The High Point Blog has been holding off on this one for a loooong time now. But a recent comment on the High Point Center post made it painfully obvious that somebody has to break the silence and be politically incorrect. To frame what HPB is about to say: we’ve all been quietly sitting drinking the West Seattle real estate punch and ignoring the rampaging, neighborhood-wrecking elephants in the room. So I’m just going to say what we’re all thinking anyway.When we bought here; we thought we were buying into West Seattle’s next great neighborhood. To a large extent, I still think we did and that High Point can live up to its billboard advertising. As the High Point Blog sees it, the greatest stumbling block to the success of the new and improved High Point is its low-income housing. Now don’t you even start with this leftist, tres chic-urban-supercool-modern-hipster talk about mixed-income communities living together in harmony and fostering a greater sense of diversity and so forth.
It’s bull.
Since our readership by and large consists of white collar, educated, home-owning High Pointers, we will direct our discourse towards the issues that concern our interests, without taking into account the sentiments of the Other High Point, or the Old High Point.
What HPB would personally like nothing more, is to see the Seattle Housing Authority sell the low income homes at market value with special financing programs in place for the median-income-earning Seattleite. That would help create affordable housing in a city which is in desperate need of it. We could go off on a tangent about how low-income housing subsidizes the poor and creates little motivation for the poor, subsequently known as “povs” to improve their economic status, but we’d be preaching to the choir here. And it’s not likely to happen. Not unless the High Point HOA has any sort of jurisdiction over what happens with the general development of the neighborhood and can somehow negotiate a private sell-off of the properties currently being leased to low-income families. Not that HPB has any problem with low income families. We’ve all been poor at some point. We all just didn’t pimp out our rides and jump our neighbors when we were poor.
Anytime you have a situation as we have in High Point, there will be many good low-income housing residents who will pay their rent and go about their business, and there will be those few who seek to abuse every sort of privilege they can for their maximum benefit.This leaves us, the vested homeowners, in a real predicament. The tension every High Point homeowner feels every time we see a group of “questionable” people aimlessly loitering on the street late at night is in fact the very reason why I don’t live in High Point proper. Nevermind the fact that many a weekend afternoon I’ll be sitting in my living room with the window open listening to the sweet sounds of Baghdad.
Has anyone else heard the Islamic music wafting through the streets??
Here’s some of the issues High Point Blog has noticed:
-the abnormal frequency with which the police/fire department tend to visit pov-housing.
-the constant feeling that we live in Tangier and not West Seattle.
-the assortment of Pimped Out rides and inoperable vehicles that can be found on High Point streets any given time.
-the large posses of “questionable” people as bk so delicately put it, taking up the whole street day and night as motorists try simply to drive in the neighborhood
-the maintenance (or lack thereof) by pov-housing residents to maintain the exteriors and window coverings of their dwellings…that is to say.. crazy furniture in the windows, torn curtains, kitschy statuary and signage in windows etc.
And we wonder why no yuppie grocery store feels the demographics are right for development in High Point?
At the same time, Phase II will purportedly include something like 200+ for sale units which will bring the ratio of owners to loaners to an even 1:1. That is if I remember the SHA’s plan for phase II correctly. And more and more pioneers like us are moving into High Point, creating the necessary pressure to enact change. For now, the High Point Blog plans to just sort of watch and wait and see how things play out in our fledgling neighborhood.
Maybe we should organize a High Point Homeowners watch ourselves? If anyone wants to meet up just to swap news and exchange information to post on the High Point Blog; drop a comment and maybe something can be set up.
October 3, 2007 at 6:33 am
Let us assume you’re a simple fellow from a state where racism is institutionalized. So am I. Your fear of the non white is now on your sleeve.
I am part of that old Highpoint in the sense that I live in the neighborhood around the area redeveloped by SHA. We put up with 4 years of dust, vibration and 90 decibel concrete grinders and early rising roofers, so you could buy into what the real estate weenies told you was a yuppie paradise.
Well now. The reality is going to be what you make of it.
