Downtown Seattle
City Center Neighborhoods
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owntown is the epicenter of Seattle’s culture and commerce. The area’s 1,145 restaurants, cafés and bars, 29 parks, 12 museums, 117 art galleries and more than 1,000 retailers (most found within walking distance) sustain a vibrant urban lifestyle that continues to grow in popularity. Over 67,000 people live in “Center City Seattle” neighborhoods— a number that is estimated to continue to rise. The Downtown Seattle Association has designated a dozen distinct downtown Seattle neighborhoods. Let us introduce you to a few of them.
Photo: © Ian Good Photography
BELLTOWN One of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, Belltown is also one of its most dynamic. A transformation has occurred as young professionals, middle-aged empty nesters and others have relocated here. With approximately 11,000 residents, Belltown has the largest residential base of any downtown neighborhood. No longer a gritty, inner-city neighborhood, Belltown is an urban oasis—complete with P-Patch garden, historic Cottage Park, Regrade Dog Park, the spectacular Olympic Sculpture Park, a community center with programs and special events, and the Bell Street Park featuring a fountain, play area, and performance space. Belltown’s “in-city” location, amenity-laden apartments, upscale condos, trendy shops and sophisticated new eateries, along with popular musical venues like Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, and the Crocodile Café that showcase local and national talent, exemplify urban living at its best. Median Condo Price: $647,000.
One in 10 Seattleites now lives Downtown
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
CAPITOL HILL
Capitol Hill, one of Seattle’s seven hills, was This diverse and lively south Downtown named as an early candidate for Washingneighborhood is home to Greater Se- ton’s state capital. The original mansions attle’s Pan-Asian communities. Here housed numerous city founders during the Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and South- opulent turn of the century. Visitors to the east Asians live and work together, side- 1901 Alaska Yukon and Pacific Exposition by-side. Family-owned restaurants, beheld Seattle’s grandeur from atop VolAsian-style bakeries, unique specialty unteer Park’s water tower. Today, people shops, Karaoke bars, Asian art and gal- still enjoy the Park and the view. Capitol Hill leries, shops selling traditional Asian gifts, has several business districts comprised of goods and groceries, and ethnic-specif- unique stores offering unusual and specialty ic social service agencies characterize items. Restaurants, coffee shops, and brewthis historic neighborhood whose central pubs feature an array of ethnic foods and hub is the Chinese pavilion in Hing Hay drinks. Historic churches, museums, collegPark. Beautiful dragon sculptures and es, theaters and clubs add to the vibrancy. Chinagate emphasize the community’s Capitol Hill is a cultural crossroads—mixing culture and history. The area’s cultural young people, senior citizens, artists and gem, the Wing Luke Asian Museum is a professionals. It is also the historic hub for nationally acclaimed, Smithsonian-affil- Seattle’s LBGT and alternative communiiate museum. Multicultural communi- ties. A new light rail station provides service ty festivals and events include the Lunar to downtown Seattle and the UniversiNew Year Celebration, Summer Festi- ty of Washington. Median Prices: Homes val, Bon Odori, Lion & Dragon Dances, $699,950; Condos $375,750. and Taiko Drumming. Condominiums DENNY TRIANGLE and apartments are found throughout the neighborhood. Median Condo Price: The name “Denny” honors a Seattle $236,950. founding family whose vision helped 2016-17 • GREATER SEAT TLE INFOGUIDE
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