Cohousing-L Mailing List: Common function areas in neighborhoods?

[Richart Keller (richart.keller]

Just a thought...

One of the most important aspects of cohousing is the Common House.  It is
a key facility which differentiates cohousing from other types of housing,
neighborhoods, and communities.  By providing facilities in which residents
interact in various ways--including the mailroom,  the kitchen/dining area,
meeting rooms, laundry room, playroom for kids, etc. etc.--it is an
important vehicle for building and sustaining social capital within the
community.

Are there ways in which such facilities could be provided within existing
or new neighborhoods or housing developments?

Perhaps this would expand opportunities for building community and provide
an alternative to forming groups who are not able to gather enough folks to
create a full-blown cohousing community.

Such facilities could also strengthen the sense of community in some
cooperative housing and other non-cohousing neighborhoods.  They might also
provide a way to strengthen affordable housing developments...

Rick




Rick Keller
Pioneer Valley Cohousing
Amherst MA