Archives West Finding Aid

In 1935, the land that was to be the beginning of the View Ridge neighborhood was owned by Seattle physician, Carl Neu. His property encompassed 10 acres of second-growth forest at NE 65th Street and 50th Avenue NE, but he couldn't pay the taxes. For $25 down, radio station employees, Albert Balch and Ralph Jones bought the property. View Ridge was to be King County's first new real estate project in over than two years. Once the trees were cleared, views of the water and mountains could be seen from the property. As an alumni of the University of Washington, Jones convinced his fraternity brothers to buy lots, advertising in the academic community.

In 1940, planning began for a second stage of the neighborhood, the Sand Point Housing Defense Project, to accommodate military and civilian personnel stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station during World War II. This project was funded by money available under an amendment to the 1937 Housing Act and was supervised by the United States Housing Authority Aided Defense Project and the Housing Authority of Seattle. These additional homes were built at the intersection of E. 64th Street and 65th Avenue N.E. near Sand Point Way. Seattle architects, John Graham, Sr. and B. Marcus Priteca, designed the initial homes along with the help of landscape architects, E. Clair Heilman and Noble Hoggson. Construction started in early 1941.

In 1942, the neighborhood was incorporated into the city of Seattle. View Ridge Elementary School began as four portable classrooms in November 1944 during construction of the permanent building, which was completed in the fall of 1947. During the 1960s, the views were improved when the overhead utilities were placed underground. In 1956, Seattle Housing Authority sold its 200-unit development of the Sand Point Defense Housing Project to the University of Washington to serve as dorms for married students.

Today, the View Ridge neighborhood spans from NE 65th Street to NE 75th Street and from 40th Avenue NE to Sand Point Way NE in Seattle, Washington.

The John Graham and Company architectural drawings and photographs collection (PHColl339) also contains additional photographs of the housing units on View Ridge, along with a photographic print of an architectural drawing for the Sand Point Housing Defense Project.