Lake City – Seattle Neighborhood Guide

Seattle’s northeast corner, an area known as Lake City, is divided into several smaller neighborhoods—Victory Heights, Meadowbrook, Matthews Beach, Cedar Park, and Olympic Hills.

History

Lake City has seen many iterations of itself, going from sleepy logging and farming community known to some as “Little Germany” to a seedy destination for many city dwellers during the prohibition era. After World War II ended, young families flocked here and the population exploded. Currently, residents are rallying together to focus on environmental issues and on drawing visitors back to its refreshed (and significantly more reputable) business district.

Vibe

There’s something for everyone in Lake City. The area’s main thoroughfare, Lake City Way, bisects the neighborhood and is the best place to go if you want a bustling atmosphere. Newly constructed condos and businesses mingle with the retro establishments from years gone by. Farther out, the feel is more residential and quiet. Even though it is one of the most populous and spread out neighborhoods in the city, the community is close and knows how to work together to solve issues.

Who Lives Here?

This is a neighborhood that’s attractive to many different types of people. Corporate climbers and working professionals have an easy commute either down south to the city center, or to the north to places like Shoreline and Everett. Property taxes tend to be lower in this area of the city, so it’s an ideal place to buy one’s first home or condo. And with its quiet and safe atmosphere, many households have children and many people choose to spend their ‘golden years’ within the borders of Lake City.

Activities and Attractions

Some of Little Germany’s charm remains in Lake City—stop in at Kaffeeklatsch coffee shop and bakery for an authentic German pretzel (bretzl) or an apfeltasche (an apple turnover)! Really you’ve got your pick of any national cuisine—try Lake City Gyros, Erawan Bangkok Thai cuisine, Pacific Market for Persian, and round out your world tour at Ezell’s for some good ol’ southern fried chicken.

Many beautification strategies have been employed in recent years, including several sculptures that appear at seemingly random places like in the medians on the roads. Of course you can’t miss the giant giraffe as you drive down Lake City Way. Plus, it’s not unusual to come across a large mural. See some photos of these on our flickr photo set, or, better yet, go see for yourself!