History
Greenwood, originally called Woodland, was mainly known as a boggy area of town that was home to the 40-acre Woodland Cemetery and very few retail establishments. As the trolley routes from neighboring Greenlake and Phinney Ridge were extended, this area began to develop. Former Governor, Henry McBride, purchased and developed the cemetery in 1907. After moving all the bodies to nearby Crown Hill Cemetery in Ballard, Gov. McBride named the new development the Greenwood Park Addition. In the 1940’s, the Greenwood Commercial Club created a “Miracle Mile” along Greenwood Avenue. This addition of shops, bakeries and medical offices finally allowed Greenwood to become a self-supported neighborhood and helped to further separate it from Phinney Ridge.

Description
The main commercial district of Greenwood is located around the intersection of NW 85th St. and Greenwood Ave. NW.  It bustles with shops, banks and diners, in addition to being a very heavy trafficked area.  Quieter, residential areas lie to the north and south of NW 85th St., with the southern parts of Greenwood closely resembling the Phinney Ridge area. Bungallows and newer homes are more affordable here, than in the areas closer to Downtown Seattle. Apartments in this area are mostly older, 1960’s-1970’s construction, although newer developments are cropping up on NW 85th St., just west of Aurora Ave. N.

Residents
The Phinney Ridge/Greenwood area consists primarily of long-time, local and young middle to upper-class professionals. Young professionals continue to migrate to the area, as real estate prices can be relatively reasonable for such a convenient Seattle location. Many affluent families and individuals are also attracted to the fantastic, westerly views of the Olympic Mountains Phinney Ridge offers.

Fun Stuff
Around the Woodland Park area, Phinney Ridge has an abundance to offer those who enjoy nature. The Woodland Park Zoo, Woodland Park Rose Garden, and Woodland Park all lie just southwest of Greenlake, across Aurora Ave. N. The award-winning, 188-acre zoo has carefully created natural habitats and landscapes. The 2.5 acre rose garden has been around since the late 1800’s. The park itself offers athletic activities, from cycling and walking to organized team sports.  The Red Mill Burger Company is a tasty spot popular among locals, but you might have to wait in a line that stretches out onto the sidewalk at times. The Phinney Neighborhood Center hosts a variety of interesting classes and events, including puppet shows and fitness classes.

Greenwood and Phinney team up for the Annual Art Walk in May. Greenwood also puts on the Greenwood Classic Car & Rod Show in June. If that is not enough, it is just a stone’s throw from nearby Greenlake, as well as all the park activities in Phinney Ridge. For those who enjoy shopping, Northgate Mall and Seattle’s first two-story Target store are only a short drive north. 

Located just to the north of Phinney Ridge and northwest of Greenlake, Greenwood continues to experience redevelopment and growth. Conveniently located with easy access to I-5 and more affordable housing, investors and residents have recently been improving the homes in this area and the character of this neighborhood.

The rental housing in Greenwood consists of a large number of smaller, affordable single-family homes developed from the 1940s to the 1970s and a mix of older and newer small- to medium-sized apartment and condo buildings. Most of the new development has occurred in a close radius to the center of the retail core at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue North and North 85th Street. New retail, condominium and apartment development has revitalized this area.

Affordable housing with reasonable access to Downtown and the Eastside have made the Greenwood neighborhood a popular spot for many. Once off the main arterials this neighborhood consists almost exclusively of single-family homes. Housing in these neighborhoods is mixed and can offer very affordable single-family rental home options.