When Seattle developer Tom Phillips was given the task of redeveloping the 130 acres on one of the highest points in Seattle, he decided to do it sustainably, but at High Point, green building looks less like photovoltaics and more like good insulation good insulation (R28 and R34), a walkable community and more natural landscaping.

To take the focus off driving, the parking spaces are mostly hidden. The native plants ensure that after 2 years, the sprinklers will be unncessary.

Although the neighborhood is dense- 15 units per acre instead of the 7 per acre average of the area- and the townhouse construction guarantees more shared energy use (heating, cooling), the units look less like boxy shared units and more like “big houses”.

In this video, Tom Phillips takes us on a tour and talks about pesticide-free landscaping, mulch mowing, heat pumps and building a retail center to encourage walking.

We also have a video on the natural drainage at High Point.