Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: home-based offices as safety risk to children

[Laura Fitch (lfitch]

We have a home office building at Pioneer Valley Cohousing.  We had a
therapy office in it (for a couple of years), it has also been run out of
the therapist's house.   It never even occurred to me to feel fear for my
children.  It was so low key and non-invasive, and I totally trust all the
business folks in our community.  Why can't your community just ask the
therapist to agree not to see sex offenders and child abusers at his office?
I'm quite sure you will find that the therapist's work is rather mundane.

The office building is a HUGE asset to the community.  Feel free to come
visit it and see for yourselves.

Laura E. Fitch, AIA
Principal Architect

Kraus-Fitch Architects, Inc.
110 Pulpit Hill Road
Amherst, MA  01002

413-549-5799
413-549-7918 (fax)
lfitch [at] krausfitch.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelly DeMeo" <shelldemeo [at] comcast.net>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 1:38 PM
Subject: [C-L]_ home-based offices as safety risk to children


Hello--

Our group is grappling with the decision of whether or not to allow
home-based businesses.  There are two very distinct points of view on this
issue.  One side (actually only one or two households) wants the cohousing
community to be a safe, residential community where one doesn't have to
worry about strangers walking near our children.  The other viewpoint is one
of a thriving village, where people flow in and out of the community all
day.  This side argues that it is actually safer this way, because it
provides more eyes watching during the day, as opposed to an empty community
during work hours.

We have many businesses that want to open including yoga studio, art
classes, home-schoolers, landscape architects, violinists, etc.  The hot
button item tends to be the therapy offices  Surprise! We have a lot of
therapists in this community and a few of them would like the option to
provide therapy in their home.  The opposing households feel this is a
distinct threat to the children of the community.

I am sure others have struggled with this issue.  Our group would appreciate
any advice on how to reach consensus on this issue.  Comments on real life
cohousing offices, safety, and kids would be helpful.

Thanks.

Shelly DeMeo
Rocky Hill Cohousing
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