Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Coho Milestones & Media

[Gary Kent (garykent]

Hi Stella.
Below is a summary of our progress so far. Is this what you are looking for
and are Canadian communities included in the magazine?

Gary Kent
Roberts Creek Cohousing (aka Creeky Commons)
Roberts Creek, BC
tel. 604-885-2971.



The Roberts Creek Cohousing group has been in existence in one form or
another since 1997. This past year has seen a real coalescing of energy and
vision resulting in 6 equity members (have put in an initial $2500) and two
very dedicated 'associate members' in addition to a large number of
interested people who like to keep up to date on our activities.

The first two months of 2001 has seen a real leap of faith in that we have
just signed an option with the vendors of 20 acres right in the middle of
the village of Roberts Creek, acreage that is one of the nicest on the
Sunshine Coast. It is a two minute walk to the heart of Roberts Creek. Also
within walking distance are the Roberts Creek Community Elementary School, a
restaurant, café, the post office, health food store, library, midwifery
clinic, traditional Chinese medicine clinic, massage practice. A short walk
leads to the public beach (sandy at low tide) and pier.  Public transit runs
right by the property.  The land is south facing, gently sloped and Clack
Creek runs along the eastern boundary. It's lovely.

We do not yet know what the site design of our community will be but most of
us have some lovely pictures in our head, fantasizing about all the great
possibilities before us. We intend to have a mix of styles: cottages,
duplexes/triplexes and single family homes. We intend to incorporate as many
financially feasible  'green' materials and methods as is possible.  One
main feature of the community will be our common house where community meals
will be available two or three nights per week.  Some other possibilities
for the common house are a library/quiet space, kids room and guest
facilities. Other shared facilities will be a shared woodworking shop (one
of our members is a furniture maker), organic vegetable gardens, fire circle
and so forth.

Costs? Ballpark figures of $115k (800 sq ft duplex)  to $175k (1200 sq ft.
single family home) have been suggested in a feasibility study that was
prepared for us by Community Dream Creators (Bob Mann and Ronaye Matthew)
last year but we really can't be sure at this early stage.

We have very wisely hired the above consultants to steer us through and
shorten what can be a very lengthy process. So far they have proven
themselves invaluable and are also delightful people.

So in these early stages we are a confident and determined group. We have
gone through a fair amount together and are handling a complex process
pretty effectively.

We expect to have twenty or more households so extend an enthusiastic
welcome to anyone who would like to join us in this wonderful experience.

For more information check out our website: www.cavens.org/cohousing/ which
can also be accessed through www.cohousing.ca . The Canadian cohousing site
and the American/World site at: www.cohousing.org are full of worthwhile
information.



Who are we?
? Coordinator of the local community school, baker, lover of literary
fiction and poetry.
? Custom furniture maker, winemaker, and bicyclist. .
? Business person/owner of the best coffee shop on the coast and mother of
three children
? Operation room nurse and mother of 2 boys and her engineer/draught person
mate. Green, green, green.
? Family with a community planner, teacher at an alternate school, and three
children -    organic gardeners and devoted to a 'small footprint'.
? An 80 year  old grandmother who wants to tread lightly on the planet.
? Lesbian, academic, committed to balancing heart, mind, body and spirit.
? Art therapist and member of an acappella singing group.
? Painter/singer/editor/traveler who loves nature, ideas, clouds and ocean
beaches and who gets riled by injustice and racism.
? Social activist, lesbian, and quilt maker.
? Residential designer, perpetual owner-builder, sailor, naturalist,
community enthusiast
? Mother of two, wife of two, grandmother, animal lover, landscape architect
? Eco-friendly Montessori preschool teacher who loves to dance
? Computer programmer who loves trees and humble architecture
? British school girl, Irish Quaker, Canadian physiotherapist and minister's
wife. Glad to find a quiet haven.
? Numerous four legged domestic animals

:

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