Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Colonizing vs. Cohousing

[seniorcohousing (seniorcohousing]

---- Sharon Villines <sharon [at] sharonvillines.com> wrote: 
> 
> On Nov 22, 2006, at 4:11 PM, <seniorcohousing [at] cox.net> wrote:
> 
> > Has anyone else noticed that there is a glut of condos on the market?
 
> It would be interesting to see if the building would support one 
> apartment for a guest suite that building residents could rent for 
> guests.

I lived in a co-op in NYC that had just this, a small studio apartment set 
aside for guests.  It was booked solid every weekend and all holidays.  At $50 
a night, it was a real deal for NYC!  Since we also had a community kitchen, 
dining/meeting room, and (yes, with red flocked wallpaper!) a bar, not to 
mention a small store that sold basics and take-out comfort food meals, plus a 
nursery school/daycare center, it was perfectly set up as cohousing--except 
that it was populated by several hundred ornery cusses (I include myself in 
that category).  What evolved naturally was several "cohousing" groups, loosely 
working together via committee for special constituencies.  The parents of 
young children were very active in the daycare, while older residents were 
strong in support of hiring someone to bring them meals daily.

This is exactly what I'd like to see happen for our small group of seniors in 
Providence, RI.

I went to a downtown condo development recently.  Obviously designed for Young 
Professionals.  Really good deals on apartments, though.  A common 
kitchen/bar/pool table room with sitting area (not very well designed for 
privacy as it was right in front of the doorway), a gym, small outdoor pool 
with hot tub--not quite what the average senior wants, but, hey, worth 
investigating.  Close to public transportation, good restaurants, theatre, and 
not too far from College Hill.