And, frankly, many Lake City residents never seemed to mind. Their neighborhood didn't get sidewalks or parks, but there were plenty of tall trees, quiet streets and back yards big enough for swing sets and family barbecues. Many homes east of Lake City Way, which were built after World War II, have views of the Cascades and Lake Washington. And they're close to the Burke-Gilman Trail. Though far from bucolic, Lake City maintains an air of isolation.
Some residents call it an independent streak.
It wasn't until 1957 that Seattle annexed the area. Over the years the sense of separation from the rest of Seattle may have led to Lake City's complacency. The community is now struggling to find its equilibrium after years of rapid growth and demographic changes. From 1980 to 1990, the number of apartments in Lake City increased 29 percent. The number of people of color doubled to more than 6,200 during the same decade, bringing new cultures, languages and challenges.