Seattle Sweet Digs

December 16, 2006

North Seattle: Locate That Neighborhood!

My blog entries are categorized according to neighborhood. I also indicate in the STATS block what neighborhood a house occupies. But what do I mean by “Ballard?” Is my idea of Ballard the same as your idea of Ballard?

Maybe not. So, to clear up any confusion, this posting draws my boundaries.

Now, different people may put borders in different places. For example, the blocks between Stone and Aurora are Fremont to some, Wallingford to others. I don’t want to argue with you; I’m just telling you how I see it and how I’ll categorize it on this blog. As with all thing opinionated, your mileage may vary.

I also decided not to get too granular. So if you feel passionately that Loyal Heights has a distinct identity from Ballard, leave a comment and let everyone know. But it won’t change my buckets.

Ballard boundaries:

Northern: NW 85th St.
Eastern: 15th Ave. NW
Southern: Salmon Bay
Western: Puget Sound

ballard boundaries.JPG

Fremont:

Northern: arterial from NW Market St. to N 46th St.
Eastern: Aurora Ave. N.
Southern: the canal
Western: 15th Ave. NW

fremont boundaries.JPG

Greenlake:

Northern: NW 85th St.
Eastern: I-5
Southern: NE 50th St.
Western: Aurora Ave. N.

greenlake boundaries.JPG

Phinney Ridge:

Northern: NW 85th St.
Eastern: Aurora Ave. N.
Southern: arterial from NW Market St. to N 46th St.
Western: 15th Ave. NW

phinney boundaries.JPG

Wallingford:

Northern: NE 50th St.
Eastern: I-5
Southern: Lake Union
Western: Aurora Ave. N.

wallingford boundaries.JPG

Posted by Amy Helen Johnson on December 16, 2006 10:24 AM | del.icio.us | Digg

  • Freball Dweller
    I live in that area: we refer to it as "FreBall"
  • dkella
    AHJ,
    I think that "cross-over 'hood" is a great term. However, I feel that the people that really care about where they live tend to give their Shingletowns proper names. Its about individualism. Its like that phenomenon when you're out of the country and you meet an American and you say, "where are you from?" and they respond "Seattle", and you say, "AH! me too! which neighborhood do you live in?". People like giving proper names.

    However, Seattle is full of these cross-over neighborhoods (e.g., Walli-mont). I rarely find this to be the case in Manhattan or San Francisco (also both great neighborhood towns). Is it that because Seattle is so neighborhood-centric that we place greater emphasis on the individuality of the neighborhood?
  • Are you the Amy Helen Johnson that has written for ComputerWorld? I'm curious as I've seen your byline before. Did you turn real estate blogger in Seattle as a full time gig?
  • Thanks, dkella. I like the term "cross-over neighborhood." It's sad that some of these old nicknames are no longer in use, but they just don't describe the areas any more. Shingletown, anyone?
  • dkella
    Sorry about the long delay, Amy. Here I will pontificate about the boundaries of one certain "cross-over" neighborhood, Halibut Flats.

    You know that area between Fremont, Phinney and Ballard? Phin-Fre-Lard? Phin-mont? (the possibities are endless). I have come to the understanding that this area used to be known as "Halibut Flats" by the fisherman who used to frequent the north side of the canal. Halibut, b/c perhaps that's what they were unloading? Flat, b/c its pretty flat (by Seattle standards?) or because its a play on the type of fish? (those crafty fishermen).

    The borders of Halibut Flats are 3rd Ave NW to the East, Market to the North, 15th ave NW to the West, and Leary to the South. Granted, this makes it a very small area - a subneighborhood, as you will - however, the residents are pretty passionate about this part of the Ballard world.

    A good way of describing this neighborhood..."You know that bar by Le Gourmand, Sambar? We're a few blocks away from that".

    Nice neighborhood bar, indeed.
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