Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Fwd: the failure of cohousing in the united states

[S. Kashdan (skashdan]

Hi all,

Here's my two cents on this.

I would be the last to idealize cohousing. As far as I am concerned, like
everything else, it needs working on. Problems with process and social
relationships, both before move-in and after, are, as far as I am concerned,
really the biggest challenges. We all come from a fragmented society, and we
all have a lot of learning to do, and sometimes things don't work out well.

Although affordability can also be a real problem, some groups are
definitely working on that.

 A significant number of Jackson Place Cohousing  residents are not in the
top 10 percent of income earners. One of our difficulties is reconciling the
need of those member-owners with lower incomes to keep expenditures down and
the desire of those with higher incomes to spend money on various
improvements and amenities. And, there are definitely a variety of
additional problems when people of different generations with different life
experiences and different capacities and disabilities, from different
economic, social, and cultural backgrounds live and attempt to cooperate
together, including differences in expectations and desires and resources,
etc.

And, I know of some other folks, like me, in other cohousing communities,
who are definitely not in the top 10 percent of earners.

At this point, Jackson Place Cohousing is financially solvent, and we aren't
having a high turnover rate of residents, who cannot maintain the cost of
their homes.

We actually have residents from some diverse backgrounds, although not as
many as we might.

Jackson Place Cohousing is located in the heart of urban Seattle, on 1.5
acres, in a neighborhood  that is both ethnically and economically diverse.
We have some small garden plots near most of our homes, and some land that
is dedicated to public gardening by interested individuals, and assisted by
the city with water and expertise. People grow some vegetables and fruits
there, and share some with the meals program and with other neighbors,
although being self-sufficient with respect to food is not one of our goals.
We have many small local stores and stands that sell produce in our area, as
well as being able to buy produce grown by public housing residents during
the summer months. And, we are dedicated to supporting local enterprises.

We have both townhomes, which are more expensive,  and apartments, which are
more affordable. And the townhomes have studio-type apartments with separate
entrances that can be  and are rented. Some townhome owners also rent some
of their bedrooms in the main part of their homes. Renting enables some
townhome owners to afford the cost, and allows some folks who cannot afford
to buy to live in cohousing. Our renters participate as much or as little as
they like in the life of the community. Most participate to some degree, and
some participate a lot. The only thing they can not participate in is voting
on financial matters.

We share a city block with a development dedicated specifically to
affordable homes for first-time homebuyers. And, we have welcomed them to
use our common house for their group meetings.

We also host the group meetings of another cohousing group, which is
dedicated to affordable housing, still in the process of securing their land
here in our area.

We also host the monthly meetings of the local neighborhood community
council in our common house, engage in neighborhood clean-up days every
three months, host other activities of community concern that are open to
the public in general, and donate a little of the proceeds of our meals
program and some individual members' labor to the local food bank.

Best,

Sylvie Kashdan
skashdan [at] scn.org
Jackson Place Cohousing
800 Hiawatha Place South
Seattle, WA 98144
www.seattlecohousing.org