Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: to build fences or not to

[Louise Rausa (louiserausa]

Hi Eric,

I've been reading your writings with interest.  I now live at Stone Curves
CoHousing in Tucson, but had been previously affiliated with Two Acre
Wood in Sebastopol and was going to move in to Yulupa CoHousing
but got priced out.

Anyway,  Stone Curves, which is considered city infill,  has had similar
difficulties with theft and a bit of vandalism during the one year it's been
occupied.  Although we will be getting MAJOR gates soon, some of the
perimeter areas have rebar ones.  They not only look artistic and are
considered attractive by many, but are inexpensive, you can completely
see through them and they do the job well.  I'm not sure if there are photos
on the website -- StoneCurves.com -- but you can take a look.

Good luck!  Please tell David Ergo that a former client says hello.

Louise Rausa


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eris Weaver" <erisw [at] sonic.net>
To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ to build fences or not to


> During development the majority of our members wanted to avoid the "gated
> community" look and advocated remaining open to the adjoining community.
> Many people don't lock their doors, left lots of stuff out in the open in
> their carports, etc.
>
> We are in a small town...but we are right downtown, near four bars, and on
> the major highway that comes into town.
>
> The first thing that happened was children and dogs being able to run into
> the highway - so we put a fence and a gate at that end of the property.
>
> Then we started to experience a lot of foot traffic through our community
> - people taking a shortcut through our parking lot, riding fast on their
> bikes through the pedestrian paths, etc.  We had a few incidents with
> weird people. Then folks started to advocate for some fences, and we
> fenced the parking lot end of the property to cut down on the shortcuts.
> We're still working on a fence - a rather artistic one at that - along the
> bikepath/creek side of the property.
>
> Next came vandalism and theft - items small and large disappearing from
> carports. Cars stolen and broken into. Bicycles, barbecues, garden carts
> stolen. Now we have a security committee looking into what kind of options
> may make sense (lighting, etc.)
>
> I wish we had just fenced the whole property in the first place. But not
> all my neighbors agree with me...some are advocating for security cameras,
> while others still don't lock their doors.
> ***************************
> Eris Weaver
> FrogSong, Cotati, CA
>
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