Madison Park/Madrona
For generations, Madison Park and the nearby enclaves of Washington Park, Broadmoor and Denny Blaine have attracted Seattle's most wealthy and prominent families.
The area’s development began in 1865 under the supervision of Judge John J. McGilvra, who once practiced law with Abraham Lincoln.
The 200-acre Washington Park Arboretum is considered one of the finest public gardens in the United States. Within the park can be found a convenient and scenic shortcut to state Route 520 for the Madison Valley, Madison Park, Capitol Hill and Central Area neighborhoods.
Madison Park's elite nature is also reflected in the luxurious environs of the Seattle Tennis Club and Broadmoor Golf Club. It sets new members back$18,000 to join the tennis club, and that’s only when a coveted opening appears in the eight-year long waiting list. Prospective members are pre-screened to determine if they are "compatible socially."
Madison Park’s cozy commercial district seems to have at least one of everything: a good bookstore (Madison Park Books), a highly touted lingerie shop (Ann Marie) and two bars – the Red Onion, an old-fashioned tavern, and the Attic, known for its good food and a younger clientele. There are several small restaurants that serve an enticing array of cuisine.
The commercial hub is at the foot of Madison, near the west end of the Evergreen Point Bridge (a.k.a. the 520 bridge).
Madrona is a neighborhood that prides itself on its racial diversity and integration. It is home to the Seattle chapter of the Black Panthers for the past 30 years.
But the neighborhood's diversity is shifting. White couples – gay and straight – are buying homes in the area at a rapid pace in the historically predominantly black area.