Roosevelt – Seattle Neighborhood Guide

The Teddy Bear isn’t the only great thing that’s named after the wonderful Theodore Roosevelt; this neighborhood is, too! If that weren’t proof enough of its awesomeness, consider its central location, happening business district, and adorable houses the icing on the cake.

History

Roosevelt developed at the same time as nearby Ravenna, attracting residents as the University of Washington and Green Lake neighborhoods expanded. After Ravenna Park was built, President Roosevelt visited, and one of the landowner’s wives named the biggest tree in the park after him. The tree was cut down, but the name stuck around. The local high school also bears his name, as well as the main thoroughfare and one of the building developments.

Vibe

Roosevelt is a little peppier than Green Lake and Ravenna, and a little less so than the University District. The intersection of two busy streets—Roosevelt Way running north to south, and 65th Street running east to west—forms a lively business district. The surrounding blocks have a mix of newer apartments/condos and original homes from the early 1900s. It’s a great neighborhood to enjoy on its own and is centrally located to give you easy access to other parts of the city.

Who Lives Here?

Singles abound in Roosevelt, whether they’re younger student-types or are more established in the professional arena. Many of these rent an apartment or condo closer to the business district. Zillow also identifies “urban power families” as a major portion of the population here; couples who have kids and earn a high salary. The people in Roosevelt are committed to the area’s growth—on the neighborhood association blog, there is a big push for “sensible density” to allow for more job and housing opportunities.

Activities and Attractions

It’s not hard to find something to do in Roosevelt. We like Rain City Burgers for their all-natural beef patties and yummy milkshakes. To go the true natural route, try Sunlight Café’s vegetarian menu—or just shop at Whole Foods! Peaks Frozen Custard serves up a mean dessert, or get a savory pie at Pies and Pints farther up on 65th.

Peaks Frozen Custard

Roosevelt also has a unique concentration of high-end audio shops. I’m going to chalk this one up to the university nearby and a higher than average concentration of audiophiles in the area. If you want to blow a few paychecks on some sweet audio equipment, stores like Definitive Audio, speakerlab or Magnolia Audio Video will be happy to help.

Once you’re stuffed yourself, do a little shopping at the many boutiques, consignment shops, and bookstores that are unique to the neighborhood. Finally, take stroll through Cowen Park—you’ll be surprised at its size and how “away from it all” it feels there!