Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Urban Mixed Use Development

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

Regan Conley wrote:
> How do mixed use buildings work when the housing is owned condos and
> not rented by the corporation that owns the commercial parts?   Perhaps
> I'm not even framing the question properly, but it's  essentially who
> owns (and controls) what and how?

After living in Manhattan and hearing of all the complicated ownership 
agreements that develop over centuries of land ownership in a very 
desirable area, I will say with out reservation that just about any 
combination of ownership you can imagine is in operation somewhere -- 
for good or bad. Much of the land in the West Village for example is 
now owned by any of the buildings sitting on it. It's owned by 
something called the Soldiers and Sailors Children's Home, something 
that hasn't existed for many decades. Realtors and lawyers raise up 
great warnings of disaster anytime someone buys a coop there but 
whenever another 100 year lease is up, they just buy the land. Property 
values are easy to determine and they just negotiate payment.

You can work out anything that works for you. Just be sure to have an 
experienced real estate lawyer participate in the negotiation.

The other thing I would say about commercial space downstairs is to be 
sure that you have adequate buffers against sound transmission (music 
store) and fumes from a food place. I once had a friend who lived over 
a bakery and was miserable until they figured out how to stop the 
smells of fresh bread and pastries from inundating her apartment 24/7. 
Ask others living in that situation what you should watch for.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Building Community: A Guide to Creating New Neighborhoods
http://www.buildingcommunity.info