This week’s neighborhood is one of Seattle’s oldest and nicest. Queen Anne, on the north end of downtown, is home to some of Seattle’s oldest and most distinguished homes. There are also beautiful view homes, classic craftsmans, (many done in the Queen Anne style from which the hill takes it’s name), as well as post war, mid-century styles, and hip new condomiums.
Several hills in Seattle are of similar or elevations, Queen Anne is the highest named hill in Seattle, with a maximum elevation of 456 feet. Queen Anne is north of Seattle Center and south of Fremont across the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The hill early became a popular spot for the city’s economic and cultural elite to build their mansions, and many of Seattle’s pioneers are now resting in the cemetery on the top of the hill.
While there are not a lot of activities on the hill itself, at the base (lower Queen Anne) has many cool things to do on a nice afternoon. There is Seattle Center, with all that it offers, including the Science Fiction Museum, the Experience Music Project (history of rock museum) and the Pacific Science Center, the Center for Wooden Boats that rents boats, which has a museum of ship building, and also offers free boat rides on the weekends, and Theatro Zinzanni, which is a must see for locals or tourists alike. If you are feeling adventurous, you can take a seaplane flight with Kenmore air! You can also easily spend your day visiting the boutiques, restaurants, and lounges which make up several of Queen Anne’s business districts.
Some of these include Intermezzo Spa, Blue Highway Games, Chocolopolis (best name ever!) Tea Cup Tearoom, Easy Street Records, Canlis fine dining, Nielsen’s Authentic Danish pastry, Muse Coffee Company, Barking Lounge pet store, Café Vita coffee, El Diablo Coffee Company, Monkey Love Rubber Stamps, 5 Focus fitness gym, Look Cupcake, Rhodie’s Smokin’ Barbecue, Queen Anne Books, Top Pot Donuts, and for fine dining, try Opal or The Ruins for a private event, or for simpler fare, check out Buckley’s, 5 Spot, Asian Breeze, Athina Grill, Bamboo vegeterian Chinese Cuisine, or Bahn Thai. There is much to discover in this wonderful neighborhood!
If you want to take in a show, there is the Seattle Ballet, The Intiman Theater, the Imax Theater, and The Seattle Rep.
Homes and condos are not inexpensive on Queen Anne, but there are some good deals and any home purchase can be counted to be both a lovely home and a great investment. Queen Anne even boasts several houseboat moorage spots, for truly unique living.
Currently, on Queen Anne, there are 46 houses available under $500K, and 102 over $500K. Queen Anne has many older but nice, and new condos and co-ops as well, many with great water views. There are currently 208 condos and/or co-ops available under $500K and 23 over that price point.
The market is strong in this desirable neighborhood. In the last six months, 168 homes have sold and 208 condominiums. This is a very good sign for the Seattle real estate market, and is a testament to what a great neighborhood this is.
We hope you will discover and enjoy this great neighborhood!