If music from other cultures upsets you, then sell your condo at a loss. If you check the surrounding area you will find that many of the homeowners in the none SHA area are neither white nor republican.
Or you can do what I do. Get out into the neighborhood and talk to people, register them to vote, find out their names, offer help when you see someone trying to change a tire with scissor jack, buy organic produce from the wonderful non white urban farmers in the p-patch, volunteer at the food bank at 35th and Morgan and make a difference in some life other than your own.
The people in this neighborhood are no different from you and I except perhaps the urge for some to walk or stand in the street
ignoring the 2 million dollars worth of sidewalks that the 40% property tax assessment those of us in the neighborhood have seen in the past 2 years.
As a matter of fact, of the market rate home owners I have met so far 4 out of 6 were either non white or naturalized citizens or both. Perhaps I am only going to meet those who are not afraid of their neighbors.
BTW, Why not put up an email link so your readers can ask questions or supply you with info that you can decide to publish or not. If you need extra email addresses I can host them on one of my servers.
Ken Davis
Precinct Committee Officer
SEA34-1490
October 3, 2007 at 9:10 am
Another note of response per bullet point:
>>Here’s some of the issues High Point Blog has noticed:
>>-the abnormal frequency with which the police/fire department tend to visit pov-housing.
Ok fyi. The SHA housing includes a dozen or more handicapped housing units dispersed throughout the low income rentals. Several are also hospice units.
Perhaps you have noticed the nursing home near the park or the elderly rabbit hutch being built near sylvan way?
911 calls as well as automatic response in case of power outage may seem to be excessive to those who assume every siren is a shooting.
>>-the constant feeling that we live in Tangier and not West Seattle.
Hmm so our Eritrean, Somali and West African neighbors should buy clothes at the gap? Convert to Christianity? What kind of walled community did the sales droids say you were buying into?
>>-the assortment of Pimped Out rides and inoperable vehicles that can be found on High Point streets any given time.
Abandoned vehicles online reporting form.
http://www.seattle.gov/police/general_info/report.htm#Abandoned
also check the tabs. It seems many people have forgotten to register their “rides” in more than a year. The SPD will be happy to take care of these.
>>-the large posses of “questionable” people as bk so delicately put it, taking up the whole street day and night as motorists try simply to drive in the neighborhood
I am not sure which end of the original SHA property you’re in, but in my neighborhood they are teen residents and I go out and ask them to turn down the tunes and stay out of the street. You may not feel comfortable doing the same. As a long term resident, I objected to the narrowing of streets by 14 ft and the landscaping of the on street parking areas. I am more upset by seeing a firetruck backing up a block since legally parked cars can make the street impassible for emergency vehicles. This was one of the many stupidities addressed by residents and ignored by the Seattle design board before the project began.
Also note the view you enjoy of the cascades or downtown used to be mine.
>>-the maintenance (or lack thereof) by pov-housing residents to maintain the exteriors and window coverings of their dwellings…that is to say.. crazy furniture in the windows, torn curtains, kitschy statuary and signage in windows etc.
What part of “low income” did you miss when you looked up Highpoint on the web pre purchase? Be sure to donate your furniture to the locals when you flee or it becomes unfashionable. Also note that pesky first amendment protects political signs in windows no matter what any housing association might decide.
>>And we wonder why no yuppie grocery store feels the demographics are right for development in High Point?
We have known there would not be a grocery store for more than a year. Did the sales droids tell you that lie? Contact your lawyer if so. We were told there would be no condo development in that parcel pre- rebuild, but now another 200 luxury condos will be built on that tiny site. Ah well.
Upscale eats are available at the Thriftway down the hill or the Metropolitan Market at Admiral and California and you should note there are vast swaths of West Seattle without a walking distance grocery. For really good food, contact the gardeners in the p-patch or follow your nose to the Texas dry rubbed brisket I will be smoking today.
Let me know if you need any more info.
I also have voter registration materials for anyone who needs them. They should also be available at the library and the Highpoint community center.
