Back in late 1960s / early 1970s, Thomas Scalzo Development Company clear-cut the hillside forest in this neighborhood. The residents in this area, angered by the tree cutting, dubbed the neighborhood “Scalzo Scar.” The outcry from this incident led to Mercer Island’s land-clearing ordinance, an inaugural statute which led to the establishment of similar ordinances throughout Washington.
The anger over the land-clearing created a cooperative attitude in the neighborhood and the name Scalzo Scar stuck. The residents in this area went on to cooperatively share their concerns about traffic with the city of Mercer Island, and even agreed to share among themselves the cost of putting in intersection islands to slow down traffic driving through the neighborhood.
Scalzo Scar is a light and sunny neighborhood; the prominent home style here are the split levels and daylight ramblers popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Pioneer Park’s Northwest Quadrant is just northeast of the neighborhood. The Southend Shopping Center, the Fire Station and Island Middle School are close as well.
By Lisa Lewis. Copyright 2012 WRE/Mercer Island.
