Near North End?

Where is North End Tacoma? We’ve always thought of it as those houses North of 6th Avenue. The city even makes it easy. Everything north of 6th has ‘north’ in the street name. Everything south of 6th has ‘south’ in the name. This isn’t rocket science.

The definition seems to be shifting – at least according to realtors.

We’ve noticed that in real estate listings lately that brokers seem to be describing places as ‘near North End’ or ‘almost North End’ or, our favorite, ‘near North End quality.’ A listing recently had a house on South 8th street as ‘a quality North End home.’ Wait. It’s on South 8th. I don’t get it.

We’ve been telling people that the area between South 6th and South 12 is a great houses that are appreciating like mad. Now we have a definition. Sharon Benson of Coldwell Banker (www.sharonbenson.com) sent out a postcard that arrived in our mailbox today with statistics for the North End and Near North End. At the bottom of the stats it clearly states, ‘Near North is just south of 6th Ave., from S. State to Orchard.’ This definition seems very specific, yet somehow, vague. Our friends a half block off S. Sprague and one block from the KFC- not Near North End. The friends at South 8th and Cushman – not Near North End (Nearly in the Wedge?). Kelly on South 8th near Puget Sound – now she’s Near North End. Assuming that’s near enough under the ‘just south’ definition. My old rental house on North 7th street – South End Quality in the North End.

Forget the North End. It’s time for these neighborhoods to create their own identity. In reality I believe they are, but the realtors haven’t caught on quite yet.