If you live in West Seattle you’re in the WA 34th congressional district and the US 7th congressional district. The Precinct encompassed by the SHA Highpoint redevelopement areas is SEA34-1485
Ken Davis
PCO SEA34-1490
October 3, 2007 at 9:55 am
Bravo HPB. It is time to cut through the PC rhetoric and admit there are significant problems with High Point. All of us know that it is the low income renters who are causing the most severe problems. And when I say “most severe problems” I am not talking about music from other cultures. The most severe problems are the threats to our physical safety and the threats to the safety of our property.
We’re not allowed to say that it is the low income residents and their associates who are causing the most severe problems, but we all know that the homeowners with mortgages and full time jobs are not having fights up and down the streets. We’re not throwing rocks at cars. We’re not selling or buying drugs in the park. The violent acts (such as fights) are being caused by the low income renters and the invited (and probably uninvited, too) guests of the low income renters.
I give you props for proposing a solution. Your solution, to sell the low-income housing, would be an answer to the most pressing problems that High Point is facing. It is, however, an unrealistic solution. The purpose of the SHA housing is to provide housing availability for some of the poorest people in the community. That won’t change.
The SHA, although they cannot admit that the low income housing is causing the most severe problems, is certainly aware of the fact. If you’ve had the chance to attend a High Point meeting, I think you’d agree that the SHA has bright and dedicated people. They are working hard. I don’t have specifics, but they have evicted people who have violated the rules. They have been responsive to concerns. They are doing their job from what I see.
The problem is that no matter how good a job SHA can do, there is an unavoidable relationship between low income people (of any race) and blue collar crime. If part of SHA’s mission is to provide housing for low income people, they simply will not be able to stop undesirable people from moving in. And when I say “undesirable” I mean people who threaten the physical safety and property safety of their neighbors.
It will be interesting to see how this mess progresses. I’m just wondering whether phase two builders are going to be able to sell homes. I can’t help but notice that housing prices for remaining new construction units are actually falling while prices in Seattle overall are still rising. Good thing only my house, and not my 401k, is invested in High Point…
On the plus side, I’ve actually really enjoyed living in High Point so far. My neighbors are friendly. So far the undesirable activity hasn’t directly effected me. The location is convenient. I could see staying here quite a while — which is a good thing, since I can’t sell my home for what I paid for it!!
October 3, 2007 at 1:58 pm
wow, I never realized my little comment would spark a flame, also I didn’t think this was such an issue for the residents at HP. To me, I think the low income housing won’t go away, the whole purpose is to provide decent homes for low income families. What I think should happen is to have stricter policies on who they bring in. Like a strict screening on who gets access to this neighborhood and lets face it, it is a privilige to live in HP especially for Low income families and it pisses me off when I see some residents who don’t give a damn about it. Also there should be polices when a low income reident messes up, they should be getting kicked out of HP. I like the whole idea and progress but its not realistic at the same time. I think we need more security reinforcing the streets and I know this sounds far fetched but I honestly think we should have a private gate, I think that would drive away unwanted guests and it gives us a sense that this is a Neighborhood that does not allow outside dwellers. I’m just getting fed up with some of these people who is ruining this great Idea.
October 3, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I also want to direct this to Ken, I think HPB went a little too far with the whole middle east thing and loud music. To be honest I like the African residents, I think for the most part they seem to respect this neighborhood and do their due dilligence. I honestly like the low income residents that I’ve met so far, but you have to admit that there are some who just go out and just cause trouble in the hood. I’ve not come across them yet but I hear about it from others. I’m not afraid of minorities or what not, I grew up on Delridge so I’m used to seeing diversity. When you mention that the people who are loud are just teens, to me teens are the worst because they are the ones involved in gangs and making mistakes, I think we all were at our worst when we were adolescent, Also you’re an officer who teens know not to mess with so of course they’re going to listen to you. I would guarantee that its the teens that are causing most of the trouble around HP. Ken, you seem to be much aware on whats going on, does any of this bother you? If so what would you think would be a solution? I’m all up for HP but I know that there needs to be some changes.
October 3, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Bk and other readers.
