Beacon Hill

The area of Beacon Hill, known more specifically as Mid Beacon Hill, sits neatly between South Columbian Way, Martin Luther King Jr. Way (MLK), South Graham Street and Interstate 5. For more details about the Beacon Hill area, check out my reviews on North Beacon Hill (http://bitly.com/9r2WI0) and South Beacon Hill (http://bitly.com/dklbTw).

History

Originally coined “Greenish-Yellow Spine”, then was referred to more officially as Holgate and Hanford Hill in the late 1800s. It ceased to carry the name of Boeing Hill a couple of decades ago, following the flight of workers to the suburbs. One notable structure, having been built in 1883, is the Turner-Koepf House—a National Register (http://nps.gov/nr) property

Demographics and Income

Beacon Hill, today, consists primarily of Asians, largely due to this suburb migration of Boeing employees. There is, however, a small influx of whites, drawn by the racial diversity, unique culture and opportunities for justice in South Seattle. Roughly half of the residents are married, with 30% of homes containing children. A younger neighborhood, Beacon Hill has an almost uniform representation of ages under 50 years old, with the largest group being the thirty-somethings. The median household income is nearly identical to the Seattle average of $45,736 (http://bitly.com/9qBazZ).

Real Estate

The single family home dominates the Beacon Hill landscape, with almost half the structures built around the middle of the 20th century. Over 70% of the residents own their homes, making for a fairly established community. House values have continued to drop, bringing the median price to $279,000, as of September 2010 (http://bitly.com/cJaK15).

Local Business Tour (Restaurants, Pubs, Coffee Houses and other Amenities)

Predominantly residential, Beacon Hill (at least the area of the neighborhood focused on during this review) does not offer a whole lot in the area of small businesses. A couple of places to eat include Huarachitos Mexican Taqueria (http://huarachitos.com) and Willie's Taste of South Bar-B-Que (http://williestasteofsoul.com). Random businesses found in the community include: Redbird Sports (http://redbirdsports.com) - Custom Golf Equipment; Italian Town and Country (http://italiantownandcountry.com) - Family business promoting independent travel to Central Italy; Washington State Chefs Association (http://washingtonstatechefs.com) - Connecting chefs, suppliers, students, educator and lovers of food; Inverse Studio (http://inversestudio.com) - The work and products of Jeff Crandall, poet and artist; Explorers 3 (http://explorers3.com) - Providing adventure and experiential global travel; and International Bicycle Fund (http://ibike.org) - Nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable transport.

Accommodations

Due to the residential nature of Beacon Hill, hotels are non-existent. Georgetown (http://bitly.com/bA6JVX), west of Interstate 5, would be the first place to look for lodging. Of course, downtown Seattle is a short drive to the north with an almost endless supply of rooms for travelers.

Schools and Recreation Facilities

The recreational component consists of Dearborn Park (http://bitly.com/adcGF8) and the Chief Sealth Trail (http://bitly.com/ba6Ojq). Several educational institutions exist here, with most being on the west side of the community—here is a running list: Saint George Parish School (http://saintgeorgeseattle.org) - A diverse and supportive community with strong Catholic values; Cleveland High School (http://seattleschools.org/schools/cleveland) - An Option School for grades 9-12; Maple Elementary School (http://seattleschools.org/schools/maple) - A Blue Ribbon School with phenomenal views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier; Community Day School Association (http://communitydayschool.org) - An affordable child enrichment program, integrated with nine Seattle public schools; and Dearborn Park Elementary (http://seattleschools.org/schools/dearborn) - A school respecting the wealth and vitality of the cultural traditions of Beacon Hill.

Medical Facilities

The big claim-to-fame for medical offices in Beacon Hill is the VA Hospital (http://pugetsound.va.gov) on the north side. Other places to speak of include: Moms with MS (http://momswithms.org) - Support community started by Kristin Bennett and Southgate Medical Clinic (http://bitly.com/9xnTNi) - Dr. Robert A. Velasco.

