Interbay, Seattle

In order to call Interbay home you have to be a person who doesn’t mind noise because in order to live in Interbay, you have to enjoy hearing the trains. Because of the heavy train traffic, Interbay is a noisy place to call home and the trains don’t abide by a 10pm quiet time. The area is fairly industrial because of the trains and so it’s not a lot to look at when you travel through.

Like most Seattle neighborhoods the place has its uses, once marshland it’s now a place where commerce thrives by the way of the rail. However, unlike most industrial areas Interbay have many neighborhoods with homes that are modestly prices and well kept up. The area is pretty hilly, and you need to watch out for the occasional kind on a skateboard taking advantage of the steep inclines, but the area is a good place to call home, especially if you’re not put off by the noise from the railroad tracks.

The fairly diversified community of Interbay has a little something for everyone. It’s maybe not a place to visit, maybe not necessarily a place to live, but working in the area isn’t all that bad. OK, I concede, the Interbay P-Patch is a nice little community garden, which is a feature that many other neighborhoods in the city can’t offer, so if being close to your food source is high on your list of priorities for city life, then Interbay isn’t a bad place to be. P-Patch aside, most everything else about Interbay is just a mix of industrial, warehouse, wholesale, retail, professional offices and housing, with a couple of highlighted features. Interbay is home to an Army National Guard armory, and has a golf course in its limits. Interbay’s got a group of 19th century homes that have been declared official city landmarks.

Delectably, the most interesting (or notorious) feature of Interbay is the Center for Sex Positive Culture, colloquially termed the Wet Spot. It’s a membership-only establishment and the participants are generally good neighbors, so there’s no reason to think that Interbay is anything but family friendly in that respect. Speaking of family-friendly areas, you would be advised to stop by Niko’s Gyros, where they offer a substantial children's plate and a gyro delicious enough to satisfy even the more discerning taste buds.

The neighborhood of Interbay spans between Magnolia (http://bitly.com/cWwQE0) and Queen Anne (http://bitly.com/c3diBe). The region almost resembles the chamber separating the sides of a heart. Considering the major rail yard (Balmer Yard http://bitly.com/h5aqdt) occupying Interbay, the heart illustration stands firm when imagining the connection with blood flow. Anyway, I digress.

History

Cleared by glaciers over 13,000 years ago, Interbay has undergone many changes. Dr. Henry A. Smith (http://bitly.com/gWbjhU) happened on this ‘cove’ by way of his journeys that began in Wooster, Ohio. (http://bitly.com/i2GBt6). The cove started as a colony with hopes of growing into a major city. However, Indian War of 1855-1856 (http://bitly.com/g8mi9b) dashed that dream as settlers fled to blockhouses around Seattle to escape the impending enemy.

As the years marched on major industries, including the railroad, began to inhabit Interbay. Teeming wildlife of this salt flat gave way to the industrial revolution; even today operates on a busy production schedule. The addition of a large P-Patch and golf course have greened up the community. Pier 91 (http://bitly.com/gQtcdz) has been a successful link during World War II (http://bitly.com/eP5sOn) and present day, with automobile shipments coming and going on a regular basis.

Demographics and Income

White is the predominant demographic, by numbers; income is just a touch above the Seattle average. If it was not for the extreme southeast and northeast corners of the neighborhood, where families with average salaries of at least $90,000/year are located, the median income would be far less. Roughly 44% of the population is married. Another interesting fact: seniors are in limited supply—due, possibly, to the more industrial nature of Interbay. The population density is considerably less than Seattle’s average. Young professionals (20s & 30s) are drawn here due to close downtown (http://bitly.com/fwXJkP) proximity and a stone’s throw from active nightlife.

Culture

The railway (http://bitly.com/h5aqdt) is the Olympic gold winner for Interbay. Unfortunately, residents and businesses come up short in the standings because of the unsightly rails and decibel levels. A friend who used to live within a half mile of the tracks expressed his difficulty acclimating to the noise, especially at night. In addition, the sheer volume of the rail yard leaves little area for development.