I am not a cop
I was often mistaken for one in my youth for some reason. Perhaps it is because I am large (now soft and gray) and white. I am a democratic party precinct rep elected by the voters of the precinct that borders HP to the north and north west.
The Democratic PCO for the Highpoint area precinct is Sandy Trent.
Note political precincts are different from Police precincts in WA.
The 34th district Democrats website is http://www.34dems.org
The Republican district website and the names of their PCO’s seems to be a secret for some reason, but there are a few (and probably more now that the phase one homes are being filled) around the neighborhood.
Google King County Republican party to find who to call if anyone needs it. My precinct is 88% self identified Dem at the moment but all thing are subject to change.
Let us agree for a moment that HPB went a bit far which triggered my snark gene. I will agree there are some very real problems.
Since I have lived here since before the rebuild and partner and her child (who lives in one of the new upscale duplexes) have lived here for almost 20 years, the issues associated with subsidised housing are not new to us.
On my end of the neighborhood, I see only wannabees rather than any real gang members. However they can be intimidating and some seem to go out of their way to do so. If they knew how hilarious they looked holding up their pants I suspect they would find new role models.
The ADT salesmen have done a good job of ramping up the fear factor to sell alarm systems in the neighborhood. I had not heard anything about any fights or shooting in the area but it is not unknown in this area. It is much improved from 2001 when I recognized 3 different types of automatic weapons being fired in the air on new years eve…
This is a major city with major city problems. I find highpoint to be one of the best neighborhoods I have ever lived in.
That may say more about my past than about the neighborhood though, so let us start off a new thread (if HBP will co-operate) and address possible mitigating or coping strategies residents can use to deal with these issues.
Some concepts should be ruled out entirely if we are to have a cogent discourse.
Seattle Housing authority is charged and chartered by the city of Seattle with supplying low income housing assistance within the city of Seattle. It’s administration and management role (note the trash pickup and water/sewer … mystery) is probably going to range from frustrating to incomprehensible. That is the SHA bureaucracy that residents and homeowners both have to deal with. Criticism of SHA is fair game (and making them squirm is something of a hobby for me) however turning the SHA mandate on it’s head and advocating a walled neighborhood, or a gate, is not gonna happen and is a bit embarrassing to think that some of my neighbors might seriously consider this as an option.
Neighbor hood watch is a good idea and when the city was a bit more flush the neighborhood officer at the SW precinct used to actually answer the phone or return emails. This is a political issue that I have not pursued lately since the last time I tried was when the phase one area was just graded dirt and coyotes were scaring the local pet owners. If anyone is interested in setting up watch zones, I will see if any arms can be twisted in this election season to get the appropriate rep from the Seattle police to meet with any interested group.
Getting more patrols in the neighborhood would be a good idea and may also discourage some of the irritating behavior issues of some teens.
My brisket is done so I will check back tomorrow to see if we can make this a place for rational and realistic discussion of issues that involve us all.
October 3, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I know that having a gate is far fetched, and I’m not too concerned with actually people getting murdered here, you are right, these teens are wannabes and Seattle isn’t as violent as other major cities but my main concern with these teen wannabe wanksters are vandalism, group fights, noise, worrying that my car isn’t going to get dinged up, and etc. I know that these things urk not just the home owners but the rental folks as well. We all know that most of people here are families with young children and for the majority we all want peace and quiet in this neighborhood. What we really need is actually having real security that will patrol this area day in and night out and actually enforce suspicious activity. I do agree with you that this is a nice neighborhood, I remember back then this was one of the worst neighborhoods ever and now its just fantastic. All aside, I want this place to be safe and I dont want this place to turn out to be a neighborhood that is known to be sketchy but a place where I can have pride telling people that I live in HP. HP need to do something to keep the violence, vandalism, and unwanted noise in check. I know that this is going to be tough but with enough support from the residents, I really think we can make this happen if we make these issues voiced.
October 3, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I think it’s sad that a few bad apples are having such a negative impact on how we see our neighborhood. I personally have never felt threatened or endandered, but was witness to the Sunday night brawl that sent a rock through my nieghbor’s car window. I called 911. I sincerely hope that anyone who is witnessing criminal acts taking place in our beautiful neighborhood is alerting the police and the HOA (drug sales in the park? News to me.). They are working together.
