ABC’s popular dramedy series “Desperate Housewives” chronicles the ups and downs of vivacious middle-age housewives. Tucked away in the foothills of what seems to be sun (what is this?) filled California, the women and their families live blissfully on the streets of Wisteria Lane. The name alone sets the vibe. Think beautiful colonial homes, shutters, primroses trimmed and kept to perfection underneath a custom built tree house, you know, the usual American household--if only.
Now, remove yourself from the clean streets of a fictitious television series and place yourself in a small neighborhood North of Seattle known as Wallingford. This rather small neighborhood to the West of the University District, to the South of Green Lake and to the North of the famed Fremont/Ballard area is home to many of those Wisteria-like families except with a distinct Seattle-twist. Don’t expect Prada and Coach purses or sun for that matter. Wallingfordites, much like most Seattlies, swap these out for Northface and Timbuk2u---much more practical options for the rain and frequent outdoor activity.
Being a native Seattleite, I have grown accustom to the general lifestyle of my fellow natives. Seattle has a very distinct and pronounce culture. Activism. Progression. Politics. The city has it all and the neighborhood of Wallingford is no different. Community and social activism is at its roots and there are mishaps and blunders to prove it.
My first impression of Wallingford, walking through the tree-lined streets and gazing into the elite-urban yet suburban houses, provided a glimpse into the pride of a community based neighborhood. Wallingford’s main drag and arguably its ‘downtown’ is located on 45th Avenue--just a quick jump from The University District perhaps one of the more well-known Seattle neighborhoods. While the U-District may have the juggernaut that is the University of Washington, Wallingford’s suburban getaway is much to be desired.
Janet Strong Stillman, Executive Director of the Wallingford Neighborhood Office and longtime resident of the neighborhood states that Wallingford is a neighborhood of passion. The office brochure mission statement even says it hopes to weave “together the elements of a strong and well informed community.” Strong and well informed is an understatement. From my first moments of information gathering I quickly discovered that Wallingford residents were not the type of people to sit back and let things happen. When it comes to their neighborhood, they want to be involved. A little scary? Not exactly like your neighborhood? Perhaps. If anything, though, this is not unique to the neighborhood. We all know Seattle can become a little ‘heated’ at times. Not by the sun, obviously. Rather, think of the WTO riots of 99. Like the larger community of Seattle, it would seem as if Wallingford residents remain active and despise complacency.
A small example of this came in 2000 when the Quality Food Corporation (QFC) bought out the local Food Giant. However, part of the deal was taking down the sign. No way. This wasn’t going to fly for residents. With community activism and pride, they pushed the owners to include a new ‘Wallingford’ sign---a haling of the tradition that encompasses the city. Today the Wallingford signs stands tall and proud much to the delight as well as dismay of many residents.
The 2000 census indicates that the neighborhood’s approximate age hovers around 33 years old. Wallingford is young, yet studies have indicated that the area is rapidly aging. Like the rest of Seattle, it is one of the more well educated areas with about 43 percent of residents college-educated. It makes sense with the proximity of the UW.
The following is a map of the Wallingford Neighborhood Office:
This is considered to be the Wallingford planning map. While there are no designated boundaries for Seattle neighborhoods, the city council receives funding for this area:
Wallingford has an active community website! Check it out here
