Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Getting started guide / FAQ?

[Jerry McIntire (jerry.mcintire]

Jean, my experience participating in more than one group is that it takes
an average of three to five years. Or never! Some groups dissolve without
building.

As Ann said, profe$$ional help will save some time. I want to mention that
there is often an assumption that multi-family residences will be built, or
that all the homes will be built at the same time, or have the same
designer. That's one model of cohousing development. Another is the lot
development model. Lots are laid out, infrastructure and a common house put
in, and the lots are sold to fund it all. Then individual households build
their own houses. Whether owner-built or contracted, they can be unique and
the first ones can be built sooner than if the community waits for all the
members and their money to be on board. Which of course is the model we are
pursuing at Stone's Throw Ecovillage in Wisconsin.

Jerry


On Jan 15, 2015 6:41 AM, "Jean Foster" <jean.l.foster [at] gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Thanks for the great suggestions and offers of help and advice!  Looks
> like I'll be busy doing research over the next few months.
>
> One quick question: How long does it generally take to get a co-housing
> project completed from initial formation of a group to move-in?
>
> -jean-
>
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net>
> > Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2015 at 9:35 AM
> > Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Getting started guide / FAQ?
> > To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello Jean!
> >
> > Congrats on beginning your group and your upcoming adventure!  You’re
> going to love it!
> >
> > Have you read Creating Cohousing by Kathryn McCamant and Charles
> Durrette?  That’s “The Bible.”  Read it cover to cover.
> >
> > Have you checked out the CohoUS website?  Http://www.cohousing.org?
> Lots of good info there.
> >
> > Check out the archives of this list serve — abundant material on
> organizing your community.
> >
> > Plan to attend the upcoming national conference in Durham, NC this May.
>  ALL of you.  You’ll need a lot of bodies to cover the offerings at this
> conference.
> >
> > Also read Chris ScottHasen’s Cohousing Handbook.  Cover to cover.  I’m
> sure all these books are available either through the author’s website or
> via Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
> >
> > You may also wish to purchase a book and DVD produced by Mid Atlantic
> Cohousing targeted to developers looking to build cohousing.  It’s called:
> Developing Sustainable  Neighborhoods for Today’s Housing Market.  Book and
> DVD:  $25.00 including S&H.  You can get this through me.  Here’s link to
> Youtube for an overview of the DVD:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYD2sv8LmOE    The video and book were
> originally written and filmed but Zev Paiss and Neshama Abrahams.  The book
> was lated edited and updated by Sharon Villines.  All three are
> contributors to this list serve.
> >
> > One last word of advice:   start working w/ a cohousing professional as
> soon as possible.  You will save time, money and a whole lot of stressful,
> sleepless nights if you do so.  Right in MA you have one of the best
> professional cohousing teams available:  Krauss-Fitch architects:
> http://www.krausfitch.com/
> >
> > Have fun, Jean!
> >
> > And keep us apprised of your progress!
> >
> > Best --
> >
> > Ann Zabaldo
> > Takoma Village Cohousing
> > Washington, DC
> > Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
> > Falls Church VA
> > 703-688-2646
> >
> >
> > On Jan 14, 2015, at 9:15 AM, Fred-List manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Jean Foster <jean.l.foster [at] gmail.com>
> > > 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 and changing subject line.
> > >
> > > Digest subscribers, please delete most of quoted digest and
> > > restore subject line when replying.
> > >
> > > --------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have a small group of people in Massachusetts who are interested in
> > > creating a multi-gen, age-in-place co-housing community (on a lake!),
> > > ideally off-grid, large organic garden,etc.  but none of us have any
> idea
> > > where to start.  I was wondering if this list has ever compiled a
> getting
> > > started guide or has a web-site or book to recommend for us?
> > >
> > > I'm looking forward to learning from and contributing to this list!
> > >
> > > best,
> > > -jean-
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Alice Alexander
> > Executive Director
> > www.cohousing.org
> >
>
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