At the last HOA meeting, I counted approximately 10 households in attendance. I really recommend that if you have concerns like this, you bring them to our HOA Board- For the number of households in High Point, I don’t think enough people are involved. SHA/HOA Board members are acting on our comments, and encourage us to do things like write petitions to the local precint Captain. They are also arranging for the Captain to be present at the next meeting so we can be clear that we are disappointed in how things are currently being handled.
If you want more information, go to http://www.highpointhoa.com, our official homeowners website! You can find all the contact information for CDC and SHA and by all means bombard them with emails whenever you see or hear something going on. At our last meeting, we also learned that Security does not report all incidents to the Board or SHA, so it is up to us to make them aware via email of what is happening. We are not the only ones who made a significant investment in High Point- the city did, too. It’s an investment that is generating global interest. We just had visitors from China who wanted to see how we built our green, diverse community, and I have had coworkers bring in national magazines that feature the wonders of High Point.
I think blogs are another wonderful tool to get us all talking to each other, but I really hope we get more in-person participation at our meetings. Watch for your invitation in the mail, or ask CDC Management if you need more information.
October 4, 2007 at 6:51 am
We just started a block watch this week in our neighborhood. Are there any at High Point? At the very least, it’s bringing neighbors together that we wouldn’t otherwise meet or know. It creates a sense of community. I believe Benjamin Kinlow from the SW Precint would be your contact: 206-684-7724.
October 4, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Rhonda,
Block watch (or larger) would be a good idea. I suspect you got the address and number from the SPD web site. I have called and left messages and emails to that contact and number several times with no response. Admittedly it has been more than a year, but I assumed the post was either vacant or underfunded like many of the SPD programs of yesteryear.
I will try again and follow up with some of the incumbent city council persons who might are usually interested in what I have to say in the month before the election.
When it is not election season I get blown off just like everyone else.
Note the lone exception is Tom Rasmussen who will return calls and have a staff member follow up. Might be why he is running unopposed this time. He was the single person who got the hills on Graham, Raymond and Juneau sanded after the compact snow turned to ice last winter and SHA and SDOT refused to address the issue even though SHA contractors had dump trucks and sand parked within sight of these hills and SDOT professed to be unaware of the handicapped apartments and nursing home existing (which is what finally forced them to add Graham to the sand list)
However it seems Nick Licata is chair of the Public Safety committee…
We shall see if this issue floats any boats.
October 4, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Hey, first and foremost we are all entitled to our opnion. I respect that HPB came out and said what he said. Do I agree wtih all of it? No…..but there is some truth in there. I have lived in transitional neighborhoods (east side of capitol hill….near the infamous Deano’s bar) before and understand that it take time for things to change (It took three years +). This timeframe can be really frustrating……especially when you have your hard earned money on the line….but it is part of the process of change.
From my experice the only way this can change is for the concerned people of the Highpoint communtiy to get involved (not just the owners). We need to hold the “few” that are making this place less than desireable be held accountable. I would like the security to be more active and I want the police to be more involved. If it includes me calling 911 every night than so be it…..I will do it. I encourage others to do the same.
October 5, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Jim. What part of subsidised housing were you expecting to change? The income level or ethnicity of the residents? The crime rate for this neighborhood is no higher than any other in Seattle. The last shooting I remember was at 35th and Juneau and the entire SHA property was flat dark and empty. No houses, no renters, no condos. This is a city. Stuff happens and probably will continue.
Sure I call 911 when I see an accident or a crime committed, but there are already a few people in the neighborhood who get ignored by the local precinct (and SHA management) because they call and complain about behaviors that are often both annoying and perfectly legal.
This is not a transitional neighborhood in the sense that your overpriced condo is going to lift it up onto some elevated plateau. My house is probably worth more than yours not because it is nearly 60 years old, but because it sits on a lot 5 time bigger than your slice. Your will find quite a few that are paying taxes on lots and “improvements” that are assessed for taxes at half a million or a million.
