Ballard: A Seattle Neighborhood

mSeattle · #1 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 1:22 AM**

Ballard was once its own city northwest of Seattle. Located about 10 minutes drive from downtown, Ballard has maritime and Scandinavian past. There is an old town area and an inner suburb-style area. The old town area is seeing a revitalization and townhouse projects are replacing small single-family homes throughout the area. Well have a look from Christmas Day starting from Belltown on the north side of downtown.

Belltown

Ballard

seaskyfan · #2 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 1:31 AM**

Go Ballard!

I was over there last weekend. Amazing how much activity there is now. I love the new library branch as well.

WonderlandPark · #3 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 1:43 AM**

Wow, I gotta get up there and see it. Its probably been like 10 years since I was last there.

flar · #4 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 2:30 AM**

Thanks, I always enjoy neighbourhood tours. Looks like a lot of new development in an older area.

OhioGuy · #5 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 2:47 AM**

Looks like a great area. Thanks!

James Bond Agent 007 · #6 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 2:58 AM**

Ya sure? Ya betcha!

soleri · #7 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 3:16 AM**

Nothing like some old red brick to make a place feel like home.

crazyjoeda · #8 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 4:38 AM**

Is it safe to go outside? It looks like it would be an interesting neighbourhood, but is a rapist on the loose?

Black Box · #9 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 5:41 AM**

I love Ballard, there is so much to do up there.

mhays · #10 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 5:45 AM**

Definitely an interesting area. And many great projects happening.

pwright1 · #11 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 6:39 AM**

What a great thread M. I don't get to Ballard much. Things are definately looking good there. Love the red brick. More from MSeattle in the NEAR future.

seaskyfan · #12 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 6:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyjoeda

Is it safe to go outside? It looks like it would be an interesting neighbourhood, but is a rapist on the loose?

You're more likely to encounter Norwegian royalty. I lived there for a few years and they were always wandering through. Crown Prince Haakon is a hottie by the way.

Urban Zombie · #13 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 8:33 AM**

Oh Buh-lard. Looks like there is a lot of new projects going up over there--and changing for the better. Although Buh-lard was one area that I didn't go into too often, unfortunately. Nice thread...thanks for keeping me updated on what's happening in my absence.

Cory · #14 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 1:56 PM**

Looks nice.

Evergrey · #15 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 4:01 PM**

full of character!

der Reisender · #16 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 4:15 PM**

great neighborhood pictures, is the new development erasing part of the neighborhood's charm or reinforcing it?

ColDayMan · #17 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 4:59 PM**

Nice!

mSeattle · #18 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 5:32 PM**

Thanks everybody for the comments.

der: I think all the new large developments so far have erased empty or surface parking lots.

seasky: Royalty? That's interesting. I never knew that.

seaskyfan · #19 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 6:06 PM**

^ Ballard is one of the primary stops when the Norwegians do American tours (I think they also hit Minneapolis). I believe the bell tower on Ballard Ave was dedicated by the King of Norway on one visit.

While the character of the neighborhood is changing, there's still a significant Scandinavian element. I remember hearing that Ballard has the second largest Norwegian Constitution Day Parade in the world (May 17th in case you were wondering). It's also one of the biggest parades in Seattle - below SeaFair and Pride but I think bigger than most others.

I agree that the new development is primarily replacing parking lots or older one story developments. The first Ballard picture (with the wedge shaped building) shows redevelopment of an old car dealership.

mhays · #20 Posted **Jan 31, 2007, 8:59 PM**

Ballard is a very large area. In addition to the historic district shown, it has a more typical urban commercial district with denser retail (Market St.), and even a horrible strip suburban type throughfare (15th). It even has a small hospital (Swedish/Ballard) and a major tourist attraction (Ballard Locks). In addition to its Scandanavian heritage, Ballard is also known for its maritime industry on the freshwater side of the locks.

Ballard has always had a lot of apartments. But now they're getting right into the commercial districts, and at higher densities than the older stuff. I agree that projects generally replace stuff that isn't worthwhile. For example the triangle-shaped project pictured, plus the old folks home going up across the street, are the site of a former car dealership.

There are three major junctures for projects so far. I just described one. The second is shown in another picture with metal framing up and a couple completed projects in the background. The third is around 57th & 24th, with a couple projects nearly done or done, and a third supposedly starting one of these months -- one of Seattle's many teardown/replacements of an existing supermarket and surface lot with a new supermarket topped by housing, in this case 230 units. Anyway, between recent completions and current projects the work is approaching 1,000 new units within a five-minute walk of Leary & Market, with more coming.