Cohousing-L Mailing List: Cohousing Costs and Budgets

[SPINTUS (SPINTUS]

I'm a member of the Cornerstone Cohousing group, currently looking at a 
site in Arlington, MA (Boston area).  We've been having some discussions 
lately, with more to come, undoubtedly about the costs of the project so 
far, and what is to come.  We have what to others might seem like an 
enviable situation in that we are receiving help (consulting, group 
formation, architectural services and some financial services) from the 
Cohousing Center (TCC) in Boston.  This has meant that we have shared the 
risk and the costs of getting our community off the ground with TCC, 
while they try to get their cohousing consulting business off the ground. 
(Actually, we plan on putting our community ON the ground, but that's 
another matter). 

 We are at a decision point in our contract, having reached a crucial 
point in one phase, and begin on the verge of negotiating the next phase. 
We are having discussions about how much it has cost so far and how much 
more it might cost, as well as what it would have cost without the help 
and subsidy of TCC.  When I think about other groups, I constantly wonder 
how you were able to afford all the costs of making your community 
actually happen.

I'm looking for estimates or information (privately or on the coho 
network) of what sorts of costs your project had up to the point of 
negotiation at P&S as well as how you spread those costs among your 
members.  That is, how much of your total house cost did you all put in 
in this phase.?  Did you share costs equally or in some other way?

I'm also interested in costs for the next phase--from P&S to actually 
owning the land, too, if anyone has that data.

Thanks for whatever help you can provide.

Susan Pintus,
Cornerstone Cohousing, Arlington, MA