Altavista Pl West, Magnolia

The houses lining Altavista Place West are gorgeous, there's no question. And the lawns are beautifully manicured, the gardens colorful and trimmed, and the views from the west-side homes are gorgeous. But what the neighborhood has in charm, though abundant, it seriously lacks in personality. The houses are varied and as different as you can imagine, but they're all right on the road. There's no seclusion, no privacy and not a single tree over 20 years old. For the price you're paying for these houses, I suppose I'd expect more in the way of a relaxing home, and less of a showcase. For privacy, you'd need to keep the blinds closed, which defeats the purpose of the spectacular views of Puget Sound.
The street does offer some nice eye candy to local residents who like to go out for an evening walk, and the neighbors aren't rude. It's just far enough away from the beaches and parks to be inconvenient to families with children. For an area I love so much (Magnolia), this neighborhood just doesn't seem to be on par with the rest of the community.