Ever since this Diva moved to Seattle in 1988 from “The Motherland”, or Jersey, as you might call it, Capitol Hill has been the hub of my world. My first apartment, almost every job I’ve had and my first Seattle tribe have all been based in Capitol Hill. When I finally left my non-profit life to venture into real estate in ’99 – it was almost a given that I would choose the Coldwell Banker Bain Seattle Metro office, in the middle of Capitol Hill, to call my new home. And I am still here making real estate magic happen every day!
Like all neighborhoods – Capitol Hill has its good and bad sides but it’s this hood’s edge and vibrancy that make it one of Seattle’s most sought after places to live. Whether you are looking for grand ol’ four square next to Volunteer Park, a quaint condo in a revamped 1930’s Anhalt or a swank “pod” space in one of the new “micro-housing” buildings – this hood has it all. Capitol Hill boasts enough housing styles and price points to fit most anyone’s needs and desires. Yes – it can be loud, crowded and rife with cranes and traffic issue. Right now there is so much pent-up demand for new housing that you can’t walk a block without hearing the sound of new construction. Add the massive efforts to expand Seattle’s Link light Rail line and you have a bit of chaos here on the Hill. But once that light rail line is ready to ride – it will have all been worth it. There is also the ongoing bloom of new businesses. One day your building might be nice and quite and the next day, a new trendy bar or late night cafe has planted itself under your window. But in this hood – one person’s burden is easily another one’s boon.
What I love most about this neighborhood is that it vibrates with urban energy. I can have a Diva team meeting at Analog Coffee, show a tri-plex down the street, have lunch with clients at Americana, buy a closing gift bottle of bubbly from our pals at Vino Verite and grab a post work drink with my CBBA cohorts at Tommy Gun without ever having to get in my car. It hasn’t always been like that in my neck of Capitol Hill but new zoning changes and a constant influx of young talented tech folks converging on Seattle have slowly expanded the business districts into new areas of the Hill. In the past few year the Pike/Pine corridor has become the “go to” district for your night out on the town and my once slightly sleepy section of Olive Way & Bellevue has blossomed with bars, restaurants and cafes.
Capitol Hill has seen a few rough transitions in it’s past. The late 80’s/early 90’s was a tumultuous time for this hood with many clashes between the established neighborhood folks and the growing gay & lesbian population. Over the years the GLBT community has established itself as a powerful force in Seattle with the help of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA). Now this hood, and many others, thrive with GLBT owned and operated businesses. But Capitol Hill is not just a mecca for gays and lesbians moving to Seattle, it is a destination for anyone seeking a hood where they can find a strong sense of community in a truly urban lifestyle.
Quirky, independent and buzzing with life that’s this Diva’s Capitol Hill. It’s not for everyone but to me it’s the beating heart of Seattle and I dare say I shall never leave it.
