Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Sharon Villines (sharon![]() |
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Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:59:55 -0800 (PST) |
At Takoma Village the very first formal meeting of committed people was October of 1998 and the first move-ins were November of 2000, and that was with delays caused by soil contamination and discovery of more oil and gas storage tanks underground than predicted. it was a huge advantage that the developer already had an option on the land. The developer came to Ann Z as the local advocate for cohousing to see if she thought a cohousing community would work there. She called a meeting in 1998 and I think something like 35 people showed up. (Her specialty is marketing.) The developer hired her to assist in forming the community. We also had a grant from HUD to hire an architectural student whose specialty was green construction. All those things helped enormously. There were no huge missteps except the delays caused by unknown conditions, which are always present. From participation in other developments, it is is amazing that even the permitting was done in that period of time. Permitting can take a long time. An experienced, respected developer can speed this process. Other information gleaned from working with a failed group and a successful group: 1. Be very clear with your developer what is your responsibility and what is theirs. If you convince them to use green technology with which they are unfamiliar and are trusting you, who pays when it doesn't work? 2. If someone in the group has land, be clear from the outset that that person does not have greater control over the community than anyone else. If possible do a formal option to purchase, just as you would with any other property. The same for anyone who wants to be the architect, etc. 3. Clear communications between the group contact with the developer and the committed and potential members. If the backyards were discussed as 10 feet and for unpredictable reasons they will now be 9 feet, tell everyone immediately. This will drive some people crazy because its so much email, but that is better than having them feel cheated or deceived when they move in. 4. If you don't use one of the known cohousing developers, find a developer by talking to banks. They know who brings in projects on time and within budget and will trust you more if they know the developer. 5. Do not allow customizations -- see the archives on why not. 6. Use professionals. 7. Use professionals. 8. Use professionals. One kind of professional Rocky Corner found was a "housing specialist." He helped them with all the upfront stuff like regulations, permitting, government subsidies, etc. He knew where the money was and how to get it. And he invested in the property. I don't know how you find this kind of person elsewhere but he was very helpful to them, particularly with affordable housing. Sharon ---- Sharon Villines Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC http://www.takomavillage.org
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ?, (continued)
- Message not available
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? Jean Foster, January 14 2015
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? Ann Zabaldo, January 15 2015
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? Jerry McIntire, January 15 2015
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? Muriel Kranowski, January 16 2015
- Re: Getting started guide / FAQ? Sharon Villines, January 16 2015
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