Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Celebration: Coho in the mainstream?

[Rob Sandelin (Exchange) (Robsan]

I think the key to cohousing successfully being co-opted by the mainstream, 
for profit developers, is that the defining characteristics of cohousing be 
clearly articulated in the marketing and mass culture advertising to clearly 
separate cohousing from typical condos.

Many existing condos could be marketed as Cohousing in that they have common 
elements right? Some even have pedestrian designs.   I think there are key 
elements of cohousing which would need to be in place before It would be 
identified as cohousing, the most important of which, in my thinking, is 
that difficult to define word, Community.  In my travels, when I ask people 
why did you join x cohousing project, the concept of community is the 
commonest anwser.

Here is my list, in order of importance, of key defining elements, yours 
will probably be different:

A cooperative intention among the residents
Resident control of the management
Community dinner
A commonhouse and/or other shared common facilities
Resident participation in the community design


I left out several issues of architectural style such as pedestrian, social 
interface of the houses etc because I don't think these as key defining 
elements, not because they are not important.

I think you can have all the other elements, but if you are missing a 
cooperative intention, then all you have is a condo.  That's why I put it 
first on my list.  In my opinion, it is the cooperative intention which 
makes cohousing what it is and worth having.

I have come to beleive that community dinner is also a core thing which 
defines cohousing as a community rather than a condo.  Having experienced it 
now for three years I do not see how you could have a community without some 
sort of shared meal, it is the crucible of community.

Rob Sandelin
Puget Sound Cohousing Network
Sharingwood Cohousing