NeighborhoodSpotlight
Belltown:The Belle of the Ball
With its close proximity to downtown attractions, views of Elliott Bay and a decidedly eclectic spirit of place, Belltown has become downtown Seattle's most popular neighborhood. So it's not surprising that it's also the most densely populated, having seen greater residential development than all Seattle downtown neighborhoods combined.
This dynamic, art-filled community is loosely bordered by Virginia Street north to Denny Way and from 6th Avenue west to the Elliott Bay waterfront. Being relatively compact and walkable, the neighborhood is pedestrian-oriented, approachable and has earned its vibrant reputation due to Belltown's numerous restaurants, lounges, nightclubs and other live music venues.
There's also a much quieter, serene side to this neighborhood as its northern reach is home to both the Seattle Center "culture park" and the new 8.5-acre Olympic Sculpture Park, developed by the Seattle Art Museum. This area, known as the Park District, has numerous "green streets"— so-named for their widened sidewalks and impressive landscaping and street art, but also for the District's immediate access to the mile-long Myrtle Edwards Park located just north of the sculpture park. The M.E. Park offers a seaside run popular with joggers, strollers, roller-bladers, bikers and pets, too, as many Belltown residents live with their four-legged friends.
Several new condo communities have been added to the Belltown skyline, including The Parc, Mosler Lofts and Gallery, which will occupy later this year. Just around the corner is Alex—a boutique condominium located in the very heart of the active First Avenue "lifestyle mile". Sales for Belltown condominiums have always been strong, and in fact more one million+ residences have sold here than in any other downtown Seattle neighborhood. As the neighborhood quickly fills in, the principal of supply and demand is certain to make Belltown exponentially more desirable and valuable, as it becomes the Manhattan of the Puget Sound region.