Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Maintaining affordability

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Dec 27, 2003, at 1:20 PM, M.Studer wrote:

> It seems more sustainable (in the sense that the home sustains its
> affordability throughout it's lifetime)  to me to actually make a home
> affordable by building it in a less expensive manner rather than
> artificially subsidizing affordability.

One thing we have discussed here in the past is the role of renters in 
the community. The vast majority of our renters have been very involved 
in the community AND having rental units brings the younger age groups 
into the community -- the 20-somethings who are not even interested in 
investing in housing. So if you can build rental units, this provides 
income for the family with the unit or for the community if these units 
are in the commonhouse.

One strategy for building a commonhouse might be to build in rental 
units that rely on the commonhouse facilities. Perhaps having only 
small kitchenettes in the rooms, no laundry facilities, etc. Single 
room occupancy. Later if the community needs the room and the 
commonhouse is paid for, the rooms can be converted to community use.

Sharon
-----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

_______________________________________________
Cohousing-L mailing list
Cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org  Unsubscribe  and other info:
http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L