Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Regarding Affordability in Cohousing

[Rick Gravrok (rick.gravrok]

Have you heard of Generations of Hope where teens are adopted, and the
seniors are there with and for them?

It’s good for everyone.

http://ghdc.generationsofhope.org

Rick Gravrok
Monterey Cohousing, Mpls (St Louis Pk), MN

Rick Gravrok
St. Louis Park, MN
952-926-6655 (landline preferred)
iPhone 952-220-8153

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 6:27 PM, Virgil Huston <virgil.huston1955 [at] 
gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> Gayle,
> I like this idea. I have the grand visions of a multigenerational
> community that has young families all the way to hospice and
> everything in between, where elders are valued and may be productive
> as long as possible, as well as being taken care of when that time
> comes. Helping with children while the young adults help with sick and
> infirm, for example. Being teachers in homeschool situations (or after
> school) while parent(s) work, like a hamlet in old Europe (these were
> more extended families I guess). You can buy entire villages in Spain
> and hamlets all over Europe. I don't think this is really cohousing as
> I understand it. It has many aspects of commune, but each unit has its
> own living space. I see much more required working and eating and
> hanging out together. Including even enterprises on the place where
> members make a living. This could also make it affordable. Not sure
> what this model might be. I have followed this list a long time and I
> see cohousing as more of a gated community country club style thing
> than a "real" community. I do not mean to offend by this, different
> strokes for different folks, and I might be misunderstanding. I liked
> a shared interest concept, too. I am an old(er) hippie and my wife and
> I are pretty isolated. I would love a place to live where it would be
> cool to get together to couchsurf a Dead and Company show, have a
> small stage where people can jam, etc. There are many variations of
> the special interest thing.
> Cheers,
> Virgil
>
> On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 11:35 AM, Lynne Markell <lmarkell [at] rogers.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Good advice.  Form the group first and learn how to work together. If
> you decide to form a co-op, you might be able to get more help as
> co-operatives helping co-operatives is one the main principles.
> > Don't be the "owner", instead be the "organizer" or the instigator.
> > If you find that there is not enough interest or skill to have the
> residents manage  the housing, think about other organizations that could
> partner with you to make it happen.
> > Good luck.
> >
> > Lynne Markell,
> > Lmarkell [at] rogers.com
> > (613) 842-5222
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Aug 23, 2016, at 9:45 AM, Sharon Villines <sharon [at] 
> >> sharonvillines.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Aug 22, 2016, at 9:49 AM, Gayle Alston <galston1954 [at] gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> This idea around affordability is very near to my heart.  I have hopes
> of
> >>> converting a 1960's cement block motel into a solo senior cohousing
> >>> property in a small (pop 150) town in rural south Georgia.  My
> thinking is
> >>> that each person will have a room that is rehabbed with a murphy bed,
> >>> living area, frig/micro/toaster.  Common area will include a home
> theater
> >>> and cafe and 35 acres of wooded area with a fairly extensive raised bed
> >>> gardening operation.
> >>
> >> This sounds very nice. Check with senior cohousing communities about
> what you will need in the long run.
> >>
> >>> I am also considering opening up the front section of
> >>> my nearby (100 yds) home for common area so people can use the kitchen,
> >>> dining room, and den.
> >>
> >> This is the only thing that makes me pause. Some communities with
> members who have a different living situation have difficulties with
> supposed power and privilege issues. And it does make it different for you.
> You could feel out of things and be treated like “the owner” even when you
> are not.
> >>
> >> Avoid being the sole developer. Form a group as soon as possible so you
> aren’t the only founder.
> >>
> >>> I would like to make it available to seniors like me... who are happily
> >>> solo but may not have planned so well for retirement so have limited
> >>> monthly incomes.
> >>
> >> I repeat, make your cost parameters clear from the outset. Construction
> costs escalate very easily. The list of people who have found themselves
> priced out of cohousing after working with a group for months and years is
> long.
> >>
> >>> I would like to intentionally recruit members who will
> >>> bring different skills for the ongoing development of the property for
> the
> >>> good of all.
> >>
> >> Skills are important. That is your human capital. But it has to be done
> carefully so as not to intimidate prospective cohousers.
> >>
> >> After we moved in, I realized how much the skills of the individuals
> who live here makes a difference in how the community develops. We have
> from the beginning, for example, lacked a person who could manage the
> kitchen. It requires both organizational and people skills. While we have a
> large workshop, we are lacking a person who works there often and will also
> manage the tools and clean up. Set some expectations and remind people to
> pay attention to them.
> >>
> >> Sharon
> >> ----
> >> Sharon Villines
> >> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> >> http://www.takomavillage.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >>
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