Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: "Making" Community

[J . Massengale (J.Massengale]

>>-get out there-- use your eyes....

As I said in our last discussion, a picture's (sometimes) worth a thousand
words....where do we get to look at what your promoting?

There is no such thing as a "scientific evaluation/research report," because
housing developments are never absolutely good and usually not totally bad.
There is subjectivity in all judgements of them, including what questions are
asked and how they are asked.


And about this architectophobia you have...

>>-- if you believe in hiring "professional experts"...then hire the best
(sick) Professional Experts. You would hire your Cost Engineer/Project
Manager FIRST--then with the
assistance of your Cost Engineer/Project Planner, you would establish the
maximum budget (for purchasing and developing land and construction of homes
and shared facilities) as well as the criteria for the type of Architect you
wish to hire. The Cost Engineer/Project Planner would find and assist you in
choosing the Architect. The chosen Architect would report to the Cost
Engineer/Project Planner.

Good design, since the time of the Greeks and the Romans, has been a
combination of Commoditas, Firmitas and Venustas -- Commodity, Firmness and
Delight. You have changed that to one criterion, cost control. It makes me
suspect that your evaluation reports are weak in several areas.

Please give one good reason why a Cost "Engineer" (reminds me of Sanitation
Engineers, are they professionally qualified and registered?) is better
qualified than the future homeowners to choose the architects.

John Montague Massengale, AIA
Architect & Town Planner