Most famous outside of Pierce County for the US Open that took place in 2015, University Place is a small town neighboring Tacoma, Washington. While it is a separate city, it is so close to Tacoma that living, working and playing here is not uncommon for area residents.
Fondly called UP (as in yoo-pee, not “up”) by the locals, it’s a great place to enjoy beaches and parks, but it’s also a great place to live. UP is known for its strong school district, and other city amenities include a new Pierce County Library and beautiful sunset views from areas near the shoreline. Many homes in this area also have stunning views of the sunset or the Narrows Bridge. It is hard to go wrong!
Things to do
While University Place is largely residential and doesn’t have many major attractions like downtown Tacoma, there is plenty to do and see here. One of the best is visiting the parks.
Titlow Beach Park, at the bottom of 6th Avenue, is the perfect park. There is a rocky beach that sometimes does not exist when the tide is high, but it is a wide place to stroll when the tide is low. Titlow Beach is one of the best places to roam the beach in Pierce County, as periwinkles, starfish, jellyfish and more are regulars on the rocky shoreline. There are a few restaurants (Steamers and The Beach Tavern), a paved boardwalk, a playground, playgrounds, and wooded trails.
Chambers Bay Golf Course is where the 2015 US Open golf tournament was held. It has miles of paved trails open to the public, a clubhouse and restaurant, and a full 18-hole golf course.
The Curran Apple Orchard is also a good place to spend some time outdoors. At any time of the year, the apple orchard is a park. During the fall, it is a place to pick apples or attend cider events.
University Place is not known for its food scene, as most restaurants are chains, but there are some good options. Steamer’s on Titlow Beach is an affordable seafood spot, Gyro Zone on 40th is a popular Greek restaurant, Lefty’s Burger Shack on 27th has, you guessed it, good burgers, and Steph’s Pizza on Orchard serves some great local pizza.
There are some places to shop within UP city limits that Tacoma does not have. These include Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and several independent stores. This is also home to one of the best bakeries in the Tacoma area.
University Place School District
University Place is a desirable place to live for its quiet neighborhoods, sunset and water views, but also for its school district, which is one of the best in the area.
- Curtis Senior High – 8425 40th Street West
- Curtis Junior High – 3725 Grandview Drive West
- Tambor intermedio – 4909 79th Avenue West
- Narrows View Intermediate – 7813 Fordham Street
- Cámaras Primarias – 9101 56th Ave W
- Evergreen Primary – 7102 40th Street West
- Sunset Primary – 4523 97th Avenue West
- University Place Primary – 2708 Grandview Drive West
Real estate
The median sales price of homes in University Place was approximately $ 366,700 in 2017 according to Zillow.com. In general, this area is more expensive than many Tacoma neighborhoods, except perhaps North Tacoma and Northeast Tacoma. Many homes here have a fair amount of space with most between 1,400 and 3,600 square feet, with a handful of much smaller and much larger homes. Many of the homes are 1960s or newer as well, and there are options for some nice condos here as well. There are some incredibly opulent homes tucked away on the slopes overlooking the water, especially near Grandview, just north of Chambers Bay, but expect to pay a high price for these.
Apartments
Apartments are plentiful at University Place and include a variety of cheap rental locations up to the highest standard. A good location to search for cheap and mid-range apartments is along Bridgeport, which also brings you close to many shops and restaurants. Bridgeport Avenue apartments tend toward smaller communities, but there are also several large communities in UP, including The Boulders (which is actually in Tacoma, but barely), Carriage House, and Orchard Crest Apartments. If you’re looking for a complex with a pool, cabana, or other resort amenities, these three are good bets.
Prices for UP apartments start at $ 800 for studios and go from there. With the more competitive real estate market, apartments (especially in the nicer areas of the city) have become more expensive and competitive.
