Cohousing-L Mailing List: Philadelphia Area CoHousing

[Ed Lantz (elantz]

Blaise Tobia <tobiabj [at] drexel.edu> wrote:

> ...There is currently no Philadelphia area cohousing project 
> anywhere near 
> the stage of buying land...

I belong to a group that is meeting this spring in the Philadelphia area to
discuss forming a community in SE PA.  Our working name is Creative
Community, and we presently have an email list with 17 people and are
sharing our bio's, visions, likes and dislikes (to join email
PranaDancr [at] aol.com).  We are a diverse group of growth-oriented individuals
and families who want to surround ourselves with opportunities to interact,
grow, work, play, celebrate and create in a loving, nurturing community
setting.  There is no particular spiritual theme, but some of us belong to a
local Interfaith church that honors all religions and all paths
(www.libertynet.org/pebble).

Our initial idea was to purchase an operational Bed & Breakfast and a
surrounding residence or two, and offer themed get-aways such as wellness
weekends.  The B&B would serve to employ some community members, and a
community center would offer workshops, community meals, etc.  We also
wanted to lease space to a local wellness center that would offer massage,
yoga classes, and other wellness modalities for B&B guests, community
members, and the public.  Since some of us are artists and musicians, we
also discussed having a retail outlet for our art (perhaps in town), and a
performing arts center.

The basic idea is now expanding due to interest, and I think we have the
"critical mass" to consider new cohousing construction.  There are many
existing historic buildings in the area, however, and we still may want a
converted barn for a community center and possibly a farm house for some
dwellings.  Most of us are also in tune with the concepts of ecovillage and
permaculture.  We don't want to tear down a beautiful wooded site to "put up
a parking lot."

The unique feature of our Creative Community is to encourage employment
opportunities on site.  Our group includes working artisans, computer
experts, marketing professionals, and hospitality managers.  We have not
dropped the B&B idea, and also want to provide art studios and some business
offices.  I am told that the cohousing principle is in conflict with any
sort of business operation (comments, please).  We foresee any
community-owned business operation as non-profit, however, with income
benefiting the community and its members.  Other privately owned businesses
would lease community-owned space.  The idea is to allow people to work
close to where they live and not have to commute to Philadelphia or the Main
Line technology corridor.  We see this resulting in a saner lifestyle,
provided the businesses thrive.  I am sure that our vision will have to
adjust to the realities of zoning, financing, etc., but for now we are very
much in the envisioning phase.  

We have not chosen a site or even a county yet.  We are considering
locations from upper Bucks county through Chester county including French
Creek and the Brandywine valley, and west towards Lancaster county and Amish
country.  Right now we are researching property values, local laws, etc.
The idea is to not be too far off the beaten track, yet have a beautiful
setting with woods and a pond or creek.

I thank those who have already offered consulting, and welcome anyone
experienced in cohousing who would like to address our group.  We will be
meeting regularly in Doylestown, PA starting in early May.

To join our list, please contact PranaDancr [at] aol.com.

Mail info to me:
Ed Lantz
701 W. 2nd Ave.
Parkesburg, PA 19365
610.857.2898
elantz [at] spitzinc.com
edlantz [at] aol.com