North Beacon Hill

North Beacon Hill is another section of the larger Beacon Hill area. It’s one of many municipal government subdivides of affordable housing. Even though the area is a little off the beaten path from downtown Seattle and other hot shots of the area it is a pretty nice place to call home. Small bungalow type houses line the streets in the area; although small the homes are perfect for small families and people looking to move into smaller homes once their children fly the coop.

Because North Beacon Hill is far from downtown a lot of eateries are in the area with a good deal of Asian restaurants to choice from as well as hamburger joints and other ethnic flared restaurants.
The area doesn’t have a lot of clubs or night spots so you’ll have to travel elsewhere for evening entertainment, but the area does have a great community feel and is perfect to raise families at.

North Beacon Hill is another section of the larger Beacon Hill area. It’s one of many municipal government subdivides of affordable housing. Even though the area is a little off the beaten path from downtown Seattle and other hot shots of the area it is a pretty nice place to call home. Small bungalow type houses line the streets in the area; although small the homes are perfect for small families and people looking to move into smaller homes once their children fly the coop.

Because North Beacon Hill is far from downtown a lot of eateries are in the area with a good deal of Asian restaurants to choice from as well as hamburger joints and other ethnic flared restaurants.
The area doesn’t have a lot of clubs or night spots so you’ll have to travel elsewhere for evening entertainment, but the area does have a great community feel and is perfect to raise families at.

The definition of Beacon is, "An intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location." (According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon) Formerly known as "Boeing Hill" because of the sheer numbers of Boeing employees who resided there. Now, years later, the "Hill" is occupied predominantly by Asians, with close runnings of Whites and Blacks. It lies between South Dearborn Street and South Columbia Way, then spanning west to east from Interstate 5 to Rainier Avenue (at it's widest point).

A couple of points of interest in North Beacon Hill: On the south side, Jefferson Park (http://1.usa.gov/f1uNqx) is home to an executive golf course (www.premiergc.com), a community center, and a Lawn Bowling facility (www.seattlebowls.org). Another place, with world renown, is the headquarters for Amazon (www.amazon.com). It occupies most of the old Pacific Medical Center (http://pacificmedicalcenters.org) building on the northern edge of the neighborhood.

If golf and lawn bowling do not appeal, then take time to investigate the Doctor Jose Rizal Park (www.bitly.com/aHWs9j), with spectacular views of downtown. It also features an off-leash dog park, play area and picnic sites. The Beacon Hill Playground (www.bitly.com/cw0tW1), a few blocks south, is also kid-friendly with a wading pool, play area, basketball and tennis facilities.

To satisfy those hunger pains, especially with diverse tastes, restaurants here can deliver. A good Vietnamese establishment, which Yours Truly has tried, is Pho Hai Yen (http://bitly.com/fg7tq3) near Rainier Avenue and Dearborn Street. It has friendly service and a quiet atmosphere, at least for lunch. Dozens of ethnic places line Rainier, mainly in the northern half of the community.

Close proximity to downtown (http://bitly.com/fwXJkP) is quickly drawing young professionals to the area, desiring a cultural melting pot. Also, it does make commuting fairly simple and effortless, except for employees who work on the East Side of Lake Washington (http://bitly.com/dXcYNZ).

Friends of ours can attest, along with our own adventures in the Beacon Hill district, that almost endless opportunities to savor taste and activity are to beheld.

North Beacon Hill is part of the well-known Seattle neighborhood of Beacon Hill. The northern part of Beacon Hill is roughly bounded by Interstate 5 to the west, Interstate 90 or downtown Seattle to the north, and the city line to the south. To the west lie Martin Luther King Junior Way S. and Rainier Avenue. Major roads through the area include 15th Ave S, 23rd Ave S, Beacon Ave S, and S Spokane St.

Its hillside location provides excellent views of downtown Seattle, the waterfront, and other areas of the city. Best known for its beautiful houses, many of the homes were built in the early 1900s, so you'll see a diverse mix of Craftsman bungalows and other historic Seattle architecture. The area is considered very safe, although there are a few streets to avoid. Rainier Avenue South, in particular, has a reputation for being a bit grungy and crowded with traffic. If you're looking to live in North Beacon Hill, stick to the northernmost end of the hill.

Today, North Beacon Hill has many Asian residents, although Asian immigrants and businesses tend to congregate closer to the South end of the hill. Still, North Beacon Hill is quite diverse, with large populations of Asian, African American, and Latino residents. North Beacon Hill is also home to the world headquarters of Amazon.com, in addition to the Seattle Veterans Affairs office. The many roads through North Beacon Hill offer affordable housing and a diverse range of shopping options. From peaceful to urban, green to rundown, North Beacon Hill offers a little bit of everything.