The barracks-style duplexes of Seattle’s High Point neighborhood were meant to be temporary (they were built for industrial workers during World War II), so it’s no wonder they looked run-down half a century later—the entire neighborhood a troublesome, 120-acre hole in West Seattle. Now, thanks to visionary planning, along with input from hundreds of citizens, city leaders, and countless civic groups, the community has been knit back into the fabric of the city. The new High Point shines as a sustainable, safe, and high-quality residential environment with a range of housing types, each built to strict green standards.

The fresh new housing—a mix of public and private, rental and owner-occupied—comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Planners preserved more than 20 acres of land for parks, open spaces, and playgrounds to give High Point an open, gardenlike feel. At the community’s heart is the 4-acre central park with lawns, public art displays, and an amphitheater mound for local events. More than 100 mature trees are being saved, and 2,400 new ones will be planted along streets and parks, tripling the previous number. What’s the result of all this care and attention? High Point is now considered the largest sustainable, mixed-use, mixed-income urban neighborhood in the United States.

Lessons from High Point
Outdated housing, once viewed as an eyesore, can be reinvented as an innovative housing solution. The affordable duplexes shown above look like single-family houses, giving dignity to the residents who come home to them.