High Point, Seattle, Washington
Encyclopedia
High Point is a neighborhood in the Delridge
district of West Seattle, Washington, USA. It is so named because it contains the highest point in Seattle; the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street is 520 feet (158.5 m) above sea level
. The neighborhood is located on the east side of 35th Ave SW, with approximate north and south boundaries at SW Juneau Street and SW Myrtle Street.
High Point is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods, with a substantial immigrant population from Southeast Asia
and East Africa
.
The neighborhood was originally developed during World War II
to provide government housing, and it remained a district of predominantly low-income housing through the 1990s. In 2003, the Seattle Housing Authority
began work on the first phase of a six-year project to redevelop High Point into a mixed-income community. The redevelopment removed all existing housing, roads, and utilities. In their place, new roads, underground infrastructure, housing, and community facilities are being built. When complete, High Point will have approximately 1,600 housing units. About half of the new units will be low-income rentals, and the other half will be a mix of single family homes, condominiums and town homes sold at market rates to private owners. Assisted living and senior housing will also be included. A small-scale mixed-use neighborhood commercial center is also being developed.
Phase I of the redevelopment was completed in December 2007. Phase II is scheduled for completion in 2010.
principles. The site and rental housing are certified at the highest BuiltGreen levels. Nearly all rental housing and homeowner units are Energy Star rated. The site features porous sidewalks and parking areas, and the only porous pavement street in Washington State. The site is situated atop a 120 acres (48.6 ha) engineered natural drainage system, which uses the ground to filter rainwater, instead channeling water into a traditional conveyance system.
Part of the housing program was the creation of 60 "breathe-easy" homes, which were specially designed to accommodate people suffering from asthma. Initial residents of these homes will be part of a study to determine of homes build to reduce off-gassing will mitigate asthma symptoms.
High Point hosted the Seattle Green Living Expo in September 2006. Sponsored by the City of Seattle, it attracted 18,000 visitors over two weekends. Expo visitors were offered docent-guided tours of the sustainable and Built Green features of the neighborhood and the homes.
The neighborhood redevelopment plan has been recognized with some of the most prestigious land use and development awards, among them the 2007 ULI Global Award of Excellence, the 2007 EPA National Award for Smart Growth, and the 2007 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.
Delridge, Seattle, Washington
Delridge is a district in West Seattle, Washington that stretches along Delridge Way, an arterial that follows the eastern slope of the valley of Longfellow Creek, from near its source just within the southern city limits north to the West Seattle Bridge over the Duwamish River.The Delridge...
district of West Seattle, Washington, USA. It is so named because it contains the highest point in Seattle; the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street is 520 feet (158.5 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. The neighborhood is located on the east side of 35th Ave SW, with approximate north and south boundaries at SW Juneau Street and SW Myrtle Street.
High Point is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods, with a substantial immigrant population from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
Redevelopment
The neighborhood was originally developed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to provide government housing, and it remained a district of predominantly low-income housing through the 1990s. In 2003, the Seattle Housing Authority
Seattle Housing Authority
The Seattle Housing Authority is the department of government of the city of Seattle, Washington, responsible for public housing for low-income, elderly, and disabled residents. SHA serves more than 25,500 people, just under a third of whom are children, through around 5,200 HUD units, 1,000 units...
began work on the first phase of a six-year project to redevelop High Point into a mixed-income community. The redevelopment removed all existing housing, roads, and utilities. In their place, new roads, underground infrastructure, housing, and community facilities are being built. When complete, High Point will have approximately 1,600 housing units. About half of the new units will be low-income rentals, and the other half will be a mix of single family homes, condominiums and town homes sold at market rates to private owners. Assisted living and senior housing will also be included. A small-scale mixed-use neighborhood commercial center is also being developed.
Phase I of the redevelopment was completed in December 2007. Phase II is scheduled for completion in 2010.
Sustainable features
The redevelopment embraced many sustainable developmentSustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
principles. The site and rental housing are certified at the highest BuiltGreen levels. Nearly all rental housing and homeowner units are Energy Star rated. The site features porous sidewalks and parking areas, and the only porous pavement street in Washington State. The site is situated atop a 120 acres (48.6 ha) engineered natural drainage system, which uses the ground to filter rainwater, instead channeling water into a traditional conveyance system.
Part of the housing program was the creation of 60 "breathe-easy" homes, which were specially designed to accommodate people suffering from asthma. Initial residents of these homes will be part of a study to determine of homes build to reduce off-gassing will mitigate asthma symptoms.
High Point hosted the Seattle Green Living Expo in September 2006. Sponsored by the City of Seattle, it attracted 18,000 visitors over two weekends. Expo visitors were offered docent-guided tours of the sustainable and Built Green features of the neighborhood and the homes.
The neighborhood redevelopment plan has been recognized with some of the most prestigious land use and development awards, among them the 2007 ULI Global Award of Excellence, the 2007 EPA National Award for Smart Growth, and the 2007 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.