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HIGH POINT COMMUNITY
Community Awards
History of High Point
Community Green Features
Tours
Living at High Point
Community Partners
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Community Green Features
The High Point community is the first large-scale development in the country to feature low-impact, sustainable design in a dense urban setting. It is a model that promotes healthy, mixed-income, walkable communities and has won acclaim around the world.
To see the neighborhood in person, take a tour of the community.
A Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhood
High Point's narrow streets, short blocks and wide planting strips promote walking and decrease reliance on cars. Over 100 mature trees — some centuries old — have been saved at High Point; in some places, sidewalks meander around these massive trunks.
Construction
Sustainable design is often assumed to cost more than traditional construction, but this was not the case in High Point. The reuse of demolished paving for trench backfill and 25-foot-wide local streets were inexpensive alternatives, and other sustainable features added minimal cost to construction, including native, drought-resistant plants and low-VOC paints.
Amenities within the homes include compact fluorescent lights, ENERGY STAR washing machines and dryers and Marmoleum floor coverings, all of which contribute to reduced utility expenses.
Natural Drainage System
More than four miles of grass, vegetated swales and porous concrete have been put in place at High Point to create a natural drainage system that flows into a retention pond. This complex system improves water quality and protects salmon habitat in nearby Longfellow Creek.
Breathe Easy Homes
Neighborhood House worked closely with the Seattle Housing Authority to obtain $1.8 million in Healthy Home grants to build special Breathe Easy homes in High Point. Sixty homes have been designed in ways that help decrease the risk factors that cause asthma among low-income children. In addition, Neighborhood House health coordinators teach housekeeping techniques to reduce dust and other allergens and distribute bedding covers, green cleaning products and other supplies to promote indoor air quality and good health. Visit SHA’s website to read more about these Breathe Easy homes.
To read more about the community’s green features, visit Seattle Housing Authority’s webpage on High Point’s sustainable design.
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