Rainier Vista and High Point Design Survey Results

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Rainier Vista and High Point neighbors evaluate design options

Designs that reflect community character come out on top

SEATTLE—July 1, 2003—Southeast and West Seattle neighbors, along with residents of High Point and Rainier Vista, have expressed their preferences about the look and feel of new for-sale homes that would fit their neighborhoods. A few favorite designs ranked high in both communities. These featured front porches, modest and well-landscaped front yards, and garages that didn't overpower the rest of the house.

Preferences were expressed through a visual design survey filled with color pictures of different types of homes. The survey, including translation into eight languages with interpretation services provided, was mailed to several thousand households in both neighborhoods and conducted at a hands-on workshop at the March High Point Neighborhood Fair.

Beyond a few common design themes, neighborhood differences also emerged. Residents in the Rainier Vista area seemed far more open to and excited about innovation, color, and contemporary design than their West Seattle counterparts. Residents around High Point were more interested in smaller scale, traditional styles, while Southeast Seattle residents encouraged SHA to let builders construct "a neighborhood that's part of the 21st century, not the 19th century."

In the survey category, "attached 2-story homes with alley (garage in back)," 38 percent of High Point area and 33 percent of Rainier Vista area respondents chose this image as their first choice for this housing type.

In contrast, twenty percent of Rainier Vista residents chose this image as their first choice, while only eight percent of High Point residents selected it as theirs.

In both communities, many residents expressed their appreciation to SHA for the opportunity to provide their input, and felt that most of the options shown in the survey would make great additions to their neighborhoods.

The redeveloped communities will have a variety of high quality for-sale housing constructed by private builders. Design guidelines are being developed for each community to make sure that all builders meet acceptable design standards. The results of the design survey will be taken into account in developing these guidelines.

Detailed results, and all the images used in the surveys, are displayed on the Rainier Vista and High Point websites.

Click here to view Rainier Vista survey results.

Click here to view High Point survey results.

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