging in price from $160,000 for a condo to $851,000 for a 4,140 square foot single family home. The average travel time to work for 75-80% of the population is 10 to 20 minutes.

Keep up with all the news from the Woodridge community with the Woodridge blog.
If you would like to see the homes available today or you wish to learn more about Woodridge, please contact me 206-230-0833 or email me, kenurman@comcast.net.