Re: Owner-business use of common space
From: tamgoddess (tamgoddesscomcast.net)
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 08:14:25 -0800 (PST)
If you have non-profit status, that is legally endangered when you have a 
for-profit business in your commonhouse. Even taking in money for meals is 
considered profit. I think allowing the kinds of commercial uses people have 
been talking about is worrisome and you should definitely have a lawyer look 
into it. I'm assuming laws in different states vary.

Completely apart from that, I don't think fencing off parts of common land and 
having a daily business run out of the common house is a good idea. It changes 
how people feel about the space. I wouldn't even want a room in the CH set 
aside for someone's private use. 

We had a fence once and ended up taking it down. It was theoretically for the 
children's safety, but they could get around it, and we hated it. Taking it out 
was a pain in the ass. I'd think long and hard about that sort of thing before 
I'd agree to it.

Liz
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Robert Heinich" <robert [at] enocommons.org>
> Here at Eno Commons, we have a member who renting a room in the Common House. 
>  
> The room has a door with a lock.  So why the room is exclusive, the use of 
> that 
> room does not prevent use of the other areas of the Common House.  We use 
> this 
> income stream to pay for improvements to the Common House upstairs.  The 
> member 
> create a proposal detailing some of the parameters, the community approved it 
> and day-to-day details is handled by the Common House committee.  I believe 
> everyone is happy with the arrangement.
> 
> We did have friction when another member held workshops which required the 
> exclusive use of the entire Common House on the weekends.  The reason for the 
> friction was the time of exclusive use of the Common House would be when 
> others 
> would likely use it and the community derived no income/benefit from this 
> restriction.  A Common House Usage proposal should be on our Jan 2007 
> business 
> meeting agenda.
> 
> Your prospective member should outline what his expectations are and what 
> benefits the community could expect from this use.  If your group feel the 
> benefits are worth the restrictions, you can work on a deal.  I also 
> recommend 
> an expiration date on the agreement.
> 
> I hope this helps.
> 
> -Robert Heinich
>  Eno Commons Cohousing
>  Durham, NC
>  where folks are practicing for our annual No Talent Show
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "S Fassnacht" <fassnach [at] ssc.wisc.edu>
> To: <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 9:54 AM
> Subject: [C-L]_ Owner-business use of common space
> 
> 
> > One of our prospective new members currently has a business that they  
> > would bring with them to the community were they to move in.  This  
> > business would require use of a large percentage of our outdoor  
> > common space for up to 3 hours a day during business hours.  The  
> > business would also require installing a 4-foot fence to enclose that  
> > space.
> > 
> > We are wondering if other communities have had experience with home  
> > businesses that use common elements, and if so, how it all worked out.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Stephanie
> > Village Cohousing, Madison WI
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: 
> > http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
> > 
> > 
> >
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: 
> http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
> 
> 


Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.