Video: High Point Neighborhood Center dedication celebration

About an hour ago, that ribboncutting marked the official grand opening of the High Point Neighborhood Center, the $13 million “heart of High Point” community facility that we’ve been chronicling since even before its August 2008 groundbreaking (WSB coverage here, and here’s the tour we took during construction). Hundreds of people at the celebration this afternoon – which started with an hour of tours before speeches and the ribboncutting ceremony – here’s just one small cross-section of the crowd:

Speakers included executive director Mark Okazaki of Neighborhood House, the organization that led the project, which is already famous for its solar array and LEED Gold certification – he listed some of its other environmental attributes too:

We’ve got other scenes and speeches to add later. If you haven’t been to HP Neighborhood Center yet, you can check it out during Sustainable West Seattle‘s “Money-Free Shopping Spree” pre-holiday gathering, which’ll be happening there 6:30 pm Monday – we also published a detailed preview story last Monday, with photos of some of its amazing art. ADDED SUNDAY: More photos – click ahead!

State Sen. Claudia Kauffman, a “child of High Point” who has made history as Washington’s first female Native American state senator, was at the ceremony with her daughter. Another speaker, Martha Kongsgaard, who chaired the HPNC capital campaign:

The 34th District’s three state legislators were on hand – Rep. Eileen Cody, Sen. Joe McDermott, Rep. Sharon Nelson:

And the “other McDermott” – Congressman Jim – stood with Governor Gregoire’s rep Laura Lockard, though we took this photo mostly for the adorable kids standing in front of them:

The new Neighborhood Center has a website, of course – see it here.

3 Replies to "Video: High Point Neighborhood Center dedication celebration"

  • r November 15, 2009 (8:52 am)

    Didn’t see any of the actual occupants of the high point development there. Looked like a bunch of Eastside developers came to cut a ribbon and bathe in the celebratory mood, then head back to Bellevue with doors locked on their Mercedes.

  • Hey there November 15, 2009 (4:42 pm)

    If they renamed the elementary school, why didn’t they change the “High Point” title for the area as well. Doesn’t make any sense, it appears it is going back to the way it was with the same name.

  • WSB November 16, 2009 (3:28 am)

    R, we were there throughout the ceremony and it looked to us like quite the diverse crowd, and in addition to HP residents and neighbors, we also saw grass-roots community activists we know from all over West Seattle. “Hey,” the school was renamed because it became a blending of two school “programs” after Fairmount Park Elementary closed year before last … TR

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