Cohousing-L Mailing List: Vanilla CoHo

[BPaiss (BPaiss]

Dan,

I absolutely agree that this form of communication is often times difficult
to use especially given the delayed time between clarifications. Let me
attempt to say it again differently.

About the Base Model:
I challenge ANYONE to come up with a satisfactory defination of Base Model.
 As I and at least one other have mentioned, consensus decision making in
integral to creating a cooperative neighborhood.  Not for every decision but
the intent is critical.  Even using Chuck and Katie's four point outline:
resident participation, intentional neighborhood design, extensive common
facilities and resident management, the "options" tend to blend with the
givens depending on local factors.  As you know Winslow is a cooperative
because that is what you needed to do to get funding.  That would not be an
option in Colorado unless you wanted to add a few years to the process.

About Resident Participation:
In my experience, as soon as you get resident involved - they want to be
involved, really involved.  That complicates the equation because people come
this with their wants and needs.  This can be everything from passive solar
design to a big screen TV in the common house to watch Monday night football.

About Spec CoHo:
If a developer is willing into take the risk, make the vast majority oif the
decisions, and hope people will buy what is built we will see cohousing
neighborhoods built FAST.  What they will be like to live in, and what kind
of social interaction happens among the neighbors will be interesting to
discover.  Unfortunately I have my doubts about that.

Creating a Balance:
What many of us who are immersed in this movement are trying to do is to find
a balance where the process is easier, faster, and more acceptable to a wider
populaton, while still keeping the original intent and "heart" of the concept
fully alive for those who choose to live in this kind of neighborhood. Right
now we are still asking many of the questions instead of providing answers.
The process continues.

In Community,

Zev