Wallingford
By Jasmine Moir
If Seattle's neighborhoods were gathered together for a dinner party, you might not notice Wallingford right away. Not one to clamor for attention like artsy, free-spirited Fremont or cool kid Capitol Hill, she'd be the kind of guest whose charm sneaks up on you. By the end of the night, you'd feel as if you'd known her for years.
Laidback and family-friendly, Wallingford has one of Seattle's hottest real estate markets, yet still maintains an undiscovered feel. Life in Wallingford ambles along at an easy pace, with residents greeting each other warmly while gathering for lazy Sunday brunches at Julia's and Jitterbug or attending the latest independent film at the Guild 45th Theater. As neighboring Green Lake becomes increasingly upscale, Wallingford is still the kind of place where Birkenstocks outnumber Manolo Blahniks a million to one.
But don't let the neighborhood's easygoing nature fool you. Residents here are known for their activism - whether it's thinking globally (they hold weekly showings of left-leaning documentaries in the basement of a neighborhood church) or acting locally (they recently banded together to keep the city from bringing summer concert crowds to the neighborhood). Like a proud mama bear, Wallingford folks won't shy away from a fight if they happen to feel their neighborhood's idyllic vibe is threatened.
Perhaps it's this paradoxical mix of anything goes liberalism and staunch stubbornness that has kept the area's commercial strip decidedly down to earth. An eclectic string of shops and restaurants line 45th Street between Stone Way and I-5, where you'll find quirky independently-owned spots like Kuan Yin Teahouse, Wild World Books & Maps and Flourish Greetings & Giveables. Even relative newcomers like chic gourmet food specialty shop Bella Cosa, flashy Thai restaurant May and deluxe cocktail lounge Wonder Bar have quietly adopted the neighborhood's mellow vibe, rather than making the area feel slick or polished.
But if lively 45th Street gives Wallingford its energy, it's the offbeat charm of Gas Works Park that provides the area with its soul. A 20-acre piece of land that hosted an industrial refinery until the 1950s, the Lake Union waterfront park incorporates the former plant's rusty towers and machinery into its design. No more than a 20-minute walk from anywhere in Wallingford, Gas Works boasts with rolling hills, well-kept grass and winds that are perfect for kite-flying - as well as hard-to-beat views for Fourth of July fireworks.
Not surprisingly, Wallingford's architecture is unpretentious - primarily characterized by tastefully restored vintage Craftsman homes and cozy bungalows. Tree-lined streets and plenty of skyline views add to the neighborhood's appeal, says John L. Scott real estate agent Linda Dorgan, as do easy access to both Aurora and I-5. "It's popular because it's a destination itself with a neighborhood congregating place," she says, "but it's also so close to downtown."
Perhaps the most centrally located of the city's northern neighborhoods, Wallingford is well-served by metro busses 16, 44, 26, 31, 46, 74 and 82. One drawback is congestion along the main drag, 45th Street, which has taught savvy residents to stick primarily to side streets.
While Wallingford was once an affordable working class neighborhood, a late-80s boom sent prices skyrocketing, according to HistoryLink.org, an online guide to Washington state history. Today, the median home price is $570,000, with the priciest properties going for more than $1 million. Its close proximity to the University of Washington also makes the neighborhood a popular spot for graduate students and others looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the U District - most find apartments in the $700 to $1,200 range or rental houses running from $1,100 to $1,800.
