NEIGHBORHOOD:
Laurelhurst ~Search Homes
Laurelhurst is an affluent residential Seattle neighborhood. In recent years, the neighborhood has been experiencing growth in the retail and customer service sectors due to the successful expansion of the local mall, University Village.
Today's Laurelhurst is a high-end community of mostly large homes, many with eye-filling views of Mount Rainier and Lake Washington.
Laurelhurst is a tight-knit community with a strong community center and PTA. The community center is an official city landmark. The Laurelhurst Beach Club is a favorite among children during the summer and is where Bill Gates swam as a boy. Laurelhurst Park and Community Center serves as a gathering place, offering programs and special events including an annual salmon bake held on the first Thursday in August.
Laurelhurst has seen its fair share of celebrities, including Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, who have rented a house on the waterfront; Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was seen at a dinner party hosted by residents Stan and Alta Barer; Gary Larson, creator of The Far Side, who lived in Laurelhurst before moving to Windermere; and musician Duff McKagan, bassist for Guns N' Roses. Last but not least, Bill Gates lived in a waterfront house here until about 1994.
