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Central Seattle

Always historic, often pricey, and sometimes funky, the diverse neighborhoods in downtown Seattle and its immediate vicinity come together like multi-colored shapes in a stained-glass window. They form a portrait of a city that's been nontraditional since its pioneering days. Along with a faster pace of life and a wealth of cultural offerings, demographics set Central Seattle apart, according to Census 2000 statistics. Only 13 percent of its households are traditional nuclear families (married with kids), a figure much lower than the rest of the state. Central Seattle residents also are more likely to be between the ages of 20 and 34, and are less likely to own their own homes.

Central Seattle's neighborhoods include:
Capitol Hill
Denny Regrade
Downtown
International District
Madison Park
Madrona
Magnolia
Pioneer Square
Queen Anne
Other Central Seattle neighborhoods

View healthcare facilities in this district.

Capitol Hill
You won't find a Capitol on Capitol Hill. You will find a hip community that's often labeled "diverse." Maybe that's because it draws folks with nose rings and goatees as well as those living in its Millionaires' Row mansions. Perhaps that's due to the social diversity of the community here, or maybe the label best describes the neighborhood's funky collection of businesses, from Thai restaurants and espresso bars to vintage clothing boutiques and nightlife hot spots.

Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park includes the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a conservatory, and an old water tower that offers an enhanced view of the city to those who care to climb it. Its Theater Schmeater puts on Seattle's best fringe theater productions. Its Egyptian Theater hosts the annual summer Seattle Film Festival. And a cluster of medical offices and hospitals has earned Capitol Hill's central portion the nickname "Pill Hill."

Residential streets include large turn-of-the-20th-century bungalows and multi-view condos. The older buildings tend to have fewer conveniences but more charm, hence the concentration of bed-and-breakfast inns here. The area's popularity has made parking spaces an endangered species.

Capitol Hill lies northeast of downtown. It is located east of Interstate 5, west of 23rd Street, south of Interstate 520, and north of Union Street.

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Denny Regrade
They used to call it Denny Hill, after Seattle pioneer Arthur Denny. But in 1897, city planners felt a mound impeded development. So the hill was leveled, and the resulting flat land-unusual in Seattle-eventually birthed offices and storefronts. Nowadays, Denny Regrade is being rebirthed itself, emerging as a hip and youthful community.

The cool kids play here, enjoying live jazz or rock, shooting pool, shopping the trendy boutiques, and sampling the upscale cafés and nightclubs. Exemplary of the neighborhood's tone is Sit & Spin, an eatery and laundromat that occasionally throws in a live rock-music show.

Almost half of Downtown's residents live in the Regrade, one of Seattle's oldest inner-city neighborhoods. Its Belltown sub-neighborhood features about 6,000 housing units, of which some 1,400 are condos. Roughly half the apartments are subsidized.

Adjacent to the Seattle Center, Denny Regrade is bordered on the north by Denny Way, on the west by Elliott Bay, and on the southeast by Stewart. Within Denny Regrade, Belltown is delineated by Cedar Street, Elliott Avenue, Lenora Street, and Third Avenue.

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Downtown
Although history has played havoc with downtown Seattle, this resilient area has not broken. It survived economic lows, such as the Great Fire of 1889, the 1929 stock market crash, and the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. And it thrived during the highs, such as the lucrative lumber and salmon production in the 1800s, the Klondike gold rush, and the hosting of the 1962 World's Fair. Avoiding the tarnish of urban decay, the district today shines as a prime example of a thriving downtown.

A Starbuck's graces nearly every corner, and historic brick buildings accommodate modern retail chains like Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Nordstrom. The skyline's giant, the 76-floor Bank of America Tower, remains the tallest building (by number of floors) west of the Mississippi River. For cultural refreshment, the downtown area offers the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Symphony's Benaroya Hall, and several theaters.

Residents here also are within walking distance of 450 restaurants, 77 art dealers and galleries, and about 2,000 shops-but good luck in finding a downtown apartment, which is considered hot property.

Downtown's heart is its central business district, roughly defined as the area between Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market, and between First and Eighth Avenues. Seattle's downtown, however, is sometimes defined as encompassing Belltown, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the International District, Yesler Terrace, and First Hill.

