High Point, Seattle, WA
Discover High Point: Where Urban Innovation Meets Neighborhood Soul
Rising above West Seattle with sweeping views and intentional community design, High Point stands as one of Seattle’s most ambitious and successful urban experiments. Built on the former High Point public housing site, this neighborhood was reimagined from the ground up to prioritize sustainability, walkability, and human connection. The result is a forward-thinking village where rain gardens replace storm drains, front porches face shared greenspaces, and daily life unfolds in public—not behind fences.
High Point isn’t just a place to live; it’s a living case study in how cities can grow smarter without losing their soul.
A Neighborhood Designed for Connection
Every element of High Point reflects purposeful planning and people-centered design:
Colorful New Urbanist cottages and townhomes arranged around shared courtyards to encourage daily interaction
LEED-certified affordable and mixed-income apartments, seamlessly integrated rather than segregated
Over 120 acres of parks, trails, and open space, woven directly into residential blocks
Seattle’s first neighborhood-wide natural drainage system, where rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable streets manage stormwater naturally (www.seattle.gov/utilities)
The Commons Building, serving as the neighborhood’s civic heart with event spaces, classrooms, and community services
Rather than feeling planned in a rigid way, High Point feels relaxed, social, and surprisingly organic.
Can’t-Miss High Point Highlights
High Point Library: A modern branch with a living green roof and community programming for all ages (www.spl.org)
Neighborhood House: Offering multicultural senior lunches, youth programs, and family support services (www.nhwa.org)
High Point Urban Gardens: P-Patches, edible landscaping, and informal food-sharing culture throughout the neighborhood (www.seattle.gov/parks)
Commons Lawn events: Outdoor movies, seasonal festivals, and neighborhood-wide celebrations
Hidden details—like a spiral labyrinth tucked into garden beds or benches positioned for sunset views—reward those who explore slowly.
A Day in This Model Community
Living in High Point often looks like this:
Morning: Walking kids to Pathfinder K-8 as part of a neighborhood “walking school bus”
Afternoon: Library visits, garden tending, or casual meetups along the greenways
Evening: Pickup basketball, playground time, or communal dinners spilling out onto porches
Late: Stargazing or quiet conversations along berry-lined paths and shared courtyards
The neighborhood naturally blurs the line between private and public life—in a way that feels safe, inclusive, and welcoming.
Why High Point Points Forward
Walk Score 85: Groceries, schools, parks, and services all within a short walk
Environmental leadership: A national model for sustainable stormwater management
True mixed-income community: Homeowners, renters, families, seniors, and students living side by side
Intergenerational energy: Playgroups, elder tech classes, teen programs, and community fitness all overlapping
Best-kept secret: Informal skill-sharing culture—from bike repair to gardening to honey harvests
High Point proves that density, affordability, and livability don’t have to be trade-offs.
Designed With Intention, Lived With Heart
For those who believe neighborhoods should be built for people—not just cars or profit—High Point offers a rare example of urban planning done right. Here, sustainability isn’t performative, community isn’t accidental, and neighbors actually know one another.
Ready for Intentional Community Living?
Our High Point insiders know which homes include garden plots, how to access shared resources, when the mobile tool library rolls through, and how to join the neighborhood’s legendary intergenerational pickleball tournaments.
Learn more about the neighborhood’s planning roots at
www.seattlehousing.org
