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Northeast Seattle

Nestled between Central Seattle and the Eastside, Northeast Seattle may be seen as no more than a residential pause between business meccas. But homes are where quality of life counts most.

Houses in the $200,000-$500,000 range dominate the area, with lakeside homes in upscale Laurelhurst going for much more. Outsiders who visit the district typically come for Ravenna's shops and park, or the University District's campus and nearby commercial districts.

Northeast Seattle, bounded south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal and west by Interstate 5, extends to King County's northern boundary.

Northeast Seattle's neighborhoods include:
Laurelhurst
Maple Leaf
Ravenna
University District
View Ridge
Other Northeast Seattle neighborhoods

View healthcare facilities in this district.

Laurelhurst
No wonder the lawns are so well-manicured: Laurelhurst has its modern origins as a former golf and country club. In 1906, developers began buying property that surrounded the golf course and marketing the area. Today, the prestigious neighborhood is the nesting ground for affluent families that include doctors, lawyers, university faculty, and politicians.

Peaceful streets, upscale homes, striking views, and shopping at the nearby University Village generate Laurelhurst's appeal. Children flock to the Laurelhurst Beach Club, a private waterfront park, for summertime swimming. Community events include an annual salmon bake on the first Thursday in August.

Houses to the east often boast views of the Cascade Mountains; westside homes may come with docks on Lake Washington. Architecturally, homes lean toward the traditional Tudor, colonial, and craftsman styles. Prices range from $400,000 houses to multi-million-dollar waterfront homes.

Located just east of the University of Washington, Laurelhurst lies on a peninsula that extends into Union Bay. It is partially outlined by Sand Point Way NE, 49th Avenue NE, 55th Avenue NE, and Lake Washington.

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Maple Leaf
Some might see this quiet hilltop community as sleepy. True, Maple Leaf has been slow to grow, although real estate developers have eyed it as far back as the 1890s. And a shift in residents from middle-class families to retirees further entrenched its "sleepy" identity. Now, however, the population is swinging back to younger families. Plus, efforts that won Maple Leaf a "U.S. Neighborhood of the Year" designation in 1986 keep improving the quality of life.

What makes residents settle here for life? Maple Leaf offers little more than shady streets, access to good schools, active churches, local playgrounds, community spirit, and views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. And that's more than enough for many. In addition, the neighborhood is home to family restaurants and the Northwest Puppet Center.

Much in demand are the neighborhood's bungalows, ramblers, colonials, and builder homes, with an average price around the low $200,000s. South Maple Leaf features mostly sturdy, older houses, built between the 1920s and 1950s.

Northgate Mall lies to the north of Maple Leaf, whose boundaries include NE Northgate Way, Interstate 5, NE 85th Street, and Lake City Way NE.

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Ravenna
Elbow grease doesn't scare Ravenna residents. They're more than willing to roll up their sleeves and steer their community. You'll find them volunteering at Bryant Elementary, one of Seattle's largest elementary schools. You'll see them banding together to raise Ravenna Creek, diverted into underground sewer pipes more than 50 years ago. You'll witness them decorating their homes along one road for the annual holiday-themed Candy Cane Lane display.

Naturally, Ravenna has a strong community association, active since the 1920s. Beyond community spirit, residents appreciate the neighborhood's family restaurants, small bakeries, unique shops, and Ravenna Park. The park no longer has the giant Douglas firs that once drew recreationers, but it remains popular with hikers, joggers, and picnickers.

New construction in Ravenna can be found amid homes in the Tudor, bungalow, and craftsman style. Houses on the east side enjoy mountain and cityscape views. The neighborhood is mostly white, blue-collar, and middle-class, with a growing population of Jews.

Located just north of the University District, Ravenna also is known as Ravenna-Bryant. It is bounded in part by NE 45th Street, 35th Avenue NE, NE 75th Street, and Ravenna Park.

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University District
It's not just the more than 35,000 students and 16,000 faculty and staffers that impact the personality of the University District, which envelops the University of Washington. You also have to factor in the businesses, cultural events, and intellectual activities catering to them. All together, they make for a youthful, vibrant, and sometimes wild neighborhood.

Two primary commercial districts-the "Ave" and the "Village"-offer inexpensive ethnic restaurants, pubs, espresso bars, and unique shops. It's also where you'll find the popular University Bookstore and U-District Farmer's Market. One can choose to stroll the university's 700-acre campus, or attend a university lecture, film, concert, or sporting event.

Students make up about half the U District's more than 20,000 residents, 90 percent of which are renters. North of campus lie the single-family homes favored by university faculty and other professionals. Other types of available housing include single- and multi-room apartments, boarding and rooming houses, and cluster-type apartments.

The university occupies a third of the University District, which is partially bounded by the Lake Washington Ship Canal, NE 68th Street, Interstate 5, and 25th Avenue NE.

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View Ridge
Clearing some tall stands of fir and cedar revealed stunning views of Lake Washington and the Cascades. And that's exactly what developers played up in naming this relatively young neighborhood, established in 1936. Such views still command higher housing prices, as this upscale neighborhood reflects. And the power lines run underground to preserve the vista.

View Ridge features active churches and community groups, schools, playfields, and a swim and tennis club. Nearby natural amenities include the 22-acre Matthews Beach, Seattle's largest freshwater bathing beach, and the 350-acre Sand Point Magnuson Park, Seattle's second largest park. While it offers little more business-wise than a few eateries, View Ridge lies close to the University Village shopping center.

Most residents are professionals who work downtown, at the university, or at medical complexes. Their homes range in style from traditional to contemporary.

Boundaries for View Ridge include Sand Point Way NE, NE 66th Street, 40th Avenue NE, and 45th Avenue NE.

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Other Northeast Seattle neighborhoods

• Kenmore, at Lake Washington's north end, abuts Snohomish County and is home to a variety of crowd-drawers: Bastyr University, Inglewood Golf Club, the 300-acre St. Edwards State Park, and Kenmore Air Harbor, the largest seaplane base in the United States. But mostly, the city contains a mix of houses and condominiums, including pricey lakefront homes and more affordable older homes.
• Lake City occupies the large northeast corner of Seattle, with a long shoreline along Lake Washington. Despite efforts to beautify and clean up the ethnically diverse neighborhood, it offers affordable housing, quiet residential streets, and bustling commercial areas.
• Lake Forest Park, a suburban community providing the northwest shoreline for Lake Washington, combines relatively affordable homes and wooded terrain. Local schools are strong academically, as well as in sports and arts.
• Roosevelt's residents enjoy a small-town atmosphere, parks, and quiet, tree-lined boulevards. The stable neighborhood offers single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments. Along with family-owned businesses, Roosevelt features alternative healing centers, which has earned it the nickname of the "Metaphysical Belt."
• Wedgwood takes life a little more slowly, and that's why many prefer this middle-class, residential neighborhood. Residents are a mix of retirees and young families who live in mostly single-family homes along tree-lined streets. Businesses in Wedgwood tend to be smaller, mom-and-pop operations.

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Healthcare facilities in Northeast Seattle:
University of Washington Medical Center