Atlantic

Located just north of Interstate 90, between 12th Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way (MLK), having Yesler Way as the northern boundary—Atlantic has a healthy balance of professional and residential establishments, with affordable living and manageable commutes.

History

Atlantic is the northernmost neighborhood of the Rainier Valley, having come upon hard times beginning in the 1960s. The construction of Interstate 90 divided the neighborhood, took out many residential dwellings, and kept any new development at bay until the 1990s.

Demographics and Income

Diversity is the word here, with Blacks being the largest ethnicity, followed by Asians. Roughly 43% are married, with a median household income of $48, 622. The northwest corner of the neighborhood contains the lowest income households, with salaries hovering around $12,000. The median age is 38, with the largest percentage of the population in their 40s.

Culture

As can be imagined, with such a diverse representation of people, how the “feel” of this community impacts the Central District.

Real Estate

Home values have been rather erratic during 2010 for Atlantic, especially the last half of the summer. However, despite the wide swaths in the graph, values are up 4.6% from last year. The median house value is $340,000. Condos are the dwelling of choice, representing 40% of the market. Single family homes are a close second at 37%. Over 60% own their home, with a median size of 1,206 Sq. Ft. Current real estate values can be found at http://zillow.com.

Restaurants, Pubs and Coffee Houses

One of the highlights, besides Atlantic's population diversity, is the diversity in cuisine. Many of the restaurants are located on the west side near 12th. The selection ranges from BBQ to Ethiopian and from Mexican to Vietnamese. Here’s a sampling of eating establishments: Northshore Hawaiian BBQ (http://northshoreseattle.com)- Featuring a gigantic menu with a variety of dishes, Loving Hut (http://lovinghut.us) - Vegan cuisine to promote peace and preserve the planet, The Lemongrass (http://originallemongrass.com) - Authentic Vietnamese cuisine, and Hidmo (http://hidmo.org) - Eritrean cuisine with live African music on Sunday nights. Featured coffee houses are: SOHO Coffee Company (http://sohocoffeeco.com) - Featuring Stumptown (http://stumptowncoffee.com) blends and pastries from Macrina (http://macrinabakery.com), @cafe (http://atcafe716.com), and Starbucks (http://starbucks.com), of course. There, unfortunately, are no notable pubs within the confines of the neighborhood.

Schools and Recreation Facilities

Every well-established community features education systems that enable new generations to flourish. Atlantic has a handful of institutions worth noting: Gatzert Elementary (http://bitly.com/9zjxEV); King Street Cooperative Preschool (http://kingstreetcooppreschool.org) - A child-centered and play-based facility; Giddens School (http://giddensschool.org) - An independent preschool (through 5th grade) that features a diverse community steeped in social justice; Pratt Fine Arts Center (http://pratt.org) - Extending the visual arts experience to all, Seattle Vocational Institute (http://sviweb.sccd.ctc.edu) - Short term programs in the medical, dental, construction and computer fields; Anthony’s Beauty School (http://anthonybeautyschool.com); and Seattle Girls’ School (http://seattlegirlsschool.org) - A 5th through 8th grade middle school empowering young women to be leaders. A prominent landmark in the center is Judkins Park (http://bitly.com/a3Pvpg). It's attractive landscape features basketball and tennis courts, two baseball fields, and a soccer green. It also comes with a great play area and water fun for the kids. A few blocks north, beyond Jackson Street, is Pratt Park (http://bitly.com/cRSNVM). A similarly beautiful recreation area, but smaller. It features basket ball courts, a play area and more water fun for children.

Shopping and other Amenities

A variety of businesses, to meet any and all needs, are peppered around Atlantic. Here is a smattering: Viet Wah (http://vietwah.com) - Asian grocery importer, wholesale distributor, and retailer; Tru-Line (http://trulineseattle.com) - Boasting quality “under-car” repair for over 40 years; Lam’s Seafood Market (http://on.fb.me/d0Cqvu); Goodwill (http://seattlegoodwill.org) - A gigantic superstore featuring employee training; West Coast Printing (http://westcoastprinting.com) - Family-owned and operated, featuring multi-language printing; Densho (http://densho.org) - Preserves the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were ill-treated during World War II; Casa Latina (http://casa-latina.org) - Connects Latino immigrants to opportunities around Seattle; Sleeping Bulldog Bed and Breakfast (http://sleepingbulldog.com) - A modern home, featuring views and plush amenities; and Working Dog Bicycles (http://workingdogbicycles.com) - A focus on “Everyday Transportation.”

