Re: Converting existing housing to Cohousing | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: jmetzler (jmetzleraol.com) | |
Date: Tue, 3 May 94 13:00 CDT |
I think the idea of converting existing city blocks to CoHousing is a great one, not only as a way to build a community incrementally, but also as a way to strengthen cities. I've seen a couple of local groups fail to actually build because they have discovered that both the cost of converting most non-residential buildings to housing, and of building new structures is too expensive for them. Cities should be rushing to support the concept since it should be possible to get enough critical mass to add stability to, and even turn-around neighborhoods. Minneapolis has been pretty good about vacating alleys for development. You might also look to the Dutch concept of the "Woonerf" as a designed place which allows both people and cars to coexist safely. If you needed to retain the alley, the concepts could be used to t reat it more as a pedestrian domainxx where automobiles were clearly visitors needing to be on their best behavior. Even if you can vacate the alley you still have to deal with the autos and you can use it as a model of a place primarily for pedestrians which can also accomodate some autos. Our architectual office has used the concept on the design of a new housing project (not CoHousing). Anyone interested can find the design in the article "Density Enhanced by a Clever Residential Pattern" from the book "Common Walls, Private Houses" by Duo Dickinson. If you can't find the article I'm willing to mail and fax out copies as long as I receive only a managable number of requests. Please E-mail me directly. jmetzler [at] aol.com
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Converting existing housing to Cohousing Fred H Olson WB0YQM, April 30 1994
- Re: Converting existing housing to Cohousing jmetzler, May 3 1994
- Re: Converting existing housing to Cohousing Stephen Hawthorne, May 3 1994
- Re: Converting existing housing to Cohousing Fred H Olson WB0YQM, May 4 1994
- Re: Converting existing housing to Cohousing Fred H Olson WB0YQM, May 10 1994
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