Exploring Seattle’s High Point Neighborhood: 7 Things You Need to Know
High Point is a master-planned community in the heart of West Seattle. Built with intention, this unique neighborhood features gorgeous outdoor spaces, highly desirable community amenities (like a library!), and plenty of ways to get out and meet your neighbors. That’s really only the beginning!
Similar to other planned communities like Greenbridge and Rainier Vista in Seattle, High Point offers a more classic suburban feel that so many people love.
Keep reading to learn 7 of our favorite things about this award-winning West Seattle neighborhood:
1. High Point Has a Long and Ever-Changing History.
High Point’s original iteration was built in 1942 and was designed to house WWII government workers. Then in 1952, Seattle Housing Authority took over the community and created 1,300 units of affordable housing. When the 1990s came around, much of High Point was in sorry shape—buildings were outdated, there weren’t great transit options, open spaces hadn’t been maintained, and it was just generally isolated from the rest of the development that West Seattle had experienced in the years since its inception.
Thanks to a new bill passed in Congress and federal investment in public housing, High Point began to experience incredible transformation. Thanks to seeds that were planted decades ago (both literally and figuratively!), today we get to enjoy all that High Point has to offer today.
2. This Master-Planned Community Was Truly Developed With Intention.
There have been two major phases in the development of High Point, and most of this neighborhood was built between 2003 and 2020. The vision for High Point included an emphasis on four different values:
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Quality: Unfortunately, as discovered by a federal study in 1989, too much of America’s public housing was incredibly run down and just plain unlivable. As plans for High Point began to take shape and come to fruition, it became a national example of what was possible for public housing. Extra care was given to constructing homes designed to stand the test of time. It’s truly been an amazing long-term investment in Seattle.
- Aesthetics: Special care was given to the design of the setting and the homes. There are some real cute abodes in High Point!
- Health: The environments we live in can have a major impact on quality of life. Extra emphasis was put on creating lots of green spaces accessible by sidewalks. There are also so many opportunities to get out, meet your neighbors, and thaw that Seattle freeze!
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Environmental stewardship: Features like an eco-friendly street grid and building technology gave special attention to sustainability. It has been so fun to explore High Point’s many pocket parks, which include community gardens, bee hives, and more. It’s about as idyllic as they come! (That’s only the tip of the iceberg. More on the eco-friendly aspects in a moment.)
The community was truly groundbreaking, and today, the results of this effort still make High Point shine!
High Point Neighborhood in Seattle: 7 Key Things to Know
Here’s a quick overview of High Point by the numbers:
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4,000+ residents
- High Point includes 120 acres
- 17% of the community is open space
- 3 major parks + 5 neighborhood parks + 20 pocket parks
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1,500+ households across a broad range of income levels
4. High Point Creates Opportunities to Meet Your Neighbors and Find Community.
Through talking to High Point residents, we’ve learned that it’s truly a close knit community. The many green spaces and parks create an inviting atmosphere and a type of “third place” where folks have the opportunity to meet who lives next door!
Play dates at one of the playgrounds, sunny picnics at one of the many pocket parks, taking your pup out to explore, or attending one of the block parties are all awesome ways to get connected.
The High Point Library is also in the neighborhood, which is not only an incredible resource, but there are so many events each month. Storytime for young kids, homework help for youth, visiting authors and speakers, and so much more are all on the calendar at the library. It’s another convenient spot to meet new friends!
5. This Award-Winning Community Is a Model of Sustainability and Green Development.
The planning and care that went into every single detail at High Point is truly impressive. Here are a few of the environmental standards and considerations used for High Point:
- All housing in the community is required to at least meet a 3-star rating using Seattle’s Built Green program
- The use of recycled or reused building materials, topsoil, and pavement
- Use of no- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, adhesive and cabinetry to reduce emissions.
- Moisture-resistant drywall in homes
- Energy-efficient appliances, windows, doors, insulation and fixtures
- High-efficiency hydronic heating system
- All rental units have ENERGY STAR® dishwashers, tankless water heaters, and front-loading washing machines
- Several air quality measures used in all homes, plus 60 Breathe Easy Homes®
- Natural drainage system that even works to protect endangered species
- Over 100 trees were protected during the community’s development. Trees that needed to be taken down had wood repurposed for reuse on the site. And 2,600+ trees were planted!
... and more!
It is super impressive and inspiring!
6. High Point Includes Several Amenities That Make Life Easier and More Enjoyable.
The High Point Library Branch-
Perhaps the most notable of all of High Point’s amenities is its huge array of parks. There are 3 massive parks, 5 neighborhood parks, and 20 pocket parks throughout the 120-acre community. Playgrounds, trails, community gardens, bee hives, sport courts, and more are all in the mix.
- High Point is also home to the High Point Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Access all types of services and events here!
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Medical services are also right in the neighborhood thanks to Neighborcare Health. Take a look at everything offered here.
7. Here’s an Inside Look at One of the Homes in West Seattle’s High Point Neighborhood.
Our latest home listing is this low-maintenance townhome at 3420 SW Graham St #1001, Seattle, WA 98126. The 1,984-square-foot layout includes 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and generous living spaces (including 2 living rooms). We especially love how there’s an extra-large 2-car garage and even a balcony deck and a large fenced backyard. It’s a total rarity in Seattle!
All of this info is by no means comprehensive—High Point in West Seattle has SO MUCH going for it! You can find even more info about this master-planned community in Seattle at this website.
