Over the past ten years, the Freehold Group has incubated new businesses and master-planned a seemingly unlikely spot: Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood. We knew this could happen . . . and we’re sure glad it did.

It started in 1998, when our company began the restoration of a near-derelict building with only six occupants, creating from it a community and mix of businesses which now employees about 200.

It was a challenge. Located between great neighborhoods, it was kind of like the hole in the middle of the doughnut: each side wanting to respond to its surroundings in an entirely different way.

Close to downtown and to residential areas as well, Interbay is perfectly poised as the hub between the Magnolia and Queen Anne neighborhoods and links to the major N/S arterial. This central location is a fantastic place for new businesses to flourish and where existing businesses are growing.

In stimulating this growth and support people who are working here, there needed to be something else: a place to eat. With only a couple restaurants nearby, people had to get in their cars and drive someplace else for places to enjoy food and good company. So we looked over a map of Seattle and knew then what Interbay could be.

Our efforts in the neighborhood continue to grow. Because we planned it – and because we listened to the needs that were already there and found a way to fulfill them. We didn’t force anything to work. All the ingredients are already here – we just provided some of the leadership to help get things started.

Interbay is on the way to bigger things and that’s what gets us up in the morning.