Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Re: Garages

[Fleck (foam4u]

I haven't seen this addressed so thought I'd chime in.

At Jackson Place (central Seattle) we have 2 levels of underground parking
under the common house (we're on a steep hill). 27 units on 1.25 acres with
one parking space each. This garage cost about $1 million dollars (Yes,
1,000,000!). Each space has an adjoining open storage space approx 6'x6' and
there's a large bike work room/storage space. A few people have enclosed
their storage with cabinets. Most members get through the common house every
day for some reason - even though it's over in the corner of the property.

We're in a "marginal" neighborhood. We displaced a lot of junkies,
prostitutes, homeless panhandlers, etc when we started building. We know
we're being watched pretty much all the time.
There's been on-street car vandalism and theft and some graffftti.

The garages have been targeted 4 TIMES in the last 2 years for robbery.
Attempted break-ins have also occurred (broken door handles & crow-barred
protective panels) Four (2 from the garage) cars have been stolen and at
least 3 bikes, various electronic stuff people were storing and lots of
camping gear. We've spent thousands upgrading our security, locks, lights,
etc. Never has a window been broken - the cops say these guys don't like
cuts or noise.

No one has been injured and all cars were recovered in fairly good
condition. Bye-bye bikes. Our workshop is in the middle of the project and
hasn't been touched. We're not being specificly attacked. There's an unusual
amount of crime happening right now as the neighborhood changes from vacant
lots to a better residential/business environment.

I'd recommend that urban cohousing groups include a line item in their
budget for security enhancements. And I'd recommend they plan on some kind
of storage for each household. (We cut the cost of built-out storage lockers
as a budget savings).

I'd also be interested in hearing about other groups real solutions to
similar crime problems.

Thansk and good luck,
Anne



-----Original Message-----
From: cohousing-l-bounces [at] cohousing.org
[mailto:cohousing-l-bounces [at] cohousing.org]On Behalf Of James Kacki
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 4:21 PM
To: Developing cohousing - collaborative housing communities
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Re: Garages


I agree, a workshop is very necessary.  But if the workshop is packed
with a car (i.e. a garage) its not a very efficient workshop. And
co-housing is about alternate communities, not -'same old -same old', so
I would tend not to include garages , especially suburban-style attached
garages.  But I suppose its up to each community to decide for
themselves.  freedom of choice.  All the best!
James

Sharon Villines wrote:
> On 2/12/04 2:45 PM, "Elizabeth Stevenson" <tamgoddess [at] comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>>This is a no-brainer. Every community should have a workshop! I have seen
>>many bigger than ours, but even a small indoor space is essential for some
>>projects. It's also great for the contractors who come to do major
projects.
>
>
> Our workshop has been used many times by contractors who are doing
building
> for units. They use it for construction of bookshelves and cabinets,
> painting, sawing, etc. Also to store their tools so they don¹t have to
pick
> up every night when they leave.
>
> I had a full wall of bookshelves built in and they were cheaper because
the
> cabinetmaker could set up equipment in the workshop to do the final
trimming
> of the molding rather than going back and forth to his studio or having to
> bring an assistant because he had to set up a miter(?) saw in the parking
> lot and couldn't leave it unattended.
>
> Sharon


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