Cohousing-L Mailing List: Community Size: Number of people

[Rob Sandelin (robsan]

What, in your opinions my dear and gentle internet friends, is the 
optional number of people to live with to build and maintain a 
community?  Number of people, not "units".
Our community of 30 people will almost double to 55 or so in the next 
couple of years as we finish development of our second phase.  We are 
designing but not selling 4 of the phase 2 lots, holding these back for 
now at least to let various alternatives emerge.   Our commonhouse 
dining space is designed for 90 people, cheek to jowl, with 50 being  
comfortable.  We have 38 acres so there is plenty of land and we have 
lots of potential for rental opportunities.  Questions:
1.  Is 55-60 enough people to maintain the community or should we 
expand to maximum capacity of 80-100?

2. How many is too many? At what point do you start losing touch 
because there are too many people?

3. How did your group decide on how many people?

4.How many people do you (or have in the past) live with and how does it feel?

Rob Sandelin
Sharingwood