Ballard / Crown Hill
By Geoff Carter
Ballard is a neighborhood in a constant state of change. Gone is the proudly Scandinavian fishing town that was annexed to Seattle in 1907; gone is the quaint neighborhood that served as the punchline of various "retiree" jokes; gone is the quiet corner of town that might have remained the same sleepy place forever, had Seattle not become a boomtown.
In the place of these lost Ballards is an enticingly modern, yet humble neighborhood that may have its share of upscale boutiques and medium-rise condominiums, but is holding on to the things that make it unique: the Scandinavian heritage, the century-old buildings, the idyllic residential streets. The adjoining neighborhoods of Sunset Hill, Whittier and Loyal Heights seem to know better than to mess with a winning formula, and exist in a nearly-identical state of timeless charm.
It's not surprising that these charms are somewhat expensive. In recent months, the price of a two-bedroom, two-bath home has hovered near $441,000. "Ballard remains one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city," says Jeff Stanley of Windermere Realty. "On average, the homes sold for more than two percent over list price."
These humble, former blue-collar dwellings - carpenter bungalows, Victorians, Tudors -- are becoming even more desirable as many of them are being razed to make way for townhomes and condos. Major condo developments are springing up all over the neighborhood, with a two-bedroom, two-bath going for an average price of $315,000. These condo dwellers are slowly bringing a big-city urban vibe to the neighborhood -- but Ballard is too stubborn to become another Belltown, and is slowly transforming the character of the condo dwellers, too. To live in Ballard is to be tamed by its small-town appeal.
The area's deep Scandinavian roots often blossom into parades and festivals that reinforce neighborhood pride. Its off-the-beaten-path location keeps noise and blight to a minimum. Plus, nearly the entire neighborhood is walkable - from the pubs and clubs of old Ballard Avenue to the retail and entertainment of Market Street, and from venerable Ballard High School to the brand-new Ballard Commons Park and the ultra-modern branch of the Seattle Public Library.
And such a pleasant walk it is. On any given evening, rain or shine, Ballardites will come out in large numbers to enjoy all the neighborhood has to offer: to check out the latest Hollywood epic at the Majestic Bay Theater; to enjoy live music at the Tractor; to dine at Thaiku or Volterra; to shop at one-of-a-kind boutiques like Duque, Romanza and Velouria; to enjoy cocktails and conversation at the People's Pub, Hattie's Hat and Bal-Mar; to be groomed and rejuvenated at Habitude; and to take scenic walks to the Hiram Chittenden locks or the nearby Shilshole Marina and Golden Gardens Park.
Though it is somewhat under-served by public transportation - only a handful of buses, most notably numbers 44, 15, 17 and 18, traverse the neighborhood - Ballard is nonetheless conveniently located near to downtown Seattle; you can get from the heart of the neighborhood to the bustle of downtown in 10 minutes by car, 20 minutes by bus. Getting to Interstate 5 is a more difficult proposition - it can take up to 20 minutes by car - and access to some of Seattle's other neighborhoods is similarly time-consuming and difficult. That being said, with so much fine nightlife, shopping and recreation surrounding you, it's rare you'll need anything that you can't find just outside your door.
