Central District
By Caren Gussoff
Located just to the south of Capitol Hill and west of Madrona, the Central District, affectionately known as "the CD" to residents, is in the process of a dramatic and controversial transformation. Since the '40s, the area was known as Seattle's predominantly African-American neighborhood; however, the steep rise in real estate prices in other neighborhoods over the past 10 years has brought in affluent couples and young families seeking to own property close-in. This has spurred rapid gentrification across much of the CD, and effectively pushed some of the original population out and southward along the Rainier Avenue corridor.
These changes have been tense. Gentrification is still incomplete and some older, less wealthy residents remain. There has been some resentment towards new residents. Streets are split between dilapidated lots and new developments, and some locals have a real fear of crime in the area. Several active community organizations, however, such as the Central Area Development Association (CADA), are working to build bridges and sensitivity between the long-standing residents and newcomers and bring safety to the area.
Many of these newer residents moved to the CD because of the comparatively attractive housing prices for family homes. As agent Joseph L. Platz with Covenant Real Estate, Incorporated, illustrates, "The Central District has many open single-family residence options, starting at $325,000. They can go up to $600,000 but the median has been around $440,000." There is also easy access to I-5, Highway 520 and downtown for commuters, as well as abundant street parking (a rarity in Seattle). Developers are moving into the area as well, buying and tearing down older homes to build multi-unit townhouses and condominiums - Belltown-style luxury, without a Belltown price tag. Rentals in the area run the gamut because some associations, like CADA, also work to preserve affordable housing in the area. Rentals can drop as low as $600 a month for an older one-bedroom apartment or climb as high as $1,300 for a two-bedroom, two-bath in a newer, multi-use building.
The jazz clubs that used to line Jackson Street are long gone, but a lively diversity remains. Although the area is primarily residential, you can find treasures on every block. Ethiopian joints like Assimba are a few blocks from Trader Joes, hipster haunts like the Twilight Exit share the area with landmarks like Ezell's Famous Chicken (501 23rd Ave. -- arguably the best chicken in the world, Ezell's has seduced even Oprah). The CD also boasts one of Seattle's best cultural secrets: the Pratt Fine Arts Center, which offers art classes and studio space to the public, and brings in nationally known artists for lectures and exhibits.
The CD also remains the center for African-American culture in the city, both in name and in resources. Martin Luther King Jr. Way is one of the largest thoroughfares, the local pool was named in honor of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and Powell Barnett Park is after a local community leader. The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center offers productions and performing classes throughout the year. The recently-remodeled Douglass-Truth Public Library houses the largest African-American collection in the Seattle Public Library system. The Chamber of Commerce annually hosts a large Juneteenth observance, celebrating the end of slavery.
For all of its growing pains, the CD remains one of the more interesting areas of Seattle. It is diverse and affordable, and conveniently located, and for residents who don't mind a dose of reality with their morning coffee - a bargain in good living.
