Lakeview Kirkland

The Seattle area is known as a haven for professionals who flock to abundant opportunities in the technology field. Entrepreneurs and startup owners seek out the coastal city for its natural beauty and well-educated workforce. Therefore, it makes historic sense that Lakeview Kirkland was settled in the 1880s by entrepreneurs. The founders of the Moss Bay Iron and Steel Works planned on turning the lakefront area, which eventually became the City of Bellevue, into a west-coast Pittsburgh-like steel mill town. However, the financial panic of 1893 put a stop to those dreams. By the early 1900s, wool mills and shipbuilding factories took hold and brought stability and emerging prosperity to Lakeview Kirkland. World War I drove abundant need further for both industries.

Today, Lakeview Kirkland is thriving, perhaps beyond its founders' wildest dreams. Online publication, Seattle Inno recently named the Lakeview Kirkland area as “the fastest-growing startup city in the U.S.” The area raised more startup funds -- $298.6 million – than any other U.S. city in the second quarter of 2022. Beyond its reputation for incubating emerging startups, the area is acclaimed for its stunning natural lakefront beauty and its shoreline. Local restaurants, hotels, and parks compete for the moniker of “best sunset views”. Homes are distinctive, expansive and often breathtaking for their design and layouts. You can find an occasional turn-of-the-20th-century Victorian or Craftsman-style home. But for the most part, suggests Seattle native and veteran Realtor Sean Meade with Compass Realty, “Homes under $5,000,000 tend to be ones that are purchased by buyers seeking waterfront lots who then remove the existing home and build a new one to their own specifications." Contemporary estate homes on Lake Washington will run you about $11,000,000. Waterfront homes with about 3,000 square feet range from $3,000,000 to $6,400,000. Two-bedroom condominiums, two blocks from the water, can be found for around $900,000.

Lake Washington School District is the second-largest in the state of Washington and is ranked 17th. Lakeview Elementary offers kindergarten through fifth grade and ranks in the top 50 best elementary schools in the state. Niche gives them an overall A grade. Kirkland Middle also has an A-rating from Niche and is ranked the tenth-best middle school out of 525 schools in the state. Lake Washington High was founded in 1922 with less than 50 students. After nearly 100 years, the school opened in a new building in 2011 and has reached an enrollment today of just under 2,000 students. Niche gives it an overall A grade.

Lakeview Kirkland area parks offer spectacular views of Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline. Doris Cooper Houghton Beach Park fronts the lake and offers amenities to keep you busy for a few hours or a full day. Families with young kids enjoy the seasonal swim area with lifeguards, a playground and a sand volleyball court. Landscaped green spaces are perfect for picnicking or taking a run. The park also features three striking public art sculptures. Marsh Park offers four waterfront acres and unbeatable Seattle skyline views. Terrace Park is a small, two-acre park that’s great for little kids. It features a basketball court, a playground and soccer fields.

One of the best reasons to go out to dinner in Lakeview Kirkland has to be waterfront dining. With abundant choices, you can find all manner of justifications for doing it often. Chianti Kirkland is located in the heart of downtown Kirkland and welcomes diners with traditional Italian restaurant details from white tablecloths to prominent wine racks. Try their Bruschetta con Pomodoro or their Zuppa del Giorno. From the moment you walk into Le Grand Bistro Americain, you’ll start to relax. The views of pleasure boats gently rocking at Carillon Point Dock will settle your soul while the scent of butter and seafood will have you searching for the menu. On warm days, do all you can to snag a table outside. Weekends are a great time to enjoy the abundant shopping venues of Lakeview Kirkland. Via Lago is a popular ladies’ boutique that offers casual and semi-formal fashions, jewelry and lingerie. Kick It Boutique has a great reputation for recommending the right items for your style and figure. Reviews praise their assortment of casual but work-appropriate fashions. Shopping for groceries at Metropolitan Market is an experience with abundant fresh and hard-to-find foods everywhere you look. QFC grocery is the place to go for dry goods, home supplies, and health products.

If you’re looking for a waterfront home and plenty of outdoor activities, Lakeview Kirkland offers an ideal location. As Realtor Meade explains, “Those who live an active, healthy life and who want a beachy lifestyle will fall for this area. It offers so much -- and the views are beyond spectacular.”

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Jake Miller

Video By

Lucas Dyke