Eastlake, Seattle

Characteristics

Eastlake is bounded on the west by Lake Union; on the north by Portage Bay, beyond which is the University District; on the east by Interstate 5, beyond which is Capitol Hill; and on the south by E. Galer Street, beyond which is the Cascade and South Lake Union neighborhoods.

The neighborhood contains a mixture of residential buildings, both houses and apartments, and small businesses, especially on Eastlake Avenue. Though populated by all manner of Seattleites, Eastlake is a particularly attractive location for people with ties to the University of Washington, which can be reached via the 70 King County Metro bus line. The neighborhood is also home to, among other things, stores, restaurants, the original Red Robin gourmet burger restaurant (now closed), a bakery, and numerous houseboats.

History

Victor Steinbrueck wrote of the neighborhood in 1962 that it was "progressing from a generally mediocre residential community to one of apartments and small business and offices."

Near the north tip of the neighborhood is a pseudo-Norman French building known as the Martello, which the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods characterizes as "one of Eastlake's most significant buildings." Built as a private home in 1916, it was remodeled in the 1920s by Fred Anhalt as a furniture store. For many years it was a tavern, later a bar, called Rapunzel's; it is now Sebi's Bistro.

Eastlake Shake Fair

The annual Eastlake Shake fair (renamed Lake Fest in 2006) is held in a closed-off section of Franklin Avenue E. between E. Roanoke and E. Louisa Streets on the playground of the TOPS@Seward public school. The fair features live music, local vendors, and—a neighborhood favorite—the Eastlake Shake Pet Parade.

Notable people

Current notable Eastlake residents include retired four-star General Andrew J. Kelly, and 2002 America's Cup runner-up Elleson Schurtz.

Sleepless in Seattle

Eastlake is also home to Seattle's highest concentration of floating homes (a.k.a. houseboats), the likes of which were made famous in the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. Their architectural styles range from the bohemian-eclectic to exuberant stucco-modern. New construction of houseboats taking place on Fairview Ave. E. is underway, with the slips alone often selling for over $1 million.

References

References

1. "Seattle Annexation Map".
2. "Based on King County Census Tracts 61 and 66. Portions of Tract 61 include areas generally considered Montlake.".
3. Victor Steinbrueck, ''Seattle Cityscape'', [[University of Washington Press]], Seattle, 1962, p. 13.
4. [http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/historicalsite/QueryResult.aspx?ID=422 Summary for 3240 Eastlake AVE / Parcel ID 1959703120 / Inv # EA003], Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Accessed online 2009-07-15.