Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing and UU Churches

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

G/P Looney-Burman <burloon [at] fresnocohousing.org>
is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
after deleting quoted digest.
--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------

Fresno Cohousing, aka La Querencia, had its beginnings with a presentation
at the UU Church of Fresno in 2004 by Katie McCamant.  Two UU members,
Lynette and Lorenzo Bassman, had recommended Katie to be considered as the
architect for the new UU Church, knowing that the architectural firm that
Katie and her husband, Chuck Durrett, owned, was experienced in green
building.  Katie was hired by the church, and, shortly thereafter, the
Bassmans asked Katie if she would make a cohousing presentation to the
community at large during one of her trips to Fresno.  The Bassmans
advertised locally and about 85 people from the Fresno/Clovis area attended.
>From that group, about 12 households continued meeting (and meeting and
meeting...!).  With McCamant and Durrett hired as the architect and project
manager, we were on our way!  We moved in September 2008.

Totally coincidentally, La Querencia is right next door to the new UU
Church.  We have a gate through the property fence that gives the LaQ
residents who are also UU members a shortcut to church.  About 1/3 of our
residents are UU members.

During our marketing efforts (which are ongoing, due to the housing market
crash in 2008--great timing, right?), we frequently had to explain to
prospective residents that the UU Church and La Querencia were not connected
in any formal way,  and that you did not have to be a UU member to live
here.  We still have to give that message.

We are the only cohousing community in California's Central Valley, and we
are the first residential community in Fresno to be recognized by the City
of Fresno as a "Fresno Green" project.

We are a multi-generational community, with our youngest resident being 8
months old and the oldest being 82 years.  Cats, dogs and kids of all ages
and sizes are welcome here!  We still have homes available for rent or sale.
We have about every profession represented except a vet and a dentist!

Do visit our website at www.fresnocohousing.org and see our great community!

Pat Looney-Burman
Resident of La Querencia, where the Oscar Party Potluck starts at 4:00 pm!