Central District declared Seattle's next hip neighborhood (Garfield: how much, houses)

[fnh]

The eminent authority Gawker () identifies neighborhoods in cities all over most like artsy and hip Williamsburg in NY (in Seattle, Capitol Hill) as well as the "next Williamsburg" of those cities - the up and coming but (for now) affordable artsy neighborhoods (in Seattle, the Central District).

It surprises me how many people who live north of the bridges still have no idea how much the CD has transformed, but likely most of them never cross to the south except to go to the airport, lol. Agree or disagree, I love seeing the CD get some love.

This Is the Williamsburg of Your City: A Map of Hip America

[sean98125]

Hip neighborhood = close in neighborhood where wealthier white people are displacing long-time non-white residents.

I am glad, though, that more and more people are moving in to this area. There are some great old houses, the streets and sidewalks are great for walking, and being a 10 or 20 minute walk from work is a hell of a lot nicer than sitting in traffic for an hour.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by sean98125

Hip neighborhood = close in neighborhood where wealthier white people are displacing long-time non-white residents.

By that definition Ballard never was, or ever will be hip.

[JBVirtuoso]

Originally Posted by mkarch

By that definition Ballard never was, or ever will be hip.

Ballard is trendy, but "hip" as applied to neighborhoods usually involves an element of grit. While neighborhoods like the Central District have ethnic restaurants and cool warehouse spaces for ironic white people to discover, Ballard has no such thing. It feels more like a neighborhood of empty nesters that now has an influx of moneyed 30-somethings.

[Ira500]

I think the CD is mostly already there, as opposed to becoming the "next hip area." Close to downtown, cool old houses, good views, great places to eat and drink, from good pizza ,to Bbq ,to Ethiopian ,to White Bean burgers, a terrific micro brewery, an independent cinema, and just enough grit.

[Steve Bowen]

Originally Posted by JBVirtuoso

Ballard is trendy, but "hip" as applied to neighborhoods usually involves an element of grit. While neighborhoods like the Central District have ethnic restaurants and cool warehouse spaces for ironic white people to discover, Ballard has no such thing. It feels more like a neighborhood of empty nesters that now has an influx of moneyed 30-somethings.

Sure, thats what almost always happens after a place gentrifies and gets expensive. Grit doesn't usually survive gentrification. Most of what makes gritty neighborhoods charming and unique is squashed by yuppified blandness. Give it 20 years (tops), and the cool gentrifying part of the Central District will be the same way.

[mkarch]

I don't know that the CD is all that affordable anymore. Back about 12 years ago a friend was restoring a house about a block off MLK near Garfield. At the time he'd complain about the number of people hanging around in the alley drinking, smoking crack and turning tricks in their cars. I just looked that house up and it sold last year for close to $500K -for a home under 2000 sq ft on a small lot. It might have gone for $50-$100K more in a north end neighborhood, but that's still a lot of money for a 100+ year old house on a post foundation.

[baba_yaga]

The Central District is wonderful! I come from Philly, where there's very little ivory tower living. The CD feels like the neighborhood vibe I get from Philly, with really nice people and interesting and diverse businesses. Along with Beacon Hill, this area is still one of the better priced neighborhoods in Seattle and super close to downtown and 99.

[baba_yaga]

Originally Posted by mkarch

I don't know that the CD is all that affordable anymore. Back about 12 years ago a friend was restoring a house about a block off MLK near Garfield. At the time he'd complain about the number of people hanging around in the alley drinking, smoking crack and turning tricks in their cars. I just looked that house up and it sold last year for close to $500K -for a home under 2000 sq ft on a small lot. It might have gone for $50-$100K more in a north end neighborhood, but that's still a lot of money for a 100+ year old house on a post foundation.

Easily $100k more just a few blocks further north of that location. That's like 20% more. Big difference.

[homesinseattle]

I find the CD to be one of most interesting places in Seattle. You can call it "grit", I call it "authenticity. Do you really want everything sterilized? Clients of mine who are attracted to this area tend to be artistic, musical, out of the box thinkers looking for a little more diversity (and more square footage for the money than Capitol Hill). This diversity is what I love about it. I don't just mean diversity of people, although that is true. In a few short blocks, you can eat at about 12 delicious Ethiopian restaurants (my favorite is Assimba), have the best fried catfish and southern food in town and even scoot a bit north to Pike/Pine area and its spectacular vibe and restaurants. In a matter of minutes, you can be completely lost in the best way in the sights, sounds, markets and delicious food of Little Vietnam, a lesser know part of town, east of I-5 on Jackson. And all of this walking distance to downtown, the stadiums. Did you know the CD was where Jimi Hendrix was raised? How cool is that?