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International District

Another city might call it Chinatown. Seattle's International District was developed in the late 1800s by Asian-Americans who worked for lumber mills, fishing boats, railroads, and other industries. Their descendants continue to enrich the International District. Visitors can stroll past herbal medicine shops; vegetable markets; specialty shops; and Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants.

The I.D., as the locals call it, features the Wing Luke Asian Museum, which features a collection of Asian Pacific American culture, history, and art. The International District Summer Festival takes place annually at Hing Hay Park, noteable for its ornate pagoda.

True to its cultural roots, the I.D. respects its elderly. (More than half the residents are over age 60.) The Danny Woo International District Community Garden gives seniors free plots of land to grow vegetables, and the Kay Ying Senior Citizen Club offers them a place to relax and read the newspaper. Available low-income housing is well-suited for seniors, but middle-income apartments and condos for families are scarce in the district.

The International District is bordered by Interstate 5, South Dearborn Street, Fourth Avenue South, and Yesler Way.

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Madison Park
Lakeside cottages and houseboats once lined what is now 42nd Avenue East in Madison Park. Then the lakeside moved a block east, thanks to the 1911 construction of the locks connecting Lake Washington and Puget Sound. When the lake's water level lowered, Madison Park lost appeal as a hot spot for summer vacationing.

But in the great cycle of life, Madison Park is desireable again. Its rental cottages were replaced with high-priced homes in the 1980s. Mansions enjoy a view of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. In-demand condominiums and bungalows exist, but affordable housing does not.

A walking tour reveals the restored affluence of this neighborhood. While a few quaint shops and impressive restaurants can be found, Madison Park remains mostly residential. The primary exception is the 230-acre University of Washington Arboretum. About 95 percent of Madison Park residents are white, according to the 2000 Census, and most of their children attend private schools.

Northeast of downtown Seattle, Madison Park is bounded in part by Lake Washington, East Madison Street, and Lake Washington Boulevard East.

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Madrona
Public art on a library lawn in Madrona sums up this neighborhood's character. Titled The Peaceable Kingdom in Madrona, the sculpture shows a panther, pig, sheep, and wolf sitting together harmoniously. This ethnically diverse neighborhood has grown past the racial clashes of the 1960s and early 1970s. In fact, Madrona is growing in popularity.

Whereas Madrona's racial make-up was predominately black for years, many white couples have been moving in and buying up property. Cutting through the neighborhood, 34th Avenue divides the lakeside mansions to the east from the modestly priced bungalows to the west.

Amenities include several fine restaurants and a popular swimming dock. In the spring, the neighborhood bustles with home tours in April and a community-wide fair in May.

Boundaries for Madrona include East Denny Way, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, East Cherry Street, and Lake Washington.

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Magnolia
A case of mistaken identity gave this neighborhood its name. In 1857, a Navy botanist mistook red-barked madrona trees for magnolias and named the site Magnolia Bluff. Today, the neighborhood lives up to its moniker, thanks to magnolia plantings by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Magnolia lies west of Queen Anne, another affluent residential neighborhood. Many professionals and young families set up house in Magnolia, in the quaint bungalows and the bluff's upscale homes. The cafés, restaurants, and bars are frequented mostly by locals, probably due to the limited through-traffic.

Seattle's largest park at 534 acres, Discovery Park, occupies about one-quarter of the land in Magnolia and overlooks Puget Sound. The park features wildlife preserve areas, West Point Lighthouse, Fort Lawton Cemetery, a Native American art museum, a visitors center, trails, playgrounds, and bike paths.

Almost island-like, as it's a peninsula at the north entrance to Elliott Bay, Magnolia is bounded by water on its north, west, and south sides.

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Pioneer Square
They came, they saw, they settled. And in doing so in 1852, Seattle's pioneers made this neighborhood the city's birthplace and original downtown. Following the Great Fire of 1889, Pioneer Square was rebuilt better than its first incarnation. Urban renewal threatened the area's buildings in the 1960s, but preservationists came to their rescue. From this was born the Pioneer Square Historic District, which safeguards its Victorian Romanesque structures for future generations.

