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History
Located slightly south of Madison Park, Madrona and Leschi both began as Duwamish settlements in the mid-1800’s.  Hunting and Fishing were popular in these areas due to their abundance of wild game, bear, deer, and salmon.  Madrona was given its name by John Ayer, who contributed the land that became Madrona’s beachside park, and named it after the abundance of Madrona trees in the area.  Leschi is the namesake of Nisqually Chief Leschi, who was known to have spent time in the area prior to his controversial hanging in 1858. 

Mt. Baker became a settled neighborhood in 1905, growing from its roots as a site for sawmills after the trees of nearby neighborhoods had been logged.  Later, Sicks’ Stadium made its home in this neighborhood and churned out Northwestern League pennants, as well as concerts by Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin.

Description
Madrona, Leschi and Mt. Baker enjoy lakeside locations. On clear days, Mount Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges are visible in many parts of these neighborhoods. Many of the affluent residents in Madrona and Leschi, once very prestigious areas, moved to other Seattle neighborhoods during the 1960’s.  Newcomers to the area have recently begun a trend of improving many of the smaller, older homes in the area restoring the charm and classic feel of the area. Mt. Baker, located on the edge of Lake Washington just south of I-90, has retained much of its prestige and has spectacular, higher-priced houses perched on the top of its hill.  In all the neighborhoods, some homes are located along the water’s edge and have spectacular settings, while others border on neighborhoods where home safety can be a concern, so careful selection is advised. 

Residents
Madrona, Leschi and Mt. Baker offer an artistic, eclectic atmosphere. Residents in these areas range through every income bracket and ethnicity. Elegant mansions neighbor modest cottages in a varied mix, except for along the lake where the waterfront has been developed and serves as the commercial hub.  Large houses with amazing views can commonly be found atop Mt. Baker’s crest.

Fun Stuff
Madrona and Leschi are close neighbors to all that Madison Park has to offer.  One of the area’s few sandy beaches is located at Madrona Park.  Enjoy the walking trails and wooded setting of Frink and Leschi Parks, where swimming is also a popular pastime. Lakeside at Leschi is a retail and condominium development, recently constructed at the edge of Lake Washington.  Two beautiful parks, Mt. Baker Park and Colman Park, sprawl from the water’s edge up the hill to Mt. Baker’s crest.

Much of the rental housing available in Leschi is located close to the small downtown core on the shore of Lake Washington. Here you will find some smaller apartment properties as well as duplexes and multiplexes. There are a few mid-century and newer condominium buildings where private rental units periodically come available for rent.

Many of the rental units in this area are single-family homes located along the east-sloping hill facing Lake Washington. This area was primarily developed from the 1920s to the 1950s, which is reflected in the craftsmen and higher-styled homes in this area. Homes are typically more modest then many of the homes north to Capitol Hill and around Madison Park, making the rental rates more affordable for many. The more expensive rental homes will typically have views east to Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains, will be larger remodeled older homes or one of the newer homes constructed in the last ten years.

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