Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Construction Monitoring/Liaison: Wash. DC Needs Advice

[PattyMara (PattyMara]

In a message dated 5/18/99 3:18:39 AM !!!First Boot!!!, 
herbettel [at] coopamerica.org writes:

<<      Please reply with any advice, experience, resources and leads you may
 have. We especially need input re. whether this function is best served by a
 single paid professional, a pair of knowledgeable team members/volunteers,
 or a 3-4 person subteam.  We know this can be treacherous and a tricky
 balancing act >>

>From my experience at Tierra Nueva Cohousing, central CA coast, I would 
strongly advise a single paid professional Project Manager.  He or she will 
be worth their weight in gold.  Find someone who is knowledgeable in the area 
of local building code with good political connections and terrific 
communication skills.  This person also needs extraordinary talent in group 
communications, because he/she will be reporting to your group.   Then set 
some crystal clear boundaries.  So that the project manager be the single 
point of contact between your group and all the professionals.  No 
exceptions.  So much murkiness can be avoided if your group is represented by 
a paid project manager who's sole duty is to look out for the good of the 
group.  Pay well, maybe with a built in incentive for additional money if 
project comes in on budget/on time, etc.  

Good luck,
Patty Mara Gourley