[Not a valid template]
Adored for its historic flavor and small-town feel, the Lynwood Center community is located in the southern region of Bainbridge Island, only a ten-minute drive from the ferry terminal [1]. Back in the early 1900s, Emmanuel Olson married a woman named Edna. For a short period of time, the two of them lived in Emmanuel’s parents’ home (built in the late 1800s). But Edna, with an admiration for the Tudor-styled buildings as seen in England, requested a home of her own. The community at the time was small, but growing. During the construction of their soon-to-be-future home, the Olsons decided to build shops that the townspeople could use as well (which naturally took on the Tudor-style construction) [2]. These shops began the Lynwood Center that is still in use today and defines the “downtown” of the greater Lynwood Center community. Locals tend to see Lynwood Center as a quieter, more personal, and more accessible alternative to Winslow (the bustling social life of the island). Residents enjoy walking the forested streets with neighbors and pets, or even going by food from their homes to the shops. Of course, if there is something your heart desires that Lynwood Center does not offer, Winslow is just a short 10 minute drive away. Lynwood Center is not always so quiet, though. In fact, every year local sponsors get together to host the free Taste of Lynwood Fairfest which offers live music, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, a beer garden, and plenty of activities for the kids. The event tends to draw 2,000-3,000 people each year in celebration of the historic community [3]. Also, once a year the Historic Lynwood Theater hosts the Celluloid Bainbridge Film Festival that runs all day, screening films “reminiscent of the 19402-1950s film noir genre” and with some relation to Bainbridge Island [4]. Lynwood center is a great community for someone who is looking to be near the hustle and bustle of the island’s social life, but perhaps not constantly in the center of it.
As is standard, properties closer to the water tend to run higher in cost, and properties further inland in more wooded areas tend to do the opposite. But conveniently, this community has wonderful homes in consideration of any budget. For a roughly 3,000 square foot home near the town center you can expect to pay close to $600,000. If you are hoping for something larger, a newer construction of 4,000-5,000 square feet will cost closer to $900,000. But if you are looking for something on the smaller side, you can find a home of 1970s construction with roughly 2,000 square feet in the $300,000 range. Homes in the upper wooded areas enjoy a quiet, more spacious, but friendly environment while homes closer to the town offer more of a lively social environment. In general, the homes in this area have a very personalized cottage-like feel—similar to styles that could be found in parts of Ballard (for those of you who are familiar with the Seattle area). Lynnwood Center is one of the few areas of the island that offers such a diversity of housing options. So, if you are someone who maybe does not know what kind of home to go for, but you know you want the atmosphere to be social but homey, Lynnwood Center is a fantastic place to start and even end.
[1] http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2012369127_realneighborhood18.html
[2] http://www.pleasantbeachvillage.com/manorhouse/history.html
[3] http://tasteoflynwood.org/
[4] http://www.bainbridgeisland.com/about-bainbridge-island/annual-events/celluloid-bainbridge-film-festival.html
