Defining "the cohousing principle" | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Anthony Cooke (anthonycooke.co.nz) | |
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 22:08:52 -0700 (MST) |
This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF967D.DD3B6980 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi folks Ed Lantz said: "I am told that the cohousing principle is in conflict with any sort of = business operation (comments, please)." I'm a long time cohousing wannabe, and silent sitter on this list. I'm interested in what is "allowed" under the umbrella of cohousing, and = who defines what is acceptable and what is not. This idea that incorporating a business into a cohousing community - at = the level of a community initiative, rather than an individual's or = individuals' business(es) - means that the community is by definition = something different to cohousing, puzzles me slightly. I think it goes = back to the articulation of cohousing by the likes of Katy and Chuck in = their book. I think I understand some of the reason for suggesting that = community businesses by definition make a community outside 'cohousing'. = It serves, for example, to distinguish cohousing from communes, and = therefore to make cohousing more like mainstream suburban housing, and = therefore more acceptable, and therefore more marketable. Here's a challenge. Another of the original ideas articulated about = cohousing was that resident participation in design was one of its = defining characteristics. I say rubbish. The concept that one has to = participate in the designing and development of one's house and = neighbourhood, is one of the limitations of 'cohousing' as currently = defined. Until developer-led cohousing is the norm, cohousing is going to remain = a fringe, upper-middle class, white activity. Surely cohousing is really about: a.. designing community for neighbourliness b.. enhanced resident interaction c.. an intention to live in community d.. ongoing resident management e.. the presence of a common house/facility f.. the possibility of shared meals, and g.. private ownership of one's house. It is not about: a.. resident participation in design b.. resident participation as developers We know how to design neighbourhoods to foster community now. We don't = need resident participation in design. Further, the idea that future = tenants have to be involved in design, must act as a huge disincentive = for regular developers to look at cohousing. This in term means that = would be cohousers have to act as their own developers, which thereby = limits enormously the numbers who can become involved. We need to throw away the idea of the future owners/renters of cohousing = communities having to be their own designers, and therefore, developers. = These myths are a huge millstone around the neck of cohousing as a = movement. If we were able to do so (dispense with this millstone), then cohousing = would be even closer to the mainstream, even more marketable, and then I = might have a chance of living in cohousing! Yours (somewhat provocatively) Anthony Cooke Pukekohe New Zealand .. where it's a gloriously balmy autumn day, and the Aussie cricketers = seem to be yet again posting a large score against the Black Caps = (that's our national cricket team) .. and where, although I don't live in cohousing, the house rings to = the voice of neighbourhood children -----Original Message----- From: Ed Lantz <elantz [at] spitzinc.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org> Date: Saturday, 25 March 2000 04:55 Subject: Philadelphia Area CoHousing .. >Our initial idea was to purchase an operational Bed & Breakfast and a >surrounding residence or two, and offer themed get-aways such as = wellness >weekends. The B&B would serve to employ some community members, and a >community center would offer workshops, community meals, etc. .. >The unique feature of our Creative Community is to encourage employment >opportunities on site. Our group includes working artisans, computer >experts, marketing professionals, and hospitality managers. We have = not >dropped the B&B idea, and also want to provide art studios and some = business >offices. I am told that the cohousing principle is in conflict with = any >sort of business operation (comments, please). ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF967D.DD3B6980 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.3110.7"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>Hi folks</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ed Lantz said:</DIV> <DIV>"I am told that the cohousing principle is in conflict with = any sort=20 of business operation (comments, please)."<BR></DIV> <DIV>I'm a long time cohousing wannabe, and silent sitter on this = list.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm interested in what is "allowed" under the umbrella of = cohousing, and who defines what is acceptable and what is not.