Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Snail mail privacy

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Jan 13, 2008, at 10:05 AM, Raines Cohen wrote:

> At Swan's Market Cohousing, where I used to live, we didn't have any
> mail slots besides the official individual-unit mailboxes downstairs
> outside by the parking lot door, so there was no way to leave
> something for someone who wasn't around other than sticking it on or
> by their door, exposed to the elements, or to leave it out in the CH
> with a note.

In addition to individual mailboxes for our 43 units, we also have  
cubbies where we can leave things. Ours are small, like the mail  
sorters in many offices. I think this is too small because we can't  
return things like large books or a pair of tennis shoes left in the  
sunroom. Or leave our own notebooks there for meetings so we don't  
have to carry them back and forth. Changes of clothes and diapers for  
infants and toddlers are left in the kids room on the bottom shelf of  
the diaper changing table, but there are times when room for things  
like this in the cubbies would be nice. Also to redistribute mail that  
is mis-delivered, which is not infrequent.

I would recommend cubbies at least 10 inches square and 12" deep, 14"  
if you can afford the space, which can be considerable in larger  
communities. But down the road, I think cubbies are really essential.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing,Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org