Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: attached vs detached

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Jul 2, 2007, at 2:07 PM, James Kacki wrote:

> Does being so close cause
> interpersonal or societal conflicts that might not arise in detached
> housing.  (I understand the green (environmental) and energy  
> advantages
> of single building construction, but this question is about the
> interpersonal implications). Anyone in that type of co-housing care to
> comment?

Good acoustics is important of units are attached. Dump money into  
those walls.

And have play areas for older kids away from living areas.

Otherwise, the proximity is nice. I don't have to charge across a  
lawn to pop in to my neighbor's house. I can go see any one of  
upwards of 50 people or go to the CH without trudging in the rain. I  
think about that when I look at site plans with single family or two  
family units spread out all over the place. How does it affect their  
relationship to the common house? To the people at the other end?

Even in buildings that were not cohousing, I had closer relationships  
with people on my floor than with any of my neighbors in detached  
housing neighborhoods I've lived in. All these buildings had rules  
about what could be done and what couldn't be done -- like leaving  
your things in the hallways or what you could store on a balcony.  
Frankly, I wish we had more of these and there would be fewer conflicts.

But you can't have relationship without conflict. And no matter how  
far apart the houses are, you can still see them. And hear them. I  
don't think detached houses are a solution to conflict.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org