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This idea that incorporating a business into a cohousing community = - at the=20 level of a community initiative, rather than an individual's or = individuals'=20 business(es) - means that the community is by definition something = different to=20 cohousing, puzzles me slightly. I think it goes back to the = articulation=20 of cohousing by the likes of Katy and Chuck in their book. I think = I=20 understand some of the reason for suggesting that community businesses = by=20 definition make a community outside 'cohousing'. It serves, for = example,=20 to distinguish cohousing from communes, and therefore to make cohousing = more=20 like mainstream suburban housing, and therefore more acceptable, and = therefore=20 more marketable.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Here's a challenge. Another of the original ideas articulated = about=20 cohousing was that resident participation in design was one of its = defining=20 characteristics. I say rubbish. The concept that one has to=20 participate in the designing and development of one's house and = neighbourhood,=20 is one of the limitations of 'cohousing' as currently defined.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Until developer-led cohousing is the norm, cohousing is going to = remain a=20 fringe, upper-middle class, white activity.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Surely cohousing is really about:</DIV> <UL> <LI>designing community for neighbourliness</LI> <LI>enhanced resident interaction</LI> <LI>an intention to live in community</LI> <LI>ongoing resident management</LI> <LI>the presence of a common house/facility</LI> <LI>the possibility of shared meals, and</LI> <LI>private ownership of one's house.</LI></UL> <DIV>It is not about:</DIV> <UL> <LI>resident participation in design</LI> <LI>resident participation as developers</LI></UL> <DIV>We know how to design neighbourhoods to foster community now. = We=20 don't need resident participation in design. Further, the idea = that future=20 tenants have to be involved in design, must act as a huge disincentive = for=20 regular developers to look at cohousing. This in term means that = would be=20 cohousers have to act as their own developers, which thereby limits = enormously=20 the numbers who can become involved.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We need to throw away the idea of the future owners/renters of = cohousing=20 communities having to be their own designers, and therefore, = developers. =20 These myths are a huge millstone around the neck of cohousing as a=20 movement.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If we were able to do so (dispense with this millstone), then = cohousing=20 would be even closer to the mainstream, even more marketable, and then I = might=20 have a chance of living in cohousing!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yours (somewhat provocatively)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anthony Cooke</DIV> <DIV>Pukekohe</DIV> <DIV>New Zealand</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>... where it's a gloriously balmy autumn day, and the Aussie = cricketers=20 seem to be yet again posting a large score against the Black Caps = (that's our=20 national cricket team)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>... and where, although I don't live in cohousing, the house rings = to the=20 voice of neighbourhood children</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Ed = Lantz <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:elantz [at] spitzinc.com">elantz [at] spitzinc.com</A>><BR>To: = Multiple=20 recipients of list <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org">cohousing-l [at] freedom2.mtn.org= </A>><BR>Date:=20 Saturday, 25 March 2000 04:55<BR>Subject: Philadelphia Area=20 CoHousing<BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><BR></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>>Our initial idea was to purchase an operational Bed & = Breakfast and=20 a<BR>>surrounding residence or two, and offer themed get-aways such = as=20 wellness<BR>>weekends. The B&B would serve to employ some = community=20 members, and a<BR>>community center would offer workshops, community = meals,=20 etc.<BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>>The unique feature of our Creative Community is to encourage=20 employment<BR>>opportunities on site. Our group includes = working=20 artisans, computer<BR>>experts, marketing professionals, and = hospitality=20 managers. We have not<BR>>dropped the B&B idea, and also = want to=20 provide art studios and some business<BR>>offices. I am told = that the=20 cohousing principle is in conflict with any<BR>>sort of business = operation=20 (comments, please).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BF967D.DD3B6980--
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Defining "the cohousing principle" Anthony Cooke, March 24 2000
- Fwd: Defining "the cohousing principle" Zimmerland, March 25 2000
- Re: Defining "the cohousing principle" Dave Busse, March 25 2000
- Re: Defining "the cohousing principle" Jose Marquez, March 25 2000
- Re: Defining "the cohousing principle" Fred H. Olson, March 25 2000
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