Real Estate

Housing lies to the west, but not a coveted location by any means. The proximity to downtown Seattle and lower price tags are enough to bring people in, tolerating the misgivings of the railroad.

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

Despite the challenges of hosting a major industry, Interbay does fairly well with keeping a residential tone. The Interbay Golf Center (http://bitly.com/flWkTf) and the city's largest P-Patch garden (http://bitly.com/iiUmGQ) foster sustainable community. A couple of grocery stores boldly moved in to feed the population. Alpine Hut (http://bitly.com/gQvH3W) is the oldest bike and ski shop in Seattle, with over 40 years of family-owned servicing. Other businesses: Wild Salmon Seafood Market (http://wildsalmonseafood.com) - A family-owned seafood market that also delivers fresh shellfish and wild varieties straight to your door; Signature Seafoods (http://signatureseafoods.com) - Delivering the under-valued fish product so as to create a new market and boast of the freshest experience, from catch to your plate; and Beyond the Divide (http://beyondthedivide.com) - From branding to executive coaching, enabling your business to move to the next level of success.

Schools

Education is a piece not forgotten by Interbay. Beginning in the north: Remote Medical Intl (http://remotemedical.com) - A medical and rescue service that provides training and on-site assistance virtually anywhere; North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners' Association (http://npfvoa.org) - Hands-on training for emergency situations involving a skipper or crew; Lawton Elementary (http://lawtonelementary.org) - A K-5 elementary focused on academic achievement and cultural enrichment; Dandelion Preschool (http://dandelionschool.com) - A childcare facility emphasizes real-life expression of emotions, conflict resolution, respect and academic achievement; and Magnolia School of Music (http://magnoliamusicschool.com) - Founded and run by Yeva Ghazaryan, an accomplished European-taught pianist.

Recreation

As far as green space, Smith Cove Park (http://1.usa.gov/fVqXgj) in the south features walking trails and family-friendly amenities. On the north side, Vertical World (http://verticalworld.com) features state-of-the-art facilities for individuals and groups seeking an outdoor-like rock climbing adventure. Crossfit (http://crossfitinterbay.com) is a scalable training regimen that is applicable to those in the military, the police force, grandparents or young mother. Denali Fitness (http://denalifitness.com) - Your neighborhood health club. Ella Bailey Park (http://1.usa.gov/en87OG) - A beautiful, newly built park with panoramic views of downtown Seattle (http://1.usa.gov/gLZpgR) and Mt. Rainier (http://bitly.com/eSQ0Zr), featuring many amenities and great views of holiday fireworks.

Medical and Wellness Facilities

Not much is here in regards to health offices. Pets have perks with Urban Vet (http://urbanvet.vetsourceweb.com), an online prescription center for animals.

Spiritual Centers and Churches

With all the clamor emanating from the railroad, residents (and commuters) still find spiritual rest among a couple of sanctuaries, namely: Quest (http://seattlequest.org) - An urban multi-ethnic congregation seeking to be an incarnational presence in a post-church culture and Magnolia Presbyterian Church (http://magpres.org) - An inter-generational congregation with a wide range of theological beliefs.

Transportation Access and Tips

Major arterial routes in Interbay include 15th Avenue West and Thorndyke Avenue West. Two major clusters of eating establishments lie in and around the Dravus Street Bridge and the Fishermen's Terminal (http://bitly.com/hwrQ7m) on Salmon Bay (http://1.usa.gov/hcRl4b). I had a meeting at the Q Cafe http://bitly.com/eNMfqM (just north of Dravus) and walked around the corner to enjoy a juicy burger at Red Mill (http://redmillburgers.com). It wasn't the most ideal pedestrian commute, but it got me there and back.