Medical Facilities

A few places to go for medical supplies or to get help with a condition do exist within the confines of the neighborhood. Here’s a few: Seattle Indian Health Board (http://sihb.org) - Organization that lobbies for Native Americans and their health care; King’s Pharmacy, on South Jackson; Carolyn Downs Family Medical Center, on Yesler; and Rehab Care (http://rehabcare.com) - Medical provider.

Spiritual Centers and Churches

Falling in line with the cultural diversity, the spiritual centers are no less homogenic. A few to highlight are: Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple (http://seattlekoyasan.com) - Representing the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism, Seattle Buddhist Temple (http://seattlebetsuin.com) - The Jodo Shinshu tradition, Japanese Congregational Church (http://jccseattle.org) - The only bi-lingual Japanese-English church services in the city, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (http://stpeterseattle.org) - A church with Anglican roots, and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church (http://myshilohmbclive.com).

Access

Cycling is common through Atlantic, especially with the Interstate 90 park (http://bitly.com/agYVQa) and tunnel close by. Hopping on either Interstate 5 or 90 couldn’t be more simple via Dearborn Street or Rainier Avenue, respectively. In addition, arterial streets, such as 23rd Avenue, Jackson Street and MLK, grant liberal passage in every direction. Backups, especially along Dearborn and Ranier are common during the high volume times. Despite the longer waits, commuting to work, especially to downtown, may take no longer than 20 minutes.

Summary

Proximity to downtown and rich cultural experiences await many here, resident and tourist alike. Lower housing costs are a draw for urban singles or international families. Atlantic is a good choice for those desiring an urban abode in Seattle, yet with East Side employment. Even when the reasoning for living here is close access to the beloved Mariners (http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com), Storm (http://wnba.com/storm) or Seahawks (http://seahawks.com)—no resident will be let down.

The Atlantic neighborhood in Seattle is one of those areas that are sandwiched between more happening areas like Beacon Hill and Mt. Baker Ridge. The area is full on residential with modest old homes. It’s one of the more diverse areas in Seattle and it boasts a large number of Asian Cuisine themed restaurants. The area is close to I-90 so the traffic noise is sometimes unbearable. Mixed in with a lot of the homes you’ll find small businesses like daycares and small non-profits that have taken residence in homes. It’s not rare to see a house next to a house converted into a business and then another residential house. It makes the area feel more community-friendly, like the businesses are really part of the area not just some chain store in a strip mall.

There’s a great park called Judkins Park in the area which has a soccer field, two baseball fields, and a playground it’s the perfect epicenter for the area and is often full of people playing on a sports team or just hanging out with the family.

Atlantic has a lot of character, even for a Seattle city. Along with the other neighborhoods in the Central District, Atlantic has some of Seattle’s oldest residential areas, but also some spots that are relatively new—a product of the I-90 expansions that disrupted growth and brought down quite a few homes in the area. Atlantic as a neighborhood, but especially around Judkins Park, is dominated demographically by African Americans, who make up more than half the population. And though the area has a predominantly African-American population, there is definitely an Asian presence in the business in the area.

And that brings us to the most important part of Atlantic: food. It would be a shame to focus on just one spot, so you might want to take a tour some weekend. Start over at Pho Bac, a minimalist pho joint that saves you money by cutting down on frilly options. You could call this the Dick’s of Pho, and the menu can be summed up in four words: beef or no beef. That is the question. Head over to Island soul and grab some jerk chicken, but come in for lunch to get the best value. You can finish off with the Malay Satay Hut, which is more expensive than other places but makes sure to put down some very good dishes—I’m all about their Singapore Noodle.

Atlantic, in the Central District, is located in the southern part of the city. The Atlantic area of Seattle is one of the oldest parts of the city. This triangular neighborhood is bordered by East Yesler Way to the north, Martin Luther King Jr. Way to the east, and Rainier Avenue to the west. This diverse neighborhood has large populations of African American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American residents.

Atlantic is best known for Judkins Park, in the northeast part of the neighborhood. This community park has a playground, play pool, and baseball fields. The neighborhood is also home to the Atlantic Street Center, founded in 1910 and providing medical, educational, and social aid to families in the community.

Some of the communities around Atlantic include North Beacon Hill, the International District, and Yesler Terrace. Residents of Atlantic enjoy easy access to the restaurants of the International District, the nightlife of Pioneer Square, sports at Qwest Field and Safeco Field, and shopping downtown.

Like many of the surrounding areas, Atlantic suffered a decline in the later half of the twentieth century. However, by the 1990s development had begun again, and today Atlantic is an up-and-coming residential neighborhood in the heart of the city. As it gets more popular, you can expect housing prices to rise, though for now it's an affordable and convenient neighborhood. If you're looking to move to Atlantic, Seattle, avoid the busy thoroughfares, as they can get crowded during rush hour.