Re: Affordable co-housing?
From: Ann Zabaldo (zabaldoearthlink.net)
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 01:43:21 -0600 (MDT)
Just FYI -- our 650 sq. ft homes here in Takoma Village (Washington DC) cost
$92,000 on the "early bird special."  About $95K for later arrivals.  It's a
one bedroom w/ a little den.  Some of them have decks.  They were in HOT
demand.  It's actually a nice size for a single person.   In Denmark,  some
places we visited were smaller than this w/ multiple people living in them.
In the US, we're just used to so much space.  And stuff to fill it.  If well
designed a space this size could be quite nice.

BTW -- "Affordable" in DC where the average income is $100k is about $72k
for a family of four.  (I think I remember this correctly.)

Ann Zabaldo

Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC. -- America's
Hometown!
zabaldo [at] earthlink.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Maggi Rohde" <maggi [at] intranet.org>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2002 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_Affordable co-housing?


> Jennifer -- "affordable" is a difficult concept to market.  For one
> thing, it has social implications -- and for another, it seems to
> mean something specific in numbers in regards to income and median
> housing price.  So we try to stay away from it.
>
> Our community will be the third of three in a 20 acre parcel of
> land.  Our 42- to 46 units (yes, really) added to Sunward's 37 and
> Great Oak's 37 will make a truly astounding multi-community village.
> Perhaps because of the timing, or the existing communities, or
> something else I can't fathom, we are attracting mostly single
> folks.  Some, like me, make less than $40k a year.  In a housing
> market like Ann Arbor, where you can't buy a crummy house for under
> $200k, the concept "affordable" means we are aiming at several small
> 1-bedroom units for about $100k.
>
> Now, that's small.  Small means small.  650-750sqft, no greater.
> Many people, even singles, may decide that they can't live in a
> space that small.. but I say affordable housing has to compromise in
> some way.  Either we give up quality, or give up space.  I prefer
> the latter.
>
> And, even a $100k home requires a down payment of $10-$20k, which
> for many families seems next to impossible.  I agree with Rob's
> comment that cohousing in the U.S. is pretty much limited to those
> who can afford (through frugal living or making money) to own a
> home.
>
> -<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-
> Maggi Rohde, Library/Media Specialist
> Allen Elementary School, Ann Arbor, MI
>         maggi [at] intranet.org
> -<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-
> "So much to find out about; so much
>  to look forward to! I'm quite
>  dizzy with anticipation! ... Or
>  is it the wind?"
>         - the whale, "Restaurant at
>           the End of the Universe"
> -<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-
>
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