Developer driven coho
From: Collaborative Housing Society (cohosocweb.apc.org)
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 10:03:53 -0600
I think that developer-driven cohousing could work, for the same
reason that I believe that working with our neighbours where ever
we live is the best way to build good community.

Whether a cigar-chomping captialist *or* a socially-minded
cohousing group, any developer can build the physical spaces -
real front porches, closely clustered houses, losing the front
garage/driveway, etc., - and the common physical amenities that
are the hallmark of cohousing.

What seems to be essential, however, is that buyers have to be
convinced that they are not just buying a "unit", but are joining
a community.  This is an issue regardless of whether residents
are part of the site design process or not.

Do you implement restrictive screening, ensuring that future
members pass all the tests?  Or do you simply accept that the way
you live *your* life, the friendly, open nature of your community
(reinforced by the design) will encourage newcomers to
participate and co-operate - and that if they're scared off by
seeing a bunch of people sharing meals, etc., then so much the
better.

As the N-Street folks (and others) keep trying to tell us,
"community" is a very messy business, completely at odds with the
consumerist commodification of housing that still pops up even in
cohousing visions.

Consumerism is all about putting my needs first, satisfying what
*I* want out of life, making sure that no one else gets more than
me.  It is a world reduced to transactions rather than
interactions, and can be as much a part of resident-led cohousing
development as any other place we call home - counting the number
of hours volunteered as the defining criteria for community
mmebership, for example.

The key seems to be, in my opinion, in finding ways to discourage
this commidification of community, no matter who builds it.

Russell Mawby
cohosoc [at] web.apc.org



  • (no other messages in thread)

Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.