Cohousing-L Mailing List: Sharing Economy/Truly Capitalist

[Robert Tabak (rtabak50]

In the Philadelphia area, where I am part of a group working to establish a
co-housing community, many apartment buildings are condos but some are
coops.  Off the top of my head I can think of three fairly large co-op
apartment buildings (one each in the northern inner-ring suburbs of Melrose
Park [Cheltenham Twp] and Rydal;) and one in  inner-ring Bala Cynwd [Lower
Merion Twp] and that is with no research.

This form of building ownership/control is less common in the Philadelphia
area than in NYC. I have been told by one real estate agent, though I have
not confirmed this, that "no one" will issue a mortgage for a coop in the
Phila area and that one must pay cash to purchase a unit.

On the idea of shared spaces (for example a kitchen/living room) in one
larger house, perhaps a mansion -- we looked at this. In some locales this
will be a zoning challenge.   In the city of Philadelphia (as I understand
it), no more than 3 unrelated people/couples/etc can share a house unless
zoning has been changed from single family to multi-family -- a complicated
process that often involves neighbors who may oppose this.  I'm not sure
about suburban zoning rules. One idea was floated in our group of three
families/singles from the coho group living in one large existing dwelling,
and the co-ho common space being in that house with others in the community
living in single-family homes in the neighborhood and coming over for group
meals or social gatherings..  A major disadvantage is that most
Philadelphia single-family housing is multistory and those of us concerned
about aging in place want one-level living with elevator access to any
upper floors. So those "other [existing] houses" don't work.

Bob Tabak
Wissahickon, Philadephia