Nakano Associates planned and designed landscapes for the housing units, parks, community gardens and neighborhood open spaces for all three phases of NewHolly (Holly Park) redevelopment from 1997 to 2006. As the first HOPE VI Redevelopment project undertaken by Seattle Housing Authority, NewHolly replaced worn-out public housing, dating back to the 1940s, with a mixed-income community, rich with amenities, and became a model for other projects in Seattle and across the country.
Central Park, the centerpiece of the Phase 3 NewHolly community, offers a grassy, open playfield, a Market Garden, a P-Patch community garden, and a children’s play area. The 5.8-acre John C. Little, Sr. Park, in Phase 2, included picnic shelters, a children’s play area, a plaza, landscaping, and a community garden. In Phase 1, the extension of Van Asselt Playground connects with the Van Asselt Community Center.
Throughout the neighborhood, many smaller parks were created using remnant open spaces. These pocket parks included site furnishings and play areas as well as unique elements such as a keblis, constructed from bamboo timbers, and large boulders salvaged from the site that are integrated into park features.
Location: Seattle, Washington
Client: Seattle Housing Authority
Prime: Weinstein/Copeland Architects (Phase 1), Popkin Development (Phase 2), Solomon E.T.C. (Phase 3)
Civil Engineer: SvR Design Company
Phase 3 the Central Park design was in collaboration with Ms. Cornelia Oberlander, FASLA, FCSLA
Selected Awards:
2005 Best in American Living Award: National Association of Home Builders
2003 Director’s Award for Leadership in Housing Development: Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
2003 New Face of America’s Public Housing Award: Congress of New Urbanism and HUD
2002 Empowerment for Community Development Award: The Center for Empowerment
2000 Washington AIA Merit Award
2000 Award of Excellence: NAHRO
2000 PRAIS Award: NAHRO
2000 Resident and Client Services Award: NAHRO
1999 VISION 2020 Award: Puget Sound Regional Council