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Northgate – Seattle Neighborhood Guide

As one of the largest neighborhoods in north Seattle, Northgate has it all. It can be divided into four smaller sections: Haller Lake, Pinehurst, Maple Leaf, and North College Park (or Licton Springs), and has everything from a private lake to the world’s first mall.

History

It’s hard to imagine the Northgate area as it once was—a bog, inhabited by Native Americans and farmed for cranberries and other wild foods. Settlements crept in as they often do, and now we have Interstate 5, North Seattle Community College, and the Northgate mall in place of the original habitat.

The mall is its own kind of jungle, however. And apparently this was the country’s first shopping center to be called a “mall,” so we should all take a moment to thank this neighborhood for revolutionizing our collective retail experiences. More recently, new housing and commercial complexes have been built, while at the same time work has been done to preserve and protect Thornton Creek, which runs through the neighborhood.

Vibe

The region around the mall obviously sees the most action, and with the addition of the new condo complex and movie theaters, the area has even more appeal to potential residents. Maple Leaf has a tight-knit community kind of feel, while North College Park is a little more laid back, what with all the students and all. Haller Lake sees its fair share of activity, especially along its border at Aurora Avenue. Pinehurst is probably the quietest of them all, particularly on the north end.

Who Lives Here?

Many have taken advantage of the affordability of the housing in the Northgate neighborhoods. Closest to the mall and college, the number of single up-and-comers is high, and in general, the farther out you go, the more “established” the residents seem to be, with more people owning their homes and more households with kids. Check out Zillow.com for more detailed demographics for each specific neighborhood – Maple Leaf, College Park, Pinehurst,  and Haller Lake.

Activities and Attractions

Just for a minute, let’s pretend the mall isn’t there (sad, I know). What would you do in Northgate if there were no Nordstrom, Target, or Toys R Us? Well, you could go golfing at the Jackson Park Golf Club. You could pick one of the many parks and hit up the swing sets or grassy knolls. You’re going to want to pop into holes-in-the-wall like Jebena Café, BurgerMaster, Gyro Hut, Bark! Espresso, or Boud’s Pinehurst Pub.  Finally, book a spa day at one of the many salons—there are even some for dogs, too!

Homes in Northgate

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