Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Re: financing doesn't define cohousing

[Racheli&John (jnpalme]

** Reply to note from "Rob Sandelin" <floriferous [at] msn.com> Sun, 13 May 
2001 22:42:57 -0700From Racheli

I actually think there are some aspects where
having to deal with banks makes a significant difference.

One issue which came up when we were designing our
community was that we needed to include certain amenities
in order to satisfy the banks.  (For example: you couldn't
not have a bathroom on the second floor.  I'm not saying
would have gone along without having a bathroom there,
my point is that even if we wanted not to have it, we didn't
have the choice).  There are other such examples.  This
leads in effect to more expensive and upscale units - something
which has influenced the composition of the group. (Many 
people who wanted to join couldn't afford it).

Another issue, at least as important, is whether a group can
decide not to accept certain people.  In some types of
communities, often new people live in the community for
half a year or more, and then there is a procedure by which
they are accepted as full members, or not.
We had one woman who wanted to join who didn't seem
to be competent to live on her own.  We haven't done any
serious research on this, but from asking around a little bit,
my impression was that if she really wanted (and was able 
financially) to join, it would have been tricky to keep her out, 
because we are not allowed to discriminate.

Any thoughts on that?

R.


 



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