Northgate

By Jodi Wade

Northgate is a neighborhood working to better itself. The residents are a mix of homeowners, apartment dwellers, and brand spankin' new townhouse owners. Take a walk around and you'll see modest homes, many with small projects in the works as people strive to improve their spaces. That's if you can find a sidewalk to walk on, however. Northgate wasn't made for walking and aside from those lining the main streets, sidewalks are rare.

Since it opened in 1950, Northgate Mall has set the standard for development focused around the automobile, with other strip malls and pedestrian-oblivious development soon following - but that's about to change. An infusion of new elements -- sidewalks, green space, retail and entertainment options, crosswalks and even sidewalk art - will soon transform Northgate Mall into a pedestrian-friendly open-air shopping and restaurant zone, a la University Square. Add the already-completed Northgate Library, community center, and landscaped park to the mix and you've got a neighborhood on its way up.

Now is a good time to jump on for the ride, while housing is still relatively affordable. You won't find early-1900s Craftsman homes like in pricier Seattle neighborhoods, but you can choose between modest houses from the 1940s and '50s and newly constructed homes and townhomes. According to Jennifer Braun of Coldwell Banker Bain Associates, the average price for a two-bedroom, two-bath house is around $382,000. A two-bedroom townhouse will set you back about $235,000. Prefer to try before you buy? Apartment rentals generally range from $600 to $1,000 per month.

Schools are a big draw for settling down in this neighborhood. Area elementary schools include Olympic View, Sacajawea and Olympic Hills and local high schools include Nathan Hale, Ingraham, and Roosevelt. Two highly respected private schools - University Prep and Lakeside - are also nearby. And all those kids have plenty of space to run around: In addition to the new green spaces in the works, Northacres Park has a ballfield and a small wooded off-leash dog park and Pinehurst Park has a children's play area and a small playfield.

Northgate doesn't have trendy restaurants in cute little houses like you'll find in other Seattle neighborhoods -- but if you're not afraid of dining in a strip mall, you can find a wide variety of food options. Expand your eating radius to include Lake City and you can enjoy Toyoda Sushi, Chiang's Gourmet and La Casa Del Mojito. And in neighboring Maple Leaf, you'll find such city favorites as the Maple Leaf Grill and Judy Fu's Snappy Dragon.

Shopping is the entertainment that Northgate was built for. Between Northgate Mall and the strip malls nearby, you can find whatever you need: electronics at Best Buy, camping gear at GI Joe's, or decorations for your tiki party at Display and Costume. Budget shoppers will rejoice: Target, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Discount Shoe Source are all within a block or two of each other. You can stock up on groceries at the neighborhood QFC and head up to Central Market in Shoreline. In the summer, trek to the local Lake City Farmers Market.

If Northgate doesn't have what you need, it's easy to get where you need to go. Bus service is frequent and convenient, with Northgate Transit Center serving as the hub of the bus activity. Several buses serve downtown, with the 41 leaving every four or five minutes during peak commute times. Northgate is conveniently located near I-5 and Aurora Avenue, which makes it easy to get to and from other Seattle neighborhoods. You can hop on the express lanes and get downtown in as quickly as 15 minutes. You have easy access to the rest of Seattle when you need it - which will be less and less, as Northgate keeps growing and improving.