Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing Garage and Security

[Mary English (Mary.English]

Anne,  
 We are also trying to work on both storage and security problems.  
  
We have only carports, and much less storage space in the houses than the 15% 
the Pattern Book suggests.   From the begining we have had clutter accumulate 
on porches,  decks, and somewhat in the carports.  (My contribution to the 
carport clutter was 15 bale of hay for the llamas.) Some members have taken 
stuff out to storage rental units.   I bought a neighbor's  old garage  to keep 
some things in.

We have a garage space in our workshop but have never been able to use it to 
work on a car, because it's full of bikes, garden equipment etc.  Ditto the 
dirty crafts room in the common house. Stuffed full  of stored items.

 This week the contractor is starting on the long awaited storage units under 
the edge of the carports.  It will run about  $1000 per unit. Everyone will 
breath a sign of relief when they are done but, it also means that one of the 
two parking areas will no longer be visible from the homes because of the new 
wall of storage units.  

We have already experienced irregular binges of multiple car breakins in the 
carports.  One of the guys saw one in progress, went out, got knocked down. 
Fortunately only several sutures needed. The assailants were never caught.
  
 I'm concerned that now, we may face both car and carport storage unit 
breakins.  I am in favor of trying cameras.  At the 9 unit apartment I lived in 
before cohousing, we had numerous carport breakins.  I put up two prominent, 
but fake, surveillance cameras (no signs)  and the breakins stopped.   So as a 
result of that positive experience I would like to put up real cameras with 
videotape, and warning signs, but not everyone is sure they would be 
comfortable with that.

We have had neighborhood watch signs in our windows since we moved in, and now 
also arranged to get neighborhood watch signs for the street. 
 
The safety and security committee is still in the process of evaluating things, 
so we would appreciate any info or experience anyone else could add.



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