Another bonus for this neighborhood is a well-traveled bicycle route that connects Magnolia, Queen Anne and areas north of Salmon Bay http://bitly.com/feMcz2 (to the Seattle Downtown Waterfront - Belltown http://bitly.com/fF0XTC | Central Business District http://bitly.com/fwXJkP). Get ready for a thorough tour of the rail yard as you spin south on the path. The route is well marked, but does have a couple of narrow passageways with chain-link to meander the rails and locomotives.

Summary

Being sandwiched between two of the most desirable neighborhoods has its perks, especially when the only three roads connecting them pass through Interbay. This industrial strip of land may not be the first choice in Northwest living, but it carries a powerful history and strategic location for many Seattleites.

Much of the area today known as Interbay was originally a marshy area of the tideflats of Elliott Bay, in the areas known as Smith's Cove and Salmon Bay. The city grew up around this area, because it is one of the few areas of the city where the ground was already level. As settlers arrived, the city moved outwards. By the end of the 1800s, soil from regrading projects to turn Seattle's hills into livable space turned this wet area into real land. Interbay also includes the valley between Queen Anne to the east and Magnolia to the west.

Since the turn of the century, the Interbay area has been known for shipping industries, including several the Fishermen's Terminal and several piers for the Port of Seattle. The neighborhood is somewhat consumed by the Balmer railway yard, and numerous railway lines and trestles run across the neighborhood from east to west. Today, Interbay is home to a diverse range of industries, shops, and homes, giving it a uniquely industrial yet homey feeling. A golf course, playfields, the P-Patch community garden, and a food bank are just some of the many occupants of Interbay. 15Th Avenue West is the main road through Interbay for those looking for shopping or dining options, although the area is quite crowded, and traffic can get bad during rush hour.

Although parts of Interbay have an industrial feel, others are quite nice residential areas, especially the parts of Interbay near Queen Anne Hill and Magnolia. These parts, however, tend to be very steep. If you get high enough on the hill on a clear day, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, and downtown.

A half dozen railroad tracks separate the east and west halves of Interbay. Residents on the extreme west side of Queen Anne border the Interbay neighborhood, along with the entire east half of Magnolia, making at least part of Interbay a nice place to live. Actually, the section of Magnolia covered by the Interbay neighborhood consists of many very steep hills, though there are some nice residential streets. A few enjoy some terrific views of Puget Sound, the downtown skyline and Mt. Rainier on a clear day.

The main conception of Interbay is the railroad yards and the very unusual location for a golf course (though not a very good one). It's also considered that the main area is 15th Ave. West which has terrible traffic most of the time, but provides an alternate route to downtown Seattle for Magnolia and Ballard residents.

Interbay is a neighborhood in Seattle that consists of the valley between Queen Anne Hill on the east and Magnolia on the west, plus filled-in areas of Smith Cove and Salmon Bay.

The neighborhood is bordered on the north by Salmon Bay, part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, across which is Ballard; on the south by what remains of Smith Cove, an inlet of Elliott Bay; on the east by 15th Avenue W. and Elliott Avenue W.; and on the west by Thorndyke, 20th, and Gilman Avenues W. The Ballard Bridge crosses the ship canal from Interbay to Ballard.

Much of the neighborhood is taken up by BNSF Railway's Balmer Yard. Interbay is also home to Fishermen's Terminal on Salmon Bay and the Port of Seattle's Piers 86, 90, and 91 on Smith Cove. Its main thoroughfares are Elliott Avenue West and 15th Avenue West. The area is seemingly industrial due to what goes along with bay area living. There are a few retail businesses along 15th Avenue but intermingled with warehouses, light industrial buildings, and the like.

Just north of Dravus on 15th Avenue are the Quest Church and the nonprofit (and non-religious) Q Café, founded with funding from the church. My favorite is the bicycle and foot trail which comes north from the Central Waterfront by Belltown through Myrtle Edwards Park and continues through the pier facilities around Smith Cove. It parallels the railway tracks on their west through Interbay, ending on the west (Magnolia) side of the tracks on 20th Avenue West about three blocks south of Dravus.