Grand Ridge No Longer; Issaquah Highlands Now

ISSAQUAH

Developers of the 2,100-acre Grand Ridge planned community project yesterday announced a name change that they say better identifies with the city of Issaquah.

The newly named Issaquah Highlands is also more descriptive of the project itself, said Judd Kirk, president of Port Blakely Communities, the project developer. The name change was not an attempt to erase memories of the land-use disputes that have surrounded the project, he said.

"A lot of people wanted us to keep the name Grand Ridge because it was so well known and had a lot of publicity," Kirk said. But the developers have planned for at least a year to change the name once construction of the 3,250 homes began, he said.

King County used the name "Grand Ridge" to describe the geographic area between Interstate 90 and the Sammamish Plateau. But the Issaquah Highlands will only take up about 20 percent of that area, Kirk said.

Model homes are expected to open this fall. The urban village will consist of four neighborhoods, each with their own names, and a town center.