Check out the map in Parcel view via the king county GIS site.
The land increases in value, the house depreciates.
Eventually the bungalows and ranches and split levels get replaced and lots get subdivided. Some will build bizarre houses that are exactly the width of my driveway as we can see down the hill toward Delridge.
But this was a working class neighborhood before most of us were born and it is still far enough from downtown to stay that way after most of us are gone.
I think it’s a great neighborhood but it is still an urban area so there are going to be issues from time to time.
October 7, 2007 at 3:45 am
I’m guessing Ballard was too expensive for on your presumably modest income.
It’s nice not to have to deal with you sub $100k/year types types and your circa-1994 Volvos in our neighborhood.
October 7, 2007 at 9:24 am
Ken, I know that this is a working class neighborhood and that is one of the reasons why I moved here. What I meant by” transitional” is that people are going to be held more accountable for their actions now than what they were held to in the past. Just because someone is poor doesn’t give them a free pass to break the law and not respect their other neighbors. Now I realize that the majority of the people in Highpoint are great …..but let’s be honest…..there are a few bad apples. I don’t want those “bad apples” to feel comfortable breaking laws and/or causing disturbances. I feel that is one of the reasons why this community is here…so we can learn form one another. I bring a strong work ethic and an intolerance to crime. Others in this neighborhood bring diversity, community involvement etc……I think it is a perfect blend. This neighborhood is in the infancy of it’s rebirth with some speed bumps ahead no doubt, but if we work together utilizing our strengths I think that this can be a great place for everyone.
I think all of this discussion has been very worthwhile……
October 7, 2007 at 10:50 am
I think this blog is a great way to communicate. There should be a High Point Crime Watch! I have two close friends that bought a house in the HPC and I have house sat for them. I don’t think it is fair that when I drive my Prius down the road and a “ride” comes down the road of a resident they do not let me through, it’s like a game of chicken and is unsafe driving. I have seen herds of wannabe’s late at night and have called Officers. The no noise city ordinance that states “no excessive noise after 10pm” does not seem to apply to many of the lower income residents. They spent a half million dollars on their house and now at times they wants to keep a rifle in their bedroom. I have lived in White Center so I know how the lower communities have a higher crime rates. This should be a good thing for Seattle and sooner than later it will just turn into one more broken community unless the police make their presence heard. But with shootings and stabbings happening almost every week in the Seattle area, the police must get their act together soon!
October 7, 2007 at 10:51 am
Perhaps we need a frame work for this discussion.
Can we divide the issues into different sections and perhaps set up one of those famous unscientific polls?
Public safety seems to be one topic that is important to all.
Issues that seem to fit under this topic (off the top of my head) include:
1) Criminal behaviour by residents and/or non residents.
2) Traffic and parking issues (perhaps some have noticed we have become a de facto park and ride?) Inability to get in or out of the neighborhood safely whether driving or on foot.
3) SHA regulations and their enforcement or lack thereof.
4)Fire and emergency access including weather related preparations (Is SHA responsible for snow removal or each homeowner (per Seattle City regulations) or is it a function of the HOA in developed sections?)
Coming attractions:
1) What exactly are the plans the builders and SHA have for both phase two and the remaining spaces in phase one.
2) Is a plan being devised to bill for water and sewer on a shared basis inclusive of all residents or divided among the subsidised residents and the homeowners. (some may have noticed no water meters are used in either type of housing)
3) Dog park questions? Westcrest Park is in White Center and yet within the Seattle parks system. A closer site would be nice but I am not sure one could be created within the Highpoint footprint. Homeowners will have to lead on this it seems.
Annoyances:
I have a few favorites and I am sure other do as well.
