Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Commonhouse: Hanging Out

[Elizabeth Stevenson (tamgoddess]

This also brings up a topic I discussed with several people at the
conference. I think people spend too much money on common houses that are
too large. Some feel institutional and most are empty most of the time. Ours
is less than 2500sf, and it feels homey and personal. I got alot of positive
feedback from the people on the tour, and I think some are reconsidering
their grandiose designs. Just because you *can* build a big fancy common
house, doesn't mean it's the best use of money and space.
-- 
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento California
> From: Howard Landman <howard [at] polyamory.org>

>> * Our common house, for specific site reasons, is also at the end of the
>> site, so that many of us cannot look out our windows and see what's going on
>> there.  I've always imagined that more centrally-located CHs have more
>> hanging out, but perhaps that's not true.
> 
> Our CH is also located at one end of the site.  This was, I believe,
> primarily for the convenience of the developer, since the CH must exist
> before they can legally begin selling units, and it's easier for the
> builder to start at one end and work their way down.  I also believe
> it was not the best location.  Common areas should be at the center.
> 
> We also have no TV in the CH, even though our library of videotapes is
> there.  :-)  Overall, our "sitting room" with comfy sofas and a fireplace
> and a piano seems to get a fair amount of use, but the main room (dining
> area with hardwood floor) gets very little outside of meals, meetings,
> and planned events.
> 
> We're currently working on making other "places" to hang out in, such
> as a sitting circle under a shady tree.  All of these so far are done
> in temporary ways so we can see if we like them.
> 
> Howard A. Landman
> River Rock Cohousing, Fort Collins CO

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