Chic neighborhood borders a lot of beauty, from Lake Washington to the Washington Park Arboretum
Population: About 5,000
Location: Madison Park is roughly bordered by Lake Washington Boulevard East to the south and west, Union Bay to the north, Lake Washington to the east and East Prospect Street to the south.
Why people move to this neighborhood: Madison Park has long held a reputation as a chic, affluent and generally quiet neighborhood (except in summer months) at the eastern edge of Seattle that boasts some fabulous spots to take in the beauty of the natural landscape, including at popular Madison Park Beach on Lake Washington (also arguably one of the best and busiest lakefront beaches in the city), and the Washington Park Arboretum with its expansive botanical gardens. There’s a small yet lively business district right near the lake along East Madison Street that has a few shops, cafes, fine-dining restaurants and pubs. It’s also close to downtown Seattle to the west and the University of Washington campus just north, and to Eastside cities via the 520 bridge.
Distance from downtown Seattle: About 3.5 miles, 15 minutes by car without traffic
Most Read Business Stories
School district: Seattle Public Schools
Major employers: The University of Washington
Housing: Single-family homes in varying styles, including a few older bungalow houses and many new homes. There are some multifamily residences, including condominium and apartment buildings, to the north and east, many overlooking Lake Washington. There’s also a gated community of homes located on the Broadmoor Golf Club property.
Walk score (out of 100): 66
Transit score (out of 100): 35
Bike score (out of 100): 59
Historical facts: The land where Madison Park sits today was once called “Where One Chops” by its original Duwamish Tribe inhabitants. The first developer in the area was Judge John J. McGilvra, who cut a straight-line road from downtown Seattle to his property in Madison Park. The road is known today as Madison Street and was named after President James Madison. It’s the only street in Seattle that connects directly from saltwater on one side (Puget Sound) to freshwater on the other (Lake Washington).
Recreation: One of the neighborhood’s stars is Madison Park Beach, which attracts scores of beachgoers in the summer months. The Washington Park Arboretum and its botanic gardens are a year-round attraction and offer 230 acres of dynamic plant life, including dozens of (seasonally) flowering rhododendrons, blooming trees and trails through the property. Shopping and dining options are mainly in the small business district along East Madison Street. The Broadmoor Golf Club next door to the Arboretum attracts professional golfers from all over and occupies a sizable portion of land.
Zillow Home Value Index: $1,226,700 (as of April 2016)
Zillow Rent Index: $4,057 (as of April 2016)
The Zillow Home Value Index is the median Zestimate valuation for a given geographic area on a given day. The Zillow Rent Index is the monthly median rent Zestimate. Sources: walkscore.com, HistoryLink.org, Zillow