Some I am aware of to start the list:
1) Wireless lan pollution. (There is so much radio on a number of frequencies, I had to use attenuators to get my uhf remotes to work. Microwave on the 2.4GHZ and 5.8ghz bands are fighting invisibly all over the neighborhood since many do not know how to change channels on their CPE or router)
2)Trash Pickup and windblown litter. (including resident littering)
3)Design flaws and construction errors
(Some I have noticed are drains 3 inches above street level, Gutter downspouts that terminate below street level, garage doors that cannot open enough to allow Pickups or SUV’s (or tall people)to use them. Expensive and yet non energy efficient bulbs in very odd sizes and locations. Drains that still have construction “socks” on them which will lead to storm water backup when the rainy season gets really cranked up.
Add your own or address one of these if you have an idea or info or suggestions for coping.
October 7, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Ken Davis…..you are right on. I am not a resident of High Point, but I do live in White Center. It is astounding to me that people cannot see their oppressive ways. White privilege is like water is to a fish….all around them but they cant see it. Thank the Lord for people like you.
October 9, 2007 at 11:32 pm
[...] over at High Point Blog in the “Tale of Two Cities” and some political incorrectness [...]
October 10, 2007 at 1:28 pm
My wife and I are first time home buyers and bought a nice house in the High Point Community. Our excitement was rapidly smothered as nearly every night our new neighborhood brought concerns. Since I’ve moved here there have been times where we’ve feared for our safety and we have made several changes but it only goes so far. We bought a security system, we now double park our cars in our back yard, I sleep next to my phone, and now keep my gun next to my bed. Some may think this is extreme but in the 2 years I’ve lived here (2005 to present) these are the things we’ve had happen to us….
1. I’ve had my fence and car smashed by a drunk driver. The accident was loud and incredibly destructive. There were several witnesses but none were able to get a simple license plate from the hit and run. The beer cans and cell phone left on the side walk from driver was not enough evidence for the police.
2. We’ve had a wrench thrown through the window of our car parked in front. More people claimed to have seen it happen but again nobody had any valuable information for police.
3. I have personally witnessed a large gang fight in the street right in front of my house next to a major intersection. This involved several cars blocking both sides of the street and a crowd of about 20 people shouting and yelling and shoving and fist fighting. This crowd managed to scatter like cockroaches before the police arrived.
4. I’ve seen drunk people staggering in the streets and causing violent disturbances before the police had to come and quell that situation.
5. I’ve had a sign ripped off of my fence that had the addresses for other condos in my area. (Sorry mailman! Hope you can find my neighbors!)
6. I’ve had countless times in the early AM hours that I hear booming bass and rap music coming from cars. It’s so Rude!
7. I’m picking up litter on nearly a daily basis on my block. I’m also being charged by the disposal companies for others making a mess! They take the charges back off every time I call but it has become annoying real fast. I’ve discussed the problem with my neighbors but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
8. I see lots of other suspicious activity with of groups walking by including but not limited to, gangs, people talking to themselves loudly, people running and looking over their shoulders like they did something wrong.
Admittedly I’m even more suspicious since we’ve had so many things happen in such a short time. I’ve pleaded with the police to increase their patrols but they flat out said “no” and that they don’t have enough staff to support it. So you can see why we keep our cars off the streets, and sleep by my phone. We don’t feel safe in high point and because of this we plan to sell our home (if we can!) and hopefully find a safer neighborhood.
I average 90 hour work weeks and spending more time in my community would be great but there simply isn’t time so maybe this all my fault? I do what I can with the time I can spare. Call me crazy but I figured buying a house in a nice new neighborhood would mean I could expect common respect for other people’s property.
I don’t care what your skin color is, your political view, or what nation you’re from but I would like to just live in peace and not wonder what has happened to my house every time I’ve been gone for an afternoon. I appreciate this blog existing and I like the constructive conversation that has come from it but I’m sorry if I want things fixed now, not in a few years. I hope the future residents of High Point have better luck then I have had.
I had high hopes for High Point but I haven’t seen any improvements in the recent 2 years I’ve been here and if nothing changes…. nothing changes.
