Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Large units for people with kids

[Howard Landman (howard]

In terms of unit sizes, I'd like to argue for the concept of "and one
extra large one".

We had at least one family drop out because the largest unit just wasn't
large enough.  They had a large dog and wanted about 2 to 3 times the
yardspace as normal.  We couldn't give it to them.

At River Rock we had A, A', B, C, and D units.  What I really needed was
an E unit.  I originally thought we were going to have to buy two units
and punch a door through the walls, but fire regulations wouldn't even
allow that.  So we put down deposits on two separate units.  Fortunately
(?!) a divorce reduced my family size from 3 adults and 3 children to
2 adults and 3 part-time children.  Then we fit into a D unit.  If there
had been one extra large unit, I would have jumped on it.  In fact we
probably would have had multiple families wanting it.

The general design principles of "not all the same size" "and one extra
large one" should probably be in A Pattern Language, but they're not.
They are metaprinciples that apply to many different things, from
bedrooms, to bathroom stalls in a public place, to cabinets, to chairs.
(The pattern Different Chairs is about as close as APL comes.)

The drawbacks are, you can't split the architect's fee over multiple
units, and the egalitarian bias of most cohousers will make them
uncomfortable with the idea of someone owning "the biggest" unit.
The first is not too serious because we're talking about an owner
who can afford a large unit already.  The second ... well, you have to
judge for yourselves.

Another possibility is to have some *very* small units, perhaps only a
bedroom/bath and a kitchen/eating room.  These could be used by seniors,
by teens needing to be close to home but also some independence, by
in-laws.  They would be more affordable and, with a separate deed, able
to be sold by a family that no longer needed them.  Most cohousing
developments make a lot of noise about affordability, but few have
anything like this.  (Some banks get nervous loaning money on units
that small.  But they get nervous about a lot of things.)

> Perhaps "expandable" is a more useful concept. Unfinished second floors or
> basements. Small bedrooms with built in loft beds for children.

Yes, although some people (like us) were forced to build out completely
(i.e. finish the unfinished basement) before we moved in.  Now we've got
twins due in January and we have nowhere to expand.  It's going to feel
pretty cramped in a couple of years when they get mobile.  And we've
got a D, the largest unit offered.

I'm all for "voluntary simplicity".  It's the involuntary simplicity
that gets to me ... :-)

        Howard Landman
        River Rock Cohousing
        Fort Collins, CO
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