Cohousing-L Mailing List: Affordable Cohousing Model?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

This might be a good model for affordable cohousing. A non-profit, member-owned 
cooperative community in which members have rooms, not apartments, and share 
common space — like three living rooms. Meals 7 nights a week.

Not for families, probably, but could work if children were limited to a 
certain number depending on facilities.

http://www.padmapper.com/show.php?type=0&id=83406080&src=main

I once investigated starting a group home in a large — as in mansion-like — 
home on the banks of the Hudson. Late 19th century Victorian. The rooms were 
very large, more like suites, with built in shelves and sinks. Large shared 
bathrooms.

The first floor had a huge kitchen and dining room, several sitting room areas 
including an enclosed wrap around sitting porch. Full basement with a skylight 
across one side of the house. Since the house was on a hill, the basement was 
partially above ground.

A large den on the first floor for a guest room or transitional room to be used 
when one person was ready to move in but another wasnt' ready to move out.

The cost was manageable with 8 suites rented, five on the second floor and 3 on 
the third floor. it also had a stand-up attic.

Something like this with studio apartments — Murphy beds, pullman kitchens — 
could work well.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines, Washington DC
"Behavior is determined by the prevailing form of decision making." Gerard 
Endenburg