"Community" describes Eastlake

When a winter windstorm damaged a dock on Lake Union in Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood, neighbors quickly helped the owners rebuild it.

"The teamwork of putting the dock back together was amazing. Living so close together, you really depend on your neighbors," said Jann McFarland, who's lived on a houseboat on the lake for 35 years.

That was just one example of why McFarland loves Eastlake, where she lives with her husband, Sid, and her three cats.

One of the city's most clearly defined neighborhoods, Eastlake begins south of the University Bridge and is bounded by Lake Union to the west, Interstate 5 to the east and Mercer Street to the south.

"I like the fact that it's so close to downtown, yet when you come home from work and you come down the stairs to your dock, it feels like a resort community on the water. It's just a whole different atmosphere; you can leave your stress behind," McFarland said.

Of the 500 houseboats on Lake Union, about 275 are in Eastlake, said McFarland, the office manager of the Lake Union's Floating Homes Association.

The neighborhood has changed quite a bit since she first moved there in the 1970s, with old houses giving way to new apartments, condominiums and businesses. The Gates Foundation also is based there.

First settled in the late 1800s, Eastlake was then known for its industry, with numerous sawmills and wood manufacturers.

Boeing even built its first factory in the neighborhood in 1916 to test seaplanes. After World War II, the industry shifted to commercial marine enterprises. The Lake Union Drydock, which repairs and rebuilds ships, has operated in the same spot since it opened in 1919.

The neighborhood is still feeling the effects of construction of I-5, which took out many homes and businesses in the 1960s, said Eastlake Community Council secretary and 20-year resident Chris Leman.

The council was recently successful in getting the state to add noise walls along the freeway. The first installation of noise walls was completed last year and the next stage will start soon, Leman said.

About 65 percent of the 5,000 Eastlake residents are renters, Leman said.

The area is known for its popularity with young people, as well as a spot for retirees looking for a smaller home to settle down, he added.

Stately Victorians and Craftsman-style houses, along with cherry trees and weeping willows, dot Franklin Avenue East, while Fairview Avenue, which follows the water, is still unpaved and provides peeks into colorful residential dock communities. Small shoreline parks can also be found along this street.

Along the neighborhood's main thoroughfare, Eastlake Avenue East, there's a bustling commercial area with cafes, bars and restaurants.

For Leman, the best part about Eastlake is the view.

"You can look out at the Olympic mountains, Lake Union and downtown. There's also a great view of the Space Needle."