Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: who owns the common house?

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

Becca — Nomad Cohousing in Boulder shares its CH w/ a community theatre.  You 
might contact Zev Paiss at this email address:

Zev [at] AbrahamPaiss.com

If you are going to share your CH with an organization such as a daycare center 
or Sr. center … your costs just skyrocketed because these kinds of facilities 
have very strict rules on architecture and engineering.  Lots of rules to 
follow … It’s really an order of magnitude above a “clubhouse” or community 
building designation.  

Also … if your group is forming the non-profit then the group cannot profit 
from the non profit status.  In other words, we can’t use a non profit to 
shield benefits to community members unless the NP is wholly owned and operated 
outside of the membership.  And even then I’d be cautious.  Now, if you want to 
be a CHURCH … that’s totally different!  Our Lady of the Common House has a 
nice ring to it …


Best --

Ann Zabaldo
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC
Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
Falls Church, VA
202.546.4654

As long as you have two or fewer … your ducks are always in a row.  The Covert 
Comic



> On May 7, 2018, at 3:29 PM, Becca Brackett <ecbrackett [at] cohousing.org> 
> wrote:
> 
> Dear Cohousing-L community,
> 
> I am wondering if any cohousing group has shared  ownership of their common 
> house with a community organization/non-profit.
> 
> The added expense of the commonhouse beyond the cost of the housing units 
> being built seems to be putting the cost of buying a unit much higher than 
> comparable accommodations. I wondered if any community has built a common 
> house that is  owned/financed  by a non-profit  organization, perhaps a 
> daycare  center, a church,  a Senior daycare center, or a College that uses 
> the facility by day making it available to the residents of the Cohousing at 
> night and weekends.
> 
> I also think of all the colleges that have buildings Named for the donor of 
> the money to build it- (or named for their choice of honoree.)
> This might be a way of having the community members  who are well off,  pay 
> for a room in the common house -
> For instance I could finance the   "Florence Bishop Johnson Music Room" in 
> honor of my Maternal Grandmother who was a  professional organist.
> If a non-profit owned the common house that could be a charitable donation.  
> Of course  if the Home-owners own the building it would not be.
> 
> Becca--
> 
> Becca Brackett: Bassett Creek Cohousing member,
> http://BassettCreek.us      612-588-9532
> I am a retired MD, Unitarian Humanist!
> I am quilter, gardener, and naturalist.
> 
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