Day 4:04 pm
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Washington Park Neighborhood
A beautiful neighborhood of tree-line streets and grand scale homes, Washington Park is named after the nearby city park ‘Washington Park Arboretum’ located to its northwest. Boasting many historic homes, Washington Park is conveniently located just south of Madison Park and all of its quaintness and conveniences. Overlooking Lake Washington sits the home to the president of the University of Washington which is situated on 5 acres of grounds rivaled by few in the city. The estate was donated to the University of Washington with the stipulation that it must house the current UW president. Washington Park is also home to the Seattle Tennis Club, Seattle’s oldest private family club which offers tennis (both indoor and outdoor), a private beach, pool, exercise room/classes, basketball and dining options. The Seattle Tennis Club was founded in 1890 and was originally called The Olympic Tennis Club until 1896 and the original facilities were located at Madison and Minor. The Seattle Tennis Club purchased its current location which was previously the “Firloch Club Grounds” and moved to the shores of Lake Washington in Washington Park in 1919. The land was originally part of the John J McGilvra land claim of 1870, a lawyer originally from New York and then Chicago was friends with and appointed by Abraham Lincoln as the US District Attorney for Washington Territory in 1861. In 1864 McGilvra purchased 420 acres of land along Lake Washington and made a dirt road from the city to his land which is now Madison Street. Madison Street remains the only direct route from Lake Washington to the Seattle waterfront.
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To the north of Washington Park is the Broadmoor neighborhood and to the south is Denny Blaine. Stately homes in the heart of the city, many with views and mature foliage, Washington Park is a perfect place to call home!
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Leschi
A scenic neighborhood along Lake Washington Blvd and a common meeting place for cyclists, Leschi is an economically and racially diverse neighborhood nestled between Madrona to the north and the Mt. Baker neighborhood to the south and stretching from the shores of Lake Washington to Martin Luther King Jr. Way. You will find an eclectic mix of homes ranging from waterfront mansions to a quaint Tudor tucked into a hillside or a condo on the lake. Views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier and the Cascades from the narrow winding streets and parks welcome you throughout the neighborhood; Leschi is a great community that appeals to all age groups.
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A small commercial district offers waterfront dining and a piano bar at Seattle’s famous Daniel’s Broiler and a more casual culinary experience at BluWater Bistro where the Tollhouse Magic dessert has been known to draw patrons of all ages! The Leschi Mart offers a wide variety for a neighborhood grocery including a fabulous wine selection. Starbucks is a favorite meeting place for neighborhood residences as well as many avid cyclists. There are a few other conveniences including a hair salon, a bike shop, a deli and a dry cleaner. For a list of other Leschi restaurants click HERE.
A Brief History:
Originally an ancient glacier, the neighborhood’s interesting terrain of steep hillsides and ravines was formed over time by earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides many years ago. Named after Nisqually Chief Leschi who was hung in 1858 after his conviction for his role in the ‘Battle of Seattle’ on January 26, 1856.
As a terminal to a cable car that ran along Yesler Way between Lake Washington at Leschi and Pioneer Square from September 27, 1888 and August 10, 1940, you will still find some of the old tracks in certain parts of the neighborhood. Prior to the construction of the Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge in 1940, there was a ferry run from Leschi Park to the Eastside.
Leschi Park was home to Seattle’s first zoo which moved to Woodland Park in 1903. Leschi Park now offers tennis courts, picnic tables and a playground. -
Denny-Blaine
Located on Lake Washington between Madison Park/Washington Park and Madrona, Denny-Blaine is a wonderful community of stately and character filled homes built in its hills; most of which have astounding views of Lake Washington, Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Abundant with parks, this is a great area for families and the outdoor enthusiast alike. This established and affluent neighborhood is close to downtown and the delightful commercial offerings of Madison Park and Madrona.
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A Brief History
The Denny-Blaine neighborhood was developed by and named after Elbert Blaine, an attorney and former Seattle Parks Commissioner and by Charles Denny, son of Seattle founders Arthur Denny and Mary Denny in the early 1900’s. The community grew in the 1920’s and 30’s in due to the nearby trolley line which encouraged commercial growth along its path.
Known for its Parks, Denny-Blaine Place Park also known as Whitman Place is a waterfront turnaround park surrounded by an old stone seawall. It is a beautiful spot with a nice grassy area large enough for lawn activities, picnics and a peaceful place to sunbathe. Right up the hill from Denny-Blaine Place is Viretta Park named after Viretta Denny; wife of Denny-Blaine founder Charles Denny. Viretta Park is more recently famous for being next door to the residence where the late musician Kurt Cobain of Nirvana lived and died. Fans gather at the park and light candles and pay tribute to the musician on the anniversary of his death (April 5). It is a hillside park shaded by trees and the benches are covered with messages to the late musician. There are many other quaint and historic parks in Denny-Blaine.
Another landmark is the Epiphany Episcopal Church and school. The chapel was designed by Elsworth Storey and built in 1911. The land was purchased in 1909 from Elbert Blaine’s wife Minerva and is across the street from the Minerva Fountain, park and Metro Station which now consists of a pond and the remnant pipe from the original fountain. There is a shelter with a sign above it that reads “Denny-Blaine Lake Park” which once served as a real estate office for Elbert Blaine and Charles Denny when they were selling the lots of their new development in the early 1900’s. After the lots were sold, the shelter served as a station for the electric trolley line that ran to Madrona Park. Due to vandalism the walls were removed in 1924. It now serves as a Metro bus stop. Noted for its architecture, the Epiphany chapel was cited as and example of the most significant architecture in Seattle in 1971 by the Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Seattle Post Intelligencer and was designated a Seattle Landmark on October 23, 1978.