Cohousing-L Mailing List: [no subject]

[William Johnson (0005638134]

Subject: Intentional Community in Denver

Brent Rollings wrote:
> Shepherd's Gate is a three story brick building. It was origionally built as a
> duplex in 1911. When we acquired the building almost four years ago, it had
> beensubdivided intoseven units and was being rented as apartments.  Each unit
> has a kitchen, bathroom,living, and bedroom space. One unit on the main floor
> is our "Community Space" and isused in common by all of us.  Five of the units
> are occupied by families and one unitis used for transitional housing or guest
> space.  We have a common laundry room in thebasement and storage area. 

> The purchase price was < $147,000 >.  There were five families in the original
> group.  > Four ofthose wanted 'ownership' in the house, and one wanted to live
> in the community for twoyears and then leave.  The family who did not want to 
> own part of the building came to aconsensus with the other families about what
> would be a fair 'rent' for their space. The mortgage was split four ways. Each
> family had a different amount to put down, soeach of the four have different 
> monthly payments based on that. 

> Each family pays a monthly fee ($275) on top of
> mortgages that goes into a common fund. House repairs, and other things to be
> used in common are purchased out of this fund on a consensus basis.We have
> bi-weekly business meetings during which we discuss these types of things.


> Shepherd's Gate house cost 


A 3-story big enough for 5 families?  plus Guests? Sounds good.  

Were there lots of start-up/fix-up costsassociated with the home's age?
      (wiring, plumbing upgrades, etc.)

The common fund sounds like a great idea.
Do you find that having it encourages spending it?



William Johnson
5638134 [at] mcimail.com