Lake is the community's center, but not its heart

By DEBERA CARLTON HARRELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Residents and merchants emphasize that while the lake and urban playground may lie in the middle of the Green Lake Community, it is not the sum total of the neighborhood. Its boundaries stretch beyond the lake, from North 50th Street north to North 85th Street, and from Interstate 5 to the west and Dayton Street east of Aurora Avenue.

As Warner put it: "Green Lake is not just the lake. It's not just the path. It is a neighborhood of people with really strong values. There's a lot of integrity in this neighborhood. The lake isn't the heart of the neighborhood; the heart of the neighborhood is the neighbors."

Pam David, co-chairwoman of Green Lake 2020, says there is an increased citizen desire for cohesiveness and community identity.

"In the past, as a community, we have tended to focus on lake issues -- water quality, path improvements -- and not on ourselves as a community," David said. "We have to share the lake with so many outsiders, our community sometimes gets diluted."

There is concern about the impact of more people in the area. Housing prices are rising; a 1,800-square-foot house on a 4,000-square-foot lot -- the average lot size here -- now costs $250,000, according to real estate agents.

"We're very much a single-family neighborhood; home ownership is part of our strength because people feel vested," David said. "And we like our small, comfy businesses; they're at a nice scale. So we're concerned about what does a residential urban village mean? How will it impact us? . . . We're trying to pull together and discuss how to direct our destiny."

Green Lake 2020 will soon be sending out questionnaires to all residents and merchants trying to identify the chief community concerns. Some citizens are trying to create a fair, parade or other community-focused event like Ballard, Fremont and other communities have.

Continued:

• Residents, business coexist in this recreational mecca
• It appeals to everyone -- and that has its price
• Maintaining the park and water is a priority
• Merchants contribute to neighborhood's health