Seattle’s High Point neighborhood was among five outstanding developments selected worldwide as winners of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Global Awards for Excellence. This award has become widely recognized as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program.
The Institute’s Awards for Excellence program, established in 1979, recognizes the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design. The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnership, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial success.
Throughout the program’s history all types of projects have been recognized for their excellence, including office, residential, recreational, urban/mixed-use, industrial/office park, commercial/retail, new community, rehabilitation, and public projects and programs.
The 2007 Global Awards for Excellence winners were selected by a jury of renowned land use development and design experts: Jury Chair Jeremy Newsum, group chief executive, Grosvenor, London; Andrea Amadesi, managing director, IXIS AEW Italia SpA, Milan; Lee Hanley, chairman/CEO Vestar Development Co., Phoenix; Helen Hatch, principal, Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc., Atlanta; and Akio Makiyama, chairman, Forum for Urban Development, Tokyo.
“The Awards for Excellence program celebrates the creativity, vision, and best practices in land use,” Jeremy Newsum said. “These projects not only represent the best of the best, but demonstrate a relevance to the communities in which they are located.”
Seattle’s High Point was selected from 20 world-wide finalists, all of whom were winners in their region: The Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. The global awards jury evaluated these projects with additional criteria, including: innovative concepts that can be emulated around the world; strong urban design; response to the surrounding environment; and design that contributes to a livable, sustainable development that demonstrates relevance to the needs of the community.
Representing the Americas, High Point, Seattle, Washington, is a 120-acre, ecologically-conscious, planned community with half of its 1,600 houses completed. The homes are are a mix of market-rate homes for sale and affordable rentals. For sale homes include condominiums, townhomes, flats, carriage homes, single family homes and duplexes. The neighborhood also features independent living and assisted living facilities for seniors, a new branch library, medical center and planned neighborhood shopping.
Noted Tom Phillips, Seattle Housing Authority, leader of the High Point Development team, “Our goal at High Point was to knit this former post-war housing project back into the fabric of West Seattle, creating a mixed income, mixed use, diverse neighborhood typical of Seattle’s thriving lifestyle. Special attention was paid to creating a walkable, front-porch experience that would foster a sense of community and neighborliness among the people who live here.”