Leschi, Seattle, Washington

Leschi is a neighborhood located within the city of Seattle, Washington. The neighborhood is named after Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe.

Location

Leschi borders Lake Washington on the east; Interstate 90 on the south, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way South on its west, and East Cherry Street on the north.

Homes

Residences in Leschi include condominiums (especially along the lake), refurbished bungalows and craftsman, contemporary styles, bricks, Tudors and mid-century ramblers. Curvy streets wind away from the lakefront, which means many residences get at least a partial lake view. There are many parks from the popular Leschi lakeside park to pocket parks spread throughout the neighborhood.

Parks

Notable neighborhood parks include Leschi Park and Frink Park.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer describes Leschi in the following excerpt:"Leschi is not an exclusive enclave for the rich, despite its million-dollar lakefront homes. Rising from the shores of Lake Washington between Mount Baker and Madrona, and stretching west to Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Leschi is home to a racially and economically diverse group of people. Its narrow streets, shaded by big-leaf maples, mix stately turn-of-the century houses with far more modest homes" (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/neighbors/leschi/).

Businesses

Some of Leschi's more popular businesses include the Seattle famous Daniel's Broiler steak house (once home to a Ferrari dealership), BluWater Leschi, and Leschi Mart which has been family owned and operated since the end of WWII.

Seattle Municipal Street Railway cable car

Seattle Municipal Street Railway cable car No. 3, a 1900 Hammond product, illustrating the 1913-1915 modifications that created a squat breadbox like austere appearance that became synonymous with Seattle’s cable cars. No 3 in this 1938 view is shown after having descended the 5% grade into the ferry terminal in Leschi Park on the shores of Lake Washington. In the background is the 18% grade of the Seattle Electric Company trestle.

Between September 27, 1888 and August 10, 1940 a cable car ran along Yesler Way from Pioneer Square to Lake Washington. Some of the cable car tracks are still visible in certain parts of the neighborhood.