Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Normative definitions of cohousing

[Fred H. Olson (fholson]

Diane Cano   Ganas     Staten Island, New York   DHCano [at] aol.com
is the author of the message below but due to a problem it was posted
by the Fred the list manager: owner-cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org
--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------


I live in an intentional community which is not cohousing, but I subscribe to
this list because I find that IC's of all kinds share common concerns and
interests.  As I have said before, I believe that cohousing IC's contribute
positive visibility, a "high end" that helps make community living more
acceptable in the main stream, and a level of disposable income that allows
cohousers to try out and showcase elements that other IC's may not be able to
afford. 

It is members' commitment to community-building that simultaneously
differentiates cohousing from any well-designed condo complex, and identifies
it with other IC's.

Peace,

Diane Cano
Ganas
Staten Island, New York 


In a message dated 99-02-27 12:08:49 EST, floriferous [at] email.msn.com writes:

>To me, a key part of Cohousing is: The intent is to enhance community amoung
>people who are neighbors and to create relationships amoung themselves that
>are supportive and mutually satisfying.
>
>It is not about architecture, although some architects argue vehemently with
>me about this. Yes, architecture can enhance the relationship building,and a
>good site design will support the social efforts and intentions of the
>residents,  but it does not create the intent to do so, and the intent is,
>in my opinion, the first key to defining cohousing. Then, other elements can
>be used to contrast it to other kinds of community endeavors, for example,
>private home ownership,personal privacy, independent incomes, commonhouse
>and other shared resources, community meals, resident designed, democratic
>process, etc