October 11, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Hey Sean,
I’m surprized you didn’t expect this to happen, you were moving to HP mixed with low icome families. Besides ballard or magnolia, you are going to live in sort of a diverse neighborhood if you want to live in Seattle. That really sucks what you’ve gone through, I just moved here 5 months ago, but its been great for me besides some of the annoyances. I have to admit, if I had to park on the sidewalks, I would be worried, luckily I have a garage. I think you won’t get anything back in return if you sell your house, its a buyers market with prices falling. The good thing is that HP is a work in progress, the more people who buy houses in HP the more of a community and voice we will have for these concerns. Obviously, people who rent don’t care as much as the people that own houses here. I’m going to stay positive, I’m sure these things will be fixed. The city is spending too much time and effort to create a disaster.
October 11, 2007 at 3:30 pm
bk,
I agree with everything you said… except the part about expecting this to happen. Your income doesn’t determine your behavior. It doesn’t matter what my neighbor’s income level is and it is not fair to good ones out there to wrap them up in this stereotype. I shouldn’t expect to have my property damaged and watch fights in the streets simply because somebody might not be getting a very large pay check.
I don’t know the financial situation of those who damaged my property. I know for a fact that people can be just as rude, inconsiderate, insane, and violent as anybody else in this world, no matter what tax bracket they’re in. I’m just saying in my experience there seems to be a collective crowd of bad apples in HP that should be dealt with appropriately by the authorities. If those authorities mean more police patrols or parents keeping a sharper eye on where their kids are at 2 am…. either way it would make a much safer and friendlier neighborhood.
October 20, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Just discovered this blog and had to put in my two cents!
I have lived next door to Highpoint for going on seven years now (it literally wraps around my house on three sides) and have seen the amazing evolution of this neighborhood.
When I first bought my house, my friends literally shrieked in dismay because they were afraid for me living there. Sure, I had to ask drug dealers to leave my property (with a smile and a glass of ice water on a very hot day, they went and never returned), and, on several occasions I had to call the police because of bizarre and violent stuff happening practically on my doorstep.
However, even in the old Highpoint I had some amazingly cool neighbors living in the “low income” housing! They were the ones who talked to me! They were the ones who kept an eye on me and my home, telling me who came by while I was away, what they looked like, what kind of car they drove etc. Thankfully, many of those people were first in line to move into the new subsidised housing. One woman ,who works in the pea patch garden, makes it a point to bring me sunflower starts every year even though we can hardly understand each other because of the language barrier.
I have to say that since the new housing has arrived, the problems have decreased a great deal. Now I am mainly annoyed by the litter (complaining to the rental management company has done no good), of course the car stereo noise, and a new problem, dog poop everywhere in my parking strip garden! I have to believe that is not coming from the low income folks…..hmmmmm? Are they even allowed to have dogs?
Surprisingly, the folks in the market rate housing that is kitty corner and across the street from my house are actually less friendly and interactive than the sometimes reticent low income neighbors I make an effort to talk to. The new homeowners all park in front of my house instead of in their garages, sometimes blocking my driveway, but seldom wave or talk to me when I am out in my garden.
One way that has worked for me is to talk to everyone I encounter when I am coming and going from my house. I have many acquaintences now and they keep their eyes open for me. They know who the trouble makers are in the neighborhood and sometimes can talk to the parents of those who are young enough to respond to that sort of thing. I am a small, very white, blond woman, but I find that even the teenagers respond when I confront them with their bad behavior, whether it is littering, or abusing the landscaping, etc. Usually, they are so embarassed about being confronted (I usually try to make it a funny and obvious statement like “Hey, I think you dropped something!”) that they apologize and pick up the litter etc.
I have often thought that a neighborhood watch group would be fabulous. We have the meeting room at the library on Raymond street which would be a great spot to gather for free. Everyone should have the number of the security guards who patrol the subsidized housing, and also the rental management company.
It seems like it could be negotiated with the management company to send out some kind of flier to tenants addressing noise issues (no loud car stereos) and littering etc. I don’t think that is a lot to ask.
As far as illegal, or suspicious behavior, everyone needs to be comfortable with calling the police. If they receive an exceptional amount of calls, something will have to give! I have had at least half a dozen abandoned cars towed through the city’s website that Ken mentioned.
Please everyone, talk to each other! A strong and happy community starts there
Koni