Re: Affordable Cohousing
From: Mark Frauenglass (WORKGROUP/MAILDATA/Mark%Acquilano_Leslie_Inc+pmcimail.com)
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 95 12:13 CST
Dan Suchman asked:

>I'd love to hear from readers that have a different perspective, or know of
>other means of creating affordable cohousing in the US.

and  Frank Boosman wrote:
>.... For example, a cohousing society could be formed which would
>take donations from members to subsidize a certain percentage of units in
>new cohousing developments for low-income purchasers or renters.

A warning from a 'different perspective'.  We wanted to have a home we could
afford.  But be careful WHERE your group plans to build.  Highline Crossing
chose a beautiful site; however it is in a development that has
architectural restrictions.  Since we rezoned from 'light office' to
'multifamily residential', there were no guidelines in place for our design.

The Architectural Design Control Committee seemed to make up the rules as
they went, holding us mainly to 'high end commercial' standards.  We were
not allowed any wood on the building exteriors.  Asphalt shingle roofs were
rejected.  We ended up with brick and stucco exteriors, concrete tile roofs,
clad windows, metal fascia and vinyl soffits.  Beautiful to look at, and we
convinced ourselves that maintenance free exteriors were worth it.

But are they?  The ADCC restrictions added $10K to $15K to the cost of each
unit.  Our 2 bedroom projected cost went from $96K to $131K by the time
escalating construction costs and an enclosed remote garage were added (no
carports were allowed).  I don't make a lot of money - we barely qualified
and now are strapped with payments that are over 1/3 of my income.

All our dreams of providing lower cost units to encourage diversity are out
the (clad) window.  Some people were forced to drop out of our group due to
the high costs.  Any hopes of the community subsidizing some of the units
were also lost as we struggled to make it ourselves.

So, the warning.  Be careful where you build.

Mark Frauenglass
Highline Crossing, Colorado

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