SEATTLE—June 14, 2006—The landscape is changing daily at High Point. Just within the past month, the 344 rental housing units in the first phase of the redevelopment were completed and occupied.
High Point’s five private homebuilders are in the process of building their homes for sale and Habitat for Humanity started building their eight homes. Two of the central parks at High Point—Pond Park and North Park—opened this month just in time for the community to enjoy this summer.
“The community looks so much better than I ever imagined,” said Tom Phillips, SHA Senior Development Program Manager.
Phillips is especially pleased that the 344 rental housing units at High Point were finished when expected and within budget. One hundred forty-four of these units are workforce level rental units and 200 will be rented to public housing tenants. All of the units are built to the same high quality standard and all of the rental townhouses have an EnergyStar designation.
An original High Point resident, who was one of the first to move into the new High Point, eagerly waited for her new rental unit to be completed. “It was worth the wait,” she said. The new unit is everything she hoped it would be – a safe place for her grandchildren, spacious enough for her whole family and much quieter than her old High Point unit.
Homeowners are also moving into market-rate homes and many others have pre-purchased homes that are currently being built. Polygon Northwest has sold 24 of their single family homes and 22 of their condos and townhouses. They still have about ten condos and townhouses from their first release available and will soon release a second set.
“The opportunity to live in a new master-planned community that is close to downtown, steps away from parks and is built with the environment in mind makes High Point a valuable place to live,” said Robin Bader, Polygon site agent.
High Point continues to gain attention for its environmentally sustainable building and living features. Spanning 34 city blocks, it is the first large-scale development in the country that features low-impact sustainable design in a dense urban setting.
The various healthy development features will be showcased as part of a Green Living Expo in September. Some of these features include cost-saving, gas-operated hydronic heating systems with on-demand hot water supply; whole house fans with two-speed timing switches that remove moisture in the units; and airtight drywall that reduces moisture penetration and inhibits mold growth.
Also contributing to the environmental features of the units are flooring with recycled content and energy-efficient windows that block ultra violet rays.
One of the most significant healthy development features at High Point is the natural drainage system, designed to protect and enhance the water quality of Longfellow Creek. The site will mimic the functions of nature by filtering and cleaning water through specially designed planting strips and a large water detention pond.
High Point also features “Breathe Easy Homes” designated for asthma sufferers, which incorporate many of the most progressive green construction and landscaping know-how and materials available today. SHA is partnering with other agencies to educate residents on maintaining an asthma-free environment.
When fully complete, the 120-acre redevelopment will be home to about 1,600 households in rental, market-rate, for-sale and senior housing.