High Point, Seattle, Washington
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High Point is a neighborhood in the Delridge district of West Seattle, Washington, so named because it is one of the highest points in Seattle—the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street is 520 feet above sea level.
The neighborhood was originally built during World War II as government housing, and continued to serve as low-income housing through the 1990s. In 2003, a six-year project began, headed by Seattle Housing Authority, to redevelop the site into a mixed-income community. The redevelopment removes all existing housing, roads, and utilities. In their place, new roads, underground infrastructure, housing, and community facilities are built. When complete, High Point will have a broad variety of approximately 1,600 housing units, consisting of half rentals and half homeownership units. A small-scale mixed-use neighborhood commercial center is also currently being developed.
The redevelopment was undertaken in two phases. Phase I was completed in May 2006, and Phase II is scheduled for completion in 2009.
The redevelopment embraced many sustainable development 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 130-acre 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.
High Point hosted the Seattle Green Living Expo in September 2006.
High Point is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods, with a substantial immigrant population from Southeast Asia and East African.
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