Cohousing-L Mailing List: Design of individual units

[Joani Blank (jeblank]

I almost used the subject heading Customizing Costs!, but decided against
it.  This flurry of postings about individual choices for individual
houses, leads me to remind you what groups have found over and over again.
That is, you can customize your houses as much as you want, but it costs a
lot.  So, you say, well, if a household can afford it, why shouldn't they
pay whatever else it costs.  Problem is that customization of just a few
houses costs EVERYONE more, not just those who customize. This is the
rationale behind having a limited number of upgrade options too.  In Old
Oakland we didn't get any options unless at least 3 or 4 households wanted
them.  so, f'rinstance, I got my white porcelain kitchen sink instead of
the standard stainless steel one, because several other households wanted
one too.  On the other hand, I didn't get my sunpipe (a small l round
skylight-type contraption that can brings skylight through an attic or into
a downstairs room of a two story building through a highly reflective tube)
because I was the only one who wanted one. (I'll be installing it later if
the historic preservation people will let me pierce the roof one more
time--I'm hoping they will because I want to put it in a place where the
roof thingy can't be seen from anywhere but the very highest floors of the
next door 26 story hotel).

Joani Blank
Doyle Street CoHousing/Old Oakland Cohousing