Seattle Real Estate Spotlight: Montlake
Montlake is a quiet, picturesque residential neighborhood that serves as a gateway from Capitol Hill and Madison Park to neighborhoods north of the Ship Canal via the Montlake Bridge and indirectly the University bridge. Montlake sits on Portage Bay and features waterfront parks and marinas. Thus, there are very few (less than a handful) of waterfront homes. Moreover, the neighborhood is dominated by homes and has very few condos or apartment buildings. Unlike the large estates on nearby North Capitol Hill, most Montlake homes are generally between 2,000 and 3,500 sq ft.
Montlake Real Estate Research
History
John Boyer platted the land in what would become Montlake in 1905, with the intent of making the area east of 24th Avenue an enclave for exclusive residences. The Montlake Cut, connecting Lake Washington with Lake Union, was completed in 1916. Thereafter, residential real estate development continued through the early 1940’s. Hence, to this day, nearly 40% of homes were built prior the 1940’s. Furthermore, when they created “The Cut” the dredged material from construction of the cut was deposited on former marshlands to the southwest of the bridge. Consequently, those former marshlands were later developed into Montlake Playfield. Finally, the Washington Park arboretum was completed in 1941 which connects Montlake with Madison Park and the neighborhoods beyond.
Points of Interest
Montlake has a small business district that runs along 24th Avenue East between East Lynn and East McGraw streets. For instance, it is home to the Montlake Public Library, restaurants, coffee shops, an antique shop, and other services. In addition, Montlake is also a hub for Seattle’s Greek community, as it is home to the beautiful St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church. In addition, the neighborhood is home to the Seattle Yacht Club and Queen City Yacht Club is also nearby. Other points of interest are The Cut, the Montlake (draw) Bridge, and West and East Montlake Park which connect to Marsh and Foster Island through the floating Waterfront Trail. Beyond the Montlake Bridge is the University of Washington: home of the Huskies.
Montlake is the neighborhood I’m proud to call home. If you see me around the neighborhood: walking my dogs, at the playfield, or grabbing coffee, please feel free to stop to say hello and ask questions. If you’re curious about your home’s value, timing a move, or just want to talk through the market, I’m always happy to help.
Demographics
| Montlake | Seattle | |
| Population | 4,829 | 780,995 |
| Median Age Males (Yrs) | 39.4 | 35.2 |
| Median Age Females (Yrs) | 39.8 | 36.1 |
| Family Households | 40.4% | 33.0% |
| Married-Couple Families | 48.4% | 35.2% |
| Median Household Income | $ 169,205 | $ 120,608 |