Issaquah Highlands

Issaquah Highlands — Issaquah, Washington is an urban village planned community developed following concepts of New Urbanism located on the Pine Lake Plateau directly east of Interstate 90 in the City of Issaquah, Washington,[1] 17 miles [27 kilometers] east of Seattle, Washington. Land was purchased by Port Blakely Communities, Inc. in 1990 and planning began in 1991. Construction began in 1996 with the first residents arriving in 1998. Currently, according to the Issaquah Highlands Community Association, the population is 7,000 with a total of 10,000 residents expected at build out. A 10-year planning process involved the City of Issaquah,[2] King County,[3] the State of Washington[4] and private developer, Port Blakely Communities.[5] The land planning approach for Issaquah Highlands followed the principles of New Urbanism and was the first new community in Washington State approved following enactment of Washington State Growth Management Act enacted in 1990.

Location and Geography

Issaquah is a suburb located about 17 miles (27 km) east of Seattle, just inside King County’s urban growth boundary. The historic core of Issaquah lies on the south side of Interstate 90, and to the north are the sprawling Sammamish Plateau and the City of Redmond, Washington. The site lies on the north side of the freeway and on the south side of the Sammamish Plateau. Most of the development has been annexed by the City of Issaquah. It is bounded by major arterials, with East Lake Sammamish Parkway on the west and Issaquah–Fall City Road on the north.

The eastern boundary follows the crest of a hill, with uphill slopes offering views of Lake Sammamish, Seattle, and the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the north. The open space is covered by a wide variety of native vegetation, evergreen and broadleaf trees, and populated by native wildlife species, the largest of which is the black bear. Trails within the open spaces are maintained by citizen volunteers and connect with regional trail systems that link to Puget Sound, to the west, and Vantage, Washington, 120 miles (190 km) to the east.

Panorama of Issaquah Highlands

Education

Issaquah Highlands public schools are operated by the Issaquah School District.[6] Grand Ridge Elementary school opened in Issaquah Highlands in September 2006. Other public schools serving the neighborhood are Issaquah Middle School, Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus, and Issaquah High School. The private Lakeside Montessori School also operates in the community.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/Page.asp?NavID=76
  2. ↑ http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/
  3. ↑ http://www.kingcounty.gov/
  4. ↑ http://access.wa.gov/
  5. ↑ http://www.portblakely.com/
  6. ↑ http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/

^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2009-03-26.

Urban Land Institute, Case Number: C035024 Clair Enlow, report author, Jason Scully, editor, Volume 35 Number 24 October–December 2005 Issaquah Highlands

Further reading

Andrew Price, Port Blakely, the Community Captain Renton Built, Port Blakely Books, 1990

External links

Coordinates: 47°32′54″N 121°59′47″W / 47.54833°N 121.99639°W / 47.54833; -121.99639

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