SEATTLE—July 6, 2004—The High Point site plan was recognized by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference at their annual trade show held in San Francisco in early June. It received the Grand Award in the category of Best on the Boards Site Plan.

The plan, developed for Seattle Housing by Mithun, was one of over 600 entries to the Gold Nugget Awards competition, which honors creative achievements in architectural design and land-use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. The awards ceremony is the premier event of this highly regarded trade show which brings together residential builders and architects from the Pacific Coast states and neighboring countries.

According to the judges who reviewed the High Point project, "...this 120 acre site plan will strongly and simply reintegrate this new urban neighborhood into the surrounding community through its street patterns, open space and community facilities, and appropriate streetscapes for 1600 affordable and for sale homes. Developed with three years of community input, the plan also offers a wonderful sustainable model for urban infill with innovative storm water strategies combined with recycling of existing structures and new home "Built Green" standards."

Further evidence of support and enthusiasm for this redevelopment was apparent at the High Point groundbreaking celebration held on site on July 30. Over 250 people gathered to enjoy ethnic foods from the neighborhood and celebrate the start of housing construction on the site.

Seattle Public Utilities has worked in partnership with Seattle Housing to create a “natural drainage system,” allowing landscape features to mimic nature’s functions and hold and filter water in a network of swales. The natural drainage system will cover 34 blocks throughout the redevelopment, connecting the community to the creek watershed through a visual network of artwork and vegetated watercourses.

SPU has already implemented a neighborhood-scale natural drainage system in the Pipers Creek watershed and plans to complete projects in each of Seattle’s three major creek watersheds over the next few years.

“We must preserve our natural environment because it defines our quality of life,” said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to significantly benefit the Longfellow Creek watershed, improve water quality in the creek and protect salmon habitat.”

Residents of the new community will also be the beneficiaries of Healthy Community, Healthy Homes grants totaling $1.8 million. These grants will provide funding to build 35 environmentally healthy homes and decrease risk factors which cause asthma among low-income residents. As part of this project, an environmental outreach program will address resident health issues, said Aberiha Abraha, Healthy Community, Healthy Homes community committee member and High Point resident.

The High Point housing development in West Seattle is Seattle Housing Authority’s largest site. It will eventually include a neighborhood shopping center, a senior village, extensive parks and a new neighborhood center.

The High Point Community Center recently underwent a major remodel and expansion. In addition, a new medical/dental clinic and library have recently opened.

Over 100 significant trees on the High Point site will be protected and saved to add value to the new neighborhood. The trunks of another 62 trees will be used as street furniture in new parks or as lumber in a new neighborhood facility.