City Council passes agreement for High Point
Pioneering natural drainage system is
underway
SEATTLE—October 14, 2004—A recent agreement between the City
of Seattle and Seattle Housing Authority provides $2.7 million to
build the natural drainage system at the redeveloped High Point
community.
"This agreement
has been in the works for more than two years," noted project
manager Tom Phillips. "It represents an extraordinary level of
cooperation among four City departments all working together to
support a shared vision for High Point." The process of designing
and building a natural drainage system that would lessen the impact
of runoff on nearby Longfellow Creek required that department
leaders involved with utilities, planning, transportation and fire
fighting agree on issues as varied as street widths and vegetation.
The pond on the northern edge of
the High Point site will release water gradually into Longfellow
Creek.
The City of
Seattle was interested in reaching agreement on the natural drainage
system because it represents the most cost effective way to manage
stormwater runoff over the long term. While the City had installed
some small natural drainage systems in other parts of Seattle, the
High Point redevelopment presented an opportunity to develop a
natural drainage system on a large scale.
The result of
the agreement is that the new medium density development at High
Point, which will have up to 15 residences per acre, will perform
like an open meadow with respect to rain water runoff. The system
will feature vegetated swales that allow runoff to seep
naturally into the ground, porous sidewalks and pavement, and a new
pond the size of a football field. The pond is already
excavated and will begin to hold runoff in early 2005. It will
gradually release water into Longfellow Creek, one of Seattle's most
significant salmon streams.
The City
Council unanimously approved the three-way agreement in late
September. Parties to the agreement include the City, the Housing
Authority, and a new Open Space Association that will be formed in the new neighborhood. According to Phillips, "This
agreement proves that when organizations like SHA and the City stay
focused on a mutual goal, huge obstacles can be overcome."
Phillips
especially credits Ray Hoffman and Miranda Maupin from Seattle
Public Utilities for their commitment to making the natural drainage
system a reality. "They were the driving force that helped the City
keep its promise to work out the details."
The natural
drainage system will not only enhance the environmental qualities of
this 120-acre community, it will also enhance its beauty and
livability. A quarter-mile trail around the pond will provide
opportunities for residents to exercise and take in views of
downtown. The southern edge of the pond will feature a man-made
stream that will function as a natural aerator for water as it flows
into the pond. Native plantings around the pond will add beauty and
natural character.
"With the
City's help, we have taken a feature that could have been a
liability
and transformed it into a desirable amenity and community asset," noted Phillips.
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