Complemented by tree-lined streets and cobblestone plazas, Pioneer Square's venerable buildings have found new life as antique shops, restaurants, offices, nightclubs, bars, art galleries…and homeless shelters. Commercial highlights include the Central Saloon, established in 1892, and the popular Elliott Bay Book Company.

The Underground Tour explores the original neighborhood's underground storefronts. Weekends fill many of the clubs and taverns with live music. And crowds gather annually in Pioneer Square for Mardi Gras festivities.

Adjacent to downtown's central business district, Pioneer Square is bounded by South Royal Brougham Way, Cherry Street, 4th Avenue South, and the waterfront.

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Queen Anne
Queen Anne may have been named for the architecture style favored by early lumber barons, but its environment is definitely regal. Queen Anne Hill, the highest in Seattle, rises more than 450 feet over Puget Sound and offers views found in realtors' dreams. Naturally, many clamor to get into this affluent neighborhood, yet the vacancy rate for apartments hovers at about 1 percent.

Because price follows demand, the apartments and red-brick homes here cost a pretty penny. The sub-neighborhood of Upper Queen Anne has the relaxing feel of an established neighborhood and comes with plenty of affordable eateries. Lower Queen Anne draws a younger crowd with theaters, trendy music clubs, and the adjacent Seattle Center.

The main shopping area, comprised of small stores and supermarkets, can be found atop Queen Anne Hill. For Seattle's most photographed view, head to Kerry Park Viewpoint on the hill's southern slope. The vantage point aligns the city's skyline, the Space Needle, and distant Mount Rainier.

Queen Anne is bordered by Elliott Bay, 15 Avenue West, Broad Street, Aurora Avenue North, and the Lake Washington Ship Canal.

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Other Central Seattle neighborhoods

• Eastlake provides the eastern shore of Lake Union and holds onto city's oldest wooden schoolhouse. The tree-lined neighborhood comprises single-family homes, attic apartments, condos, and mom-and-pop shops. Plus, around one-third of Seattle's houseboats are said to be in Eastlake.
• First Hill, where many of Seattle's westbound pioneers put down temporary roots, is home to several hospitals and the Frye Art Museum. Its mansions and luxury high-rise condominiums coexist with public housing developments.
• Judkins Park is slowly rejuvenating from decades of neglect, crime, and vacant homes and lots. Residents have taken a leadership role in rebuilding this small neighborhood, which is drawing new blood by its diversity, African-American culture, and proximity to downtown.
• Leschi has plenty of natural cause to boast. Lying on a portion of Lake Washington's western beachfront, the neighborhood features scenic bicycle paths, intriguing ravines, steep hillsides, planted gardens, and views of the Cascades and Mount Rainier. Yet, those same amenities have precluded affordable housing.
• Madison Valley, strong in diversity and self-determination, plucked itself out of deterioration a few decades ago. Its main street now showcases trendy boutiques, shops, and delis, mostly run by women. Its only public building, an elementary school, unites residents. And its homes are among the few in the area that are still affordable.
• Montlake's location sells its homes. Close to downtown and the University of Washington, it also has Route 520 running through it, a beeline to the Eastside. Not surprisingly, the tree-lined neighborhood's historic homes fetch more than $500,000 each. Primarily a haven for professor types before it was "discovered," Montlake also is home to the Museum of History and Industry.
• Sodo, a shortened name for this south-of-the-Kingdome district, is the Northwest's single largest manufacturing area. A sprinkling of artists, sculptors, and service-oriented businesses share the industrial space, but Sodo's few residents lack basic lifestyle amenities.
• South Lake Union, which provides the southern shoreline for Lake Union, is a community work in progress. Residents and business owners are banding together to beautify and improve the neighborhood, which has suffered parking and planning problems. It may be best known for its Center for Wooden Boats.

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Healthcare facilities in Central Seattle:
Central Hospital
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center
Harborview Medical Center
Schick Shadel Hospital
Swedish Medical Center
Virginia Mason Medical Center