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The Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood is located just north of the University of Washington, and maintains a residency largely upper-middle class, though its roots are strictly blue collar. The University is a major neighborhood employer, with University affiliates as resident tenants and owners. The neighborhood’s proximity to Interstate 5, however, opens it to a much larger employment base, with access to the downtown Seattle core.
The housing styles range from pre-Depression small Tudors, to bungalows and craftsman-style homes, to a modest number of newer construction interspersed throughout. Larger Tudors can be found on the hill, while at the lower elevations smaller homes, such as simple craftsman bungalows, are found. The eastern Lake Washington side of Ravenna-Bryant boasts view homes with mountain, territorial and cityscape views.
With its proximity to the University District, Ravenna-Bryant could be called an older ‘walking neighborhood,’ particularly with its access to the Burke-Gilman Trail, used by University employees year-round for commuting. Ravenna-Bryant has small neighborhood coffee shop areas, as well as the growing University Village shopping facility, which is increasingly becoming a destination point.
Ravenna Park is one of Seattle’s oldest parks. It once had stands of fir that rivaled California’s sequoias. All in all, Ravenna-Bryant is a very green neighborhood. Currently, a $6 million project is underway to restore Ravenna Creek-which has been underground in the sewer system for about half a century-and bring back spawning salmon from Lake Washington.