[Re]visiting High Point
June 15, 2015 | By Admin |
It was a lovely Friday afternoon when we peeled ourselves away from our desks and carpooled over to West Seattle for our first office field trip of the summer. The goal was to learn from a significant project in Nakano Associates history, the 120 acre High Point HOPE VI Redevelopment.
The visit proved to be as productive as it was fun. We got to observe first hand what is working and what could be done differently:
We got to chat with the Open Space Association maintenance crew.

High Point Open Space Association maintenance crew
We inspected every detail of an abundant rain garden at Neighborhood House.

Rain garden at Neighborhood House
We checked in on which plants are thriving.

Streetscape plantings
We appreciated the interpretive signage and public artwork that still look fresh. We noted different versions of what could have been built, and how the final design makes the most of available funding.

Interpretive signage and public artwork at Community Commons Park
We all agreed that the extensive number of trees that were preserved throughout High Point added a lot to the unique character of the neighborhood. The shade from these large trees was much appreciated on a hot day!

Large preserved tree
We noted additional improvements to the neighborhood. The West Seattle Bee Garden is a neat addition to the Market Garden.

West Seattle Bee Garden at the Market Garden
We even tried out the play equipment up the street at Myrtle Reservoir Park – an all ages playground!

All-ages play equipment at Myrtle Reservoir Park
Checking in on our projects and noting the successes and opportunities for improvement is one of the ways we work to ensure success for the entire life-cycle of our projects. We are constantly learning and incorporating those lessons into our work. You can learn more about our work on the High Point HOPE VI Redevelopment here.