Cohousing-L Mailing List: Meeting in Orlando area on March 18 at 6PM

[Dave Finnigan (davefinnigan]

Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested.

CO-HOUSING IN ORLANDO
A 21st Century way to live

2005 Organizational Meeting
Thursday, March 18, 2005 at 6PM
402 Elderberry Court, Celebration, FL 34747
information 407-566-0381 - ask for Dave

Sponsored by
Central Florida Cohousing Foundation (CFCF)
A National Heritage Foundation

Where will the community be built and who will be there?
We are looking for land within a half hour of Orlando and within 
commuting distance of Disney, Celebration and Kissimmee.  We are 
looking for a variety of residents in terms of occupation, race, sex, 
sexual orientation, national origin, family composition, ability, and 
interests.

How many families will live there?
Our goal is 35-40 households.


What will it cost?
We would assume our least expensive small family homes would be at 
least in the $200,000 range.   Homes will run the gamut in size from 
one bedroom up depending on need.  Households will hopefully vary in 
make-up as we will welcome non-traditional and traditional families.

What’s in the Common House?
Our thoughts so far include - a big dining room and state-of-the-art 
kitchen; laundry room with triple load machines for bedspreads and 
comforters; a stage for performances; a recreation room with a mirrored 
wall for dance and martial arts classes or a pick up game of 
basketball; a children’s play room; a common library; a theater with 
large screen TV; a craft, wood, metal and pottery shop; an auto bay 
with a pit; a computer room and community office with a T-1 line and 
color laser printer; and other facilities the residents may want.  
Please join us and let us know what you want in our Common House.

Where will cars be parked?
All parking is on the periphery of the property or in garages or 
car-ports behind the homes.  Cars are prohibited in the common area, 
which is our “village green.”

What about schools?
We can locate near public schools and/or run our own home-school system.

What outdoor amenities and outbuildings might be on the property?
•        Vegetable Garden and compost system;
•        Dog playground;
•        Pond with small dock and canoes or rowboats;
•        Gazebos for shelter and hanging out;
•        Playground for small children near common house;
•        Sand Volleyball and Bocce ball court;
•        Citrus orchard;
•        Koi pond and fountain;
•        Picnic Tables scattered around property;
•        Courtyards, trees, landscaping and pathways between buildings;
•	One central “boardwalk” that meanders through the town and which all 
homes face;
•	Storage room for tools, lawn mower, edger, lawn and garden chemicals 
away from the homes;
•        Music Studio with sound insulation away from the homes;
•        Sauna and hot tub located at a community bathhouse.

Is there an over-riding philosophy?
This is not a commune.  There is no dominant religious or philosophical 
theme, except cooperation.  We hope to attract neighbors with a variety 
of views.  So far, with only four families, we have Catholics, 
Atheists, Taoists, Protestants, Agnostics, and Animists.  The only 
requirements are that you want to live in a village, rather than a 
neighborhood, and that you are friendly and want to interact and 
cooperate with your neighbors.  In surveying existing co-housing 
communities we find that residents tend to be progressive and open 
minded, tolerant, and conciliatory toward others life-styles and points 
of view.  If you are a misanthrope, a loner or a curmudgeon, or if you 
have very strongly held ideas of how other people should live their 
lives, please do not apply, you will not be happy around so many 
convivial people.

What will the “dues” be?
It is estimated that Cohousing dues will be at least $1,000 per 
household per year.  Taxes on the homes should be $2,000 per year and 
up.

How do I get in touch or stay in touch?

We will start our website soon
Meanwhile please join – 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/centralfloridacohousing/

We are planning to meet every third Thursday evening in the month for a 
pot-luck supper until we begin construction.  After that we will meet 
more often.  Our first scheduled get-together will be held at the 
Finnigan household on March 18, 2005 at 6PM at 402 Elderberry Court, 
Celebration 34747.  Enter Celebration from Rte 192 on Celebration Blvd. 
 Turn right on Golfpark Drive, and left on Elderberry Court.  For 
further information try Mapquest or call 407-566-0381.


Dave Finnigan
Juggling for Success
402 Elderberry Court
Celebration, FL 34747
407-566-0381
770-329-1152 (cell)
http://www.icanjuggle.com