Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: affordable cohousing

[Marganne Meyer (marganne]

Rob -- thank you for your post. Sorry I'm coming in a little late in 
the discussion. This is close to the same case made about once every 
other year on this list. A separate list was established for people 
who were interested in putting together a low cost community project.

We primarily decided to separate this discussion from the main list 
because of a prevailing feeling that involved people not wanting to 
lose the investment value of their homes by having smaller 
(supposedly shabbier) homes located nearby. It was a difficult 
discussion. I'm sure you could find it in the archives of this list.

I believe (and have some anecdotal information) smaller homes don't 
lower values when in the same neighborhood as larger homes. It's 
something many people in our culture are uncomfortable considering 
because they can't imagine living in a smaller house. Everyone has 
different expectations of how many square feet they need for a home.

In a separate mailing list, we informally agreed that planning 
department restrictions are the biggest obstacle to development of a 
low-cost community project. Sometimes the planning can be changed, 
but then the local community sees it as impacting their lifestyle -- 
increasing traffic, etc.

The final thing I feel stands in the way of developing pilot low-cost 
housing communities is low profit margins for developers. One more 
thing: As I recall, the most conducive plan (coming from a discussion 
on the other mailing list) for this kind of community was to purchase 
a mobile home park, where the zoning for multiple homes wouldn't be a 
problem. Then there was the price of a mobile home park ......

I applaud your community for finding a serious solution for a growing 
number of people who will not be able to own a home and who want to 
live in community.

At 10:10 AM -0700 9/26/09, Rob Sandelin wrote:
> I filled out the survey but it didn't really cover how we operate and since
> there is strong bias against lot development in cohousing circles I thought
> it was at least worth mentioning that lot development allows people to build
> their own homes, using recycled free materials, and alternative designs at
> very low cost.  We have two residences which are very small and cost less
> than $40,000 including the cost of the lot.  We have another which is owner
> built which cost less than $120,000 to build. Of course there are some
> hugely expensive homes built here as well but we do have a good mix, and
> some of the larger homes host our 10 rental apartments which also provide
> opportunities for non-owners to live here. 
>
> Rob Sandelin
> Out in the woods of Sharingwood
> Snohomish County, WA