Cohousing-L Mailing List: affordable cohousing

[Mary English (mary.english]

Unfortunately the 'caste system' was very apparent and constant during the 15 
years of the low income CROWN, rent to own program, here on the 5 units of our 
26 units. 

 Only 2 of the five were able to get their bank loans to buy the 50% left on 
their morgages.  2 more have been kept in place for a short time span longer 
with a 3 year  interest only loan, with the 2 homes paying only condo fees and 
taxes, and the full balloon payment due at the end of that time. The result 
will be the turn over of the units at that time at market value. 

Not what we had anticipated or hoped for.  Mary
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> I wonder how common the 'informal caste system' due to varied
> social-economic situations of the members is among communities?  Any
> others' can speak to that?

I suspect people who are interested in cohousing are neither interested in 
being the noble poor or the flamboyantly wealthy. Neither is likely to throw it 
around.

Affordable when the issue is continuous subsidies from the rest of the 
community, still sound like a problem down the line. Being idealistic now is 
not always workable later.

Affordability by reducing construction costs is different.

Sharon
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