Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: What's wrong with communes?

[Elizabeth Stevenson (tamgoddess]

Good question. I think that it's because it takes so much work, and we put
so much energy into developing cohousing. It may not be how we want to be,
but it does matter what other people think of us. And if people are trying
to attract buyers, it's hard to be philosophical about the press taking digs
at your community.

As for banks being willing to lend money, etc., yes they are, but it's
strictly on their terms. It's no coincidence that most cohousing communities
are built as condos. It's very difficult to do otherwise. The next step in
acceptance would be to have specific loans for cohousing, where individual
communities' bylaws could be legally binding, and groups could choose how
they want the units financed, i.e. cooperatively, or whatever.

Cohousing is not yet well enough established that we can afford to be
complacent about the press and how we are portrayed.
----------
>From: "Eileen McCourt" <emccourt [at] mindspring.com>
>To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
>Subject: RE: [C-L]_What's wrong with communes?
>Date: Fri, May 11, 2001, 5:27 AM
>

> But why is it important to worry about being dismissed?  People want to live
> in cohousing, the banks seem willing to loan money.  Do you think that would
> change if cohousing were described as a commune, or is it your experience
> that the above conditions of support don't exist?
>
> --eileen
>
> Eileen McCourt
> Oak Creek Commons
> Cohousing in Paso Robles, CA
> emccourt [at] mindspring.com
> http://oakcreekcommons.org
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org
> [mailto:cohousing-l-admin [at] cohousing.org]On Behalf Of Elizabeth Stevenson
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 3:09 PM
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_What's wrong with communes?
>
>>> > What's wrong with communes?
> -------
> I think the problem is with the question, not the answers. It's not that
> there's something wrong with communes, per se, but that the perception of
> them is used by the media as a shortcut to explaining cohousing that is
> derogatory in nature and precludes the reader from making an informed,
> unbiased opinion. It's sound-bite journalism, and reduces cohousing to an
> idea that can be dismissed easily enough for people to re-affirm their own
> choices, even though they may be deeply dissatisfied with their lack of
> community.
>
>
> --
> Liz Stevenson
> Southside Park Cohousing
> Sacramento, California
>
> tamgoddess [at] home.com
> http://members.home.net/southsideparkcohousing
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