City of Auburn
Washington
For many small towns,
the coming of a
Supermall marks the
death of downtown.
Not so in 111-year-old
City of Auburn WA, where
the SuperMall has
apparently only inspired
locals to spruce up the
historic core. Downtown
boasts old-fashioned
turquoise lamps and tidy
sidewalks; a new rail
station and colorful
banners; and a hip
coffee shop and regional
ballet school.
This isn't the same City
of Auburn Washington
anymore.
There's still a row of
taverns here, pimping
pull-tabs aside neon
beer signs. But many
merchants and city
leaders are committed to
upgrading downtown's
ambience.
City of Auburn
Washington is changing
rapidly.
And growing. Acres of
new homes are springing
up outside older
downtown, especially in
southwestern Lakeland
Hills. Here,
subdivisions with names
like "Foxwood" and
"Waterford" sprout
massive tan and gray
homes behind river-rock
walls on this piece of
real estate.
Auburn Washington's
suburban hills boast
many new homes, but
there's diversity in
housing styles here.
Downtown Auburn is full
of Craftsman bungalows
and older wood homes -
many just begging for
fresh paint and
landscaping. There are
even a few Victorians
and Tudors.
The City of Auburn
Washington also has many
ramblers - some in aqua
and mauve - ranch homes,
split-levels,
apartments, condos,
townhouses and
creatively named mobile
parks, like "Don Wan
Estates."
It also has tons of
strip businesses,
fast-food joints and car
dealerships -
Volkswagen, Dodge,
Subaru, General Motors
and Toyota, to name just
a few - along Auburn Way
North. And then there is
the Super Mall.
The proliferation of
businesses is part of
the relentless growth
wave that also spawned
the Emerald Downs
racetrack, SuperMall and
Muckleshoot Casino (part
of the Muckleshoot
Indian Reservation is
located in the city).
Still, parts of the City
of Auburn WA seem frozen
in time. It's home to
one of the region's last
drive-in movie theaters,
the popular, decidedly
lowbrow Valley 6.
It is very close to
Seattle, but it has a
small-town atmosphere.
The City of Auburn
Washington offers many
family events - parades,
performances, festivals
and programs in the
city's two dozen public
parks. There's a
symphony, theaters and
the ballet.
Golfers have two nearby
courses to choose from.
There are two indoor
pools. And there are
walkways along the Green
River, to the east, and
trails along the White
River, to the south.
Best of all, locals say,
it's retained its homey
character, despite
growth. |
A Fixer-Upper
needing various repairs.
