Fairview

One of Anchorage’s first neighborhoods, Fairview is proud of its history as a welcoming and unfussy community tucked between downtown and the local airport. Home to Alaska’s first Black church, Greater Friendship Baptist, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places, this community on the rise continues to echo a diversity of voices. From one of the city’s longest-operating restaurants, Lucky Wishbone, to a school named in honor of Alaska’s first Black female principal, Fairview holds an eclectic architectural mix sprinkled with meaningful murals. Locals also co-exist with the familiar sounds of the nearby Merrill Field Airport. Silvia Brugger, Realtor with Real Estate Brokers of Alaska, says, “One of the neat things about Fairview is that Merrill Field on the east side opened in 1930 and it’s Alaska’s oldest airport. It’s a significant landmark here because at one time it was considered one of the busiest aviation facilities in the world for privately-owned small-wheeled and ski planes.”

Homes are organized on a neat grid of streets from East 1st Avenue on the north edge through East 15th Avenue to the south, which makes finding your way around easy. Property styles can range from 1970s wood-siding town houses painted in earthy hues for around $220,000 to a 2,200-square-foot open-concept contemporary town house with massive decking and grand windows built in 2009 for $1.2 million. In between, single-family residences include updated 1950s homes on ample lots for around $350,000. On streets closest to downtown, you’ll see cozy cottages built in 2015 for around $430,000 mixed among multi-family properties. You can also find some new-construction condos on 16th Avenue.

Public-school students may start at Dr. Etheldra Davis Fairview, renamed in 2021 to honor Anchorage’s first Black teacher and principal. They then move on to Central Middle School of Science for seventh and eighth grades before heading to West Anchorage High School, known locally as West High. Niche gives West High School an A grade and ranks it the second best high school in Alaska. In 2022, West High was selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations as the Performing Arts School of Excellence, in honor of their exemplary commitment to performing arts programs.

Outdoor and indoor recreational venues are integral here. The neighborhood is embraced by a vast system of trails through Valley of the Moon and Chester Greenbelt Parks to the south and offers walking access to the 13-block-long Delaney Park Strip into downtown. In recognition of the Fairview Lions Club, which played a large part in its establishment, the Fairview Lions Park offers a 5-acre green space with a nature-themed playground. “Just north of Fairview,” says Brugger, “there’s also an industrial area where you’ll find Ship Creek Park. When the tide is right and it’s in season, locals head there to fish for salmon right off the bank.”

Residents also have their choice of sports and exercise options at the Chester Creek Sports Complex. During the COVID-19 crisis, the stalwart 6,300-seat Sullivan Arena, which locals call “The Sully,” was temporarily repurposed as a homeless shelter. Reflective of a renovating community, Mayor Dave Bronson’s administration announced in the summer of 2023 that the Sully would be restored to serve as a central venue for sports and music events. Says Brugger, “The city has really been trying to make Fairview up-and-coming for those who see the investment opportunity. Many of the buildings are older, but we’ve been seeing new construction in the past few years, especially of multi-family housing on the west side.”

Within the community, residents drive through A Cup on the Run coffee hut for a morning brew, or pick up flavor-of-the-week cookies and fresh-baked donuts at Wiki-licious. Locals also love the old-school milkshakes at the venerable Lucky Wishbone that are always a tasty complement to their famous chicken and burgers. Brugger adds, “I used to know the owner of Lucky Wishbone, George Brown, when he was in his 80s and 90s. He was a retired Air Force pilot, and he was just such a wonderful person. And still today, his restaurant is known to have the best fried chicken in town.” Within blocks of Lucky Wishbone, downtown offers a bounty of eateries and shops as well. Groceries are always convenient at Carr’s on Gambell Street, or you can shop the Anchorage Farmers Market at the Central Lutheran Church parking lot on Saturdays from May through October. Known as the only non-profit, farmer-directed market in Anchorage, residents gather here for locally grown goods from area farms and family gardens.

"It’s an area in transition,” says Brugger, “that’s close to downtown. It’s also where the Seward Highway splits into Gambell and Ingra Streets. So, the freeway that connects all of north and south Alaska runs right through the heart of the community. It’s a very central location to find an affordable price point home.”

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

Evan Melgren

Video By

Luke Mancari