Spiritual Centers and Churches

A fair number of churches exist here: Chinese Baptist Church (http://seattlecbc.org), St. Marks Lutheran Church, Seattle Presbytery (http://seattlepresbytery.org) - Center for the PC USA churches around Puget Sound, Saint George Parish (http://stgeorgeparish.com) - Welcoming faith community comprised of diverse peoples, Seattle Church (http://seattlechurch.net) - A Non-Denominational church “family”, Bethany United Church of Christ (http://bethanyseattle.org) - A Christian Community with an eye towards social justice, and Seattle Chinese Alliance Church (http://scacseattle.org) - A bilingual congregation with Cantonese and English services.

Access

Transportation is a win-win, with Seattle Light Rail (http://soundtransit.org) and quick I-5 accessibility, which can be reached via 15th Ave S or S Graham Street . Main arterials like MLK and Ranier provide good alternative routes to the north or south, connecting with I-90 for East side commutes. Drive times to work average around 28 minutes—brought on by many having to commute over Lake Washington for East side careers.

Summary

Beacon Hill, having changed names three times over the years, could be seen as having identity issues. However, a strong residential base disproves this theory, uncovering a diverse population with much to contribute locally and to the greater Puget Sound region.

Beacon Hill is a hub of activity built on the residential areas that were formerly popular with Boeing employees, before the exodus to the eastside. Today, the majority of residents are Chinese,
Vietnamese, and Filipino, represented by a similar diversity in local businesses. Beacon Hill is a microcosmic community, offering residents and visitors a variety of recreational options and cultural opportunities.

Among the major cultural centers are the First Baptist Church and El Centro de la Raza in the neighborhood and the local branch of the Seattle Public Library, which was just recently moved to a new building. Dr. Jose Rizal Park has beautiful views of Elliott Bay and the Olympics and tends to attract crowds of people for summer fun and golf.

I always try to stop over at El Quetzal if I’m in the area. It’s one of the local Mexican restaurants, and I’m all about the huarches, which are over sized mission-style burritos filled with obscenely delicious and fresh ingredients (‘huarches’ translates literally to sandals, likely because they’re as carefully constructed and as big as the Mexican footwear for which they’re named).

If you’re seeking all the amenities and diversity of a big city with residential appeal and a big dose of character, peek in on what Beacon Hill has to offer.

Beacon Hill is one of the oldest and largest residential areas in Seattle. This southeast Seattle neighborhood is commonly split into two sections, Beacon Hill and North Beacon Hill, due to its size. The City and some residents also consider the areas Holly Park, Mid Beacon Hill, and South Beacon Hill to be separate neighborhoods. The borders of Beacon Hill are Interstate 90, Interstate 5, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, and the southern Seattle city boundary.

The neighborhood is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to live in the city. There are more than 5,000 homes and 400 condos in the area. Home prices have not skyrocketed, making it ideal for young families or singles who are looking to make Seattle their home. Beacon Hill features many examples of historic architecture from the early 1900s, including beautiful Craftsman bungalows. Many of the homes in the area offer breathtaking views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. When the sun is out, you may even catch a glimpse of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.

While most residents go elsewhere in the city to do most of their shopping, Beacon Hill is home to a new Seattle City Library as well as a wide array of restaurants. Those shopping or eating in the Beacon Hill neighborhood will find that it has a very diverse feeling, including large numbers of Asian businesses on Beacon Avenue South. Beacon Hill is also home to the headquarters of Amazon.com. Because Beacon Hill was one of the earliest neighborhoods in the city, it is home to several historically significant places, such as the Beacon Hill First Baptist Church (1910) and the Comet Lodge Cemetery (1895).

Beacon Hill was one of Seattle's very first neighborhoods. It is a sizable area and due to the large neighborhood size it is split into two sections, North Beacon Hill and Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is where you will find the new City Libray that is a great place to hang out or spend an afternoon, as well as some great eateries. Despi Delite Bakery is found in Beacon Hill and where you will find some amazing pan de leche among other delectables. The overrall feel of the neighorhood is quite diverse. You will find yoga studios that sit next to bistros and of course, your Starbucks or Seattle's Best Coffee is found on nearly every corner.

Beacon Hill is emerging as a great place to live in Seattle. Home prices are decent and not sky high. I have some younger single friends who claim Beacon Hill is perfect for just starting out or for those newly married couples with no kids. Real estate prices are still lower than most areas in Seattle but I believe that will be changing because more and more people are beginning to discover this jewel of a neighborhood.