Mountain View

Mountain View’s blend of diverse culture, cuisine and captivating beauty make up the backbone of this close community.

Named for its stunning backdrop of the snowcapped Chugach Mountains, this community is the most diverse neighborhood in the country. “I think our diversity is what makes us unique,” says Phil Cannon, President of Mountain View Community Council and longtime resident. “I moved here from Chicago, where neighborhoods are diverse but pocketed. Here, everyone lives everywhere, and that’s not always true everywhere you go. We’re very proud of it.”

Surrounded by wildlife, Mountain View is an electric tapestry of homes and a commercial district that borders the Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base. Filled with single-family, ranch-style homes, town houses and some multi-family housing, most Mountain View homes were built in the 1970s and range from $180,000 to $550,000. The median cost for a single-family home is $277,000. Many residents enjoy large fenced-in yards, Ussurian pear, cherry and crabapple trees, detached garages and the entire neighborhood is close to restaurants, parks and highly rated schools.

Students attend Mountain View Elementary or William Tyson Elementary, Clark Middle School and East High School. Over 90 different languages are spoken in classrooms throughout the district. William Tyson operates an after-school program, Camp Fire Alaska, which provides youth development programs and outdoor recreation. East Hight received a B+ on Niche and is ranked as one of the best high schools in the city. It hosts a student-run Native Leadership Council as well as a variety of other clubs and after-school activities.

The neighborhood boasts several parks, with the 66-acre Davis Park being the largest. Walk the trails, play a round of disc golf or plant flowers in the community garden. The 11-acre Mountain View Lions Club Park is the most widely used and is perfect for playing catch, rock climbing or letting kids explore the rocket ship-shaped playground. And the 2.5-mile Ship Creek Trail runs alongside Tyson Elementary, perfect for hikers and cyclists.

Mountain View’s diversity extends to its local cuisine as well, with a wide range of international fare, including a halal market, German restaurant West Berlin and the popular Hula Hands, which serves Hawaiian fare. Jamico’s is another local favorite, and it’s one of Anchorage’s oldest pizzerias. The local Red Apple supermarket also provides various global grocery products, where you can get everything from dried squid to canned grass jelly and Australian mutton. “Every time people come from out of state, it’s the first place I tell them to go,” adds Cannon.

While it’s quiet and secluded, Mountain View residents enjoy a variety of cultural attractions, including the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature, a popular favorite. For shopping, head to Glenn Square Mall, Northway Mall or downtown, just three miles away. Most residents ride the two-route People Mover system, with the main route circulating through the neighborhood before continuing to the Northway Mall and downtown.

The Mountain View Community Council and its residents have led the town's revitalization efforts through the years and continue to keep it thriving today. “People are working really hard to draw out and lift up the best of what's already here,” says Cannon. “We're going to do whatever we can to get people together.” The council hosts grassroots crime prevention efforts, annual trunk or treats for kids, a street fair at Clark Middle and an annual winter festival with sleigh rides and reindeer. The neighborhood is also home to Grow North Farm, a community effort unlike anything in the city, according to Cannon. “It’s one of the coolest things,” he says. “They’re empowering neighbors to start their own business to grow their own food and sell it at the farmers market.”

Views, variety and a vibrant community await in this picturesque neighborhood.

Written By

Amy David

Photography Contributed By

Evan Melgren

Video By

Ellie Brown