Although it was conceived as an older, retirement-oriented community, Bain said Sahalee now has a new breed of resident. We are seeing an influx of you people who are getting tired of cookie-cutter houses. We have a lot of Microsoft people, a lot of professionals and a lot of people who own their own businesses. Architect Jack Wright notes that Sahalee was the first development on the Sammamish Plateau, and its history runs parallel with the growth of the computer and high-tech corridor between Bellevue and Redmond. Even if residents don't play golf, Bain says they appreciate the greenbelt nature of the course itself and the safety of living behind the country club gates.
People walk in here along the road.
The people who don't play or appreciate golf still like the feel that they are living in a park. Ironically, Wright never intended to become a resident of Sahalee but did so because the members had to guarantee a certain number of the original townhouses would be sold. When they didn't sell at first, Wright bought one himself and moved there. They would say that it was just too far out in the country. Once the housing project was under way, the founders wanted it to be first-class like the golf course.