Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: common work spaces

[Stephen Hawthorne (hawthorn]

On Sat, 3 Sep 1994, Laura C. Johnson wrote:

> Do any existing or planned cohousing projects incorporate
> common office or workshop or studio spaces?  

Blue Heron Farm is planning a community office building.  A number
of us are psychotherapists, massage therapists, dancers and musicians
who also teach.  We're planning a building near the road, away from
the heart of the community, where we can all see clients and students.

It will have several small counseling type offices, a large movement
space, and some practice rooms for musicians.  

We are considering whether the "community office" ought to be there as 
well, or whether it ought to be in the community house, more central to the
lives of most community members.  We'd be interested in others'
thoughts and experience along these lines.

In addition, how to allocate the costs:  we're a coop, so we own all
the land and the buildings-to-be in common, but not all members will
use or perhaps even benefit from the office building.  Is it a community
cost which recoups the outlay through rents on a usage basis? Or is
it like a barn or workshop, used a lot by some, little or not at all
by others, owned and paid for by all?

Do other communities have proceedures for work at home or using the
community facilities for earning one's livelihood.  We'd be interested
in learning from you.

Thanks, 
Stephen Hawthorne
Blue Heron Farm
Chatham County, NC