The little town of Newcastle, population around 10,000, has some big dreams for itself as a livable, picturesque American city, and, by gosh, it might just make it.

Squeezed between Renton and Bellevue, Newcastle voters incorporated a decade ago as a way of not becoming Renton. Like similar communities of that era, incorporation “” of Sammamish, Kenmore, Newcastle and others “” was felt the better option to being part of the sometimes indifferent King County government or getting a postmark by annexation.What became of Newcastle in the following years was not much, except for a couple of very big things that now look like real assets: one of the finest golf courses in the region sharing views by million-dollar homes, and an almost accidental greenbelt around the city that gives it the leafy character of a postcard.

There’s nothing to write home about sitting in the Newcastle City Hall, a warren of corridors leading to a meeting room right above a machine shop. But inside City Hall, plans are emerging toward a unifying planned community with cottages and shops sitting just beneath the Golf Club at Newcastle.

“We have a plan,” said Newcastle Mayor Ben Varon, “and that ties to a vision of a very livable city with a downtown core of attractive shops and interaction of pedestrians and community.” continued…

For the full story read Surprising Newcastle: visions and opportunities - The Seattle Times

For more Newcastle real estate and community news go to: www.MyNewcastleLifestyle.com