Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Lindy Sexton (lindy.sextoncohousingco.com) | |
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2017 14:10:16 -0800 (PST) |
Charles Durrett recently sent emails to Carmel Partners, the developers of the Wellington Apartment Project in Denver, CO, to stop using term "cohousing" to describe their project because it is not cohousing. He has created a list of criteria, currently specific to senior cohousing, but which gives the basic criteria that a cohousing community needs to have to be called cohousing. The criteria include: 1. Co-developed, co-designed, and co-organized with the group. First and foremost the future residents are an integral part of creating the future community. 2. A private home but also extensive common facilities that supplement and facilitate the daily living. Common facilities are perceived as an extension of each resident’s house and supplement each home. *There must be practical excuses to bring people together – otherwise they are just “back at the house.” *Common meals at least once a week. *There is no more timeless means of sustaining community than breaking bread together*. Designed to facilitate aging in place with: a. Good acoustics for all ages b. Ample lighting for all ages c. Ergonomic details d. Universal Design principles (but stairs are OK) e. Co-care, mutual support systems, and interdependence during illness or convalescence through community, and cooperation. 3. Designed to facilitate naturally-oriented community interactions over time. *Not auto-oriented, but every electric wheelchair, Segway or other personal vehicle necessary to keep the site auto-free except on rare occasions*. 4. Completely resident managed. The residents *–* who are the owners of their own homes *–* in a cohousing community have the privilege and responsibility of determining how they will organize themselves and the work (and play) of managing their own lives and homes. 5. No hierarchy in decision-making. Cohousing is about cooperation rather than type of ownership. And, as it turns out, cooperation transcends ownership type. 6. No shared economy. Unlike that of the commune or sometimes a co-op structure, cohousing community members do not share personal income. In order for cohousing to continue to be an effective housing model, the criteria must be upheld. Especially the point that future residents are involved in the design, development, and organization process. This is one of the most important pieces of cohousing because it represents the future of that project (if a group knows how to work together through the process, they will work well as neighbors.) Without this list of criteria, a project doesn’t have the backbone needed to sustain the community for generations to come. It doesn’t mean that they’ll fail, but they probably won’t be as effective as a community. To learn more about the criteria, visit SAGEcohousinginternational.org/certification-of-senior-cohousing. Also MDA wrote a blog earlier this year on the meaning of cohousing. Please check it out here: http://bit.ly/2j0PbBs Chuck encourages everyone who cares about cohousing to actively reach out to developers and organizations like Carmel Partners, sharing with them the definition of cohousing. Working together, we can create a network of checks and balances that ensures that the integrity of cohousing stands. Thanks, Lindy Sexton Culture Worker Outreach and Marketing Coordinator McCamant & Durrett Architects The Cohousing Company <http://www.cohousingco.com> Tel: 530.265.9980 Fax: 530.265.4398 241 B Commercial Street Nevada City, CA 95959 Buy the Senior Cohousing Primer <http://www.cohousingco.com/products/senior-cohousing-primer>for the ones you care about this holiday season and we'll gift wrap it!
-
Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Lindy Sexton, December 6 2017
-
Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Philip Dowds, December 7 2017
-
Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Jenny Guy, December 16 2017
- Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Reede Stockton, December 16 2017
- Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Jenny Guy, December 16 2017
-
Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Jenny Guy, December 16 2017
-
Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Philip Dowds, December 7 2017
Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.