Kirkland

Kirkland occupies a stretch of Lake Washington's eastern shore north of Bellevue, combining a highly walkable waterfront downtown with a collection of residential neighborhoods that extend up the hills behind it. The city has a genuine neighborhood identity that distinguishes it from its larger neighbors: restaurants and coffee shops along the waterfront, parks directly on the lake, and a community character that residents describe as small-town despite its proximity to major employment.

Google's Kirkland campus has significantly increased demand from technology employees who want to minimize their commute while living in a less urban environment than downtown Bellevue or Seattle. The resulting demand has been concentrated in neighborhoods within cycling or short driving distance of the campus.

Totem Lake, Juanita, and the downtown neighborhoods each carry their own character within Kirkland's boundaries. Juanita Beach and the lakefront parks are genuine amenities that many Eastside communities lack access to at this scale.