Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: RFPs and developers

[Larry Miller (larry.miller]

Is there a creative middle ground here?  Is there any way to include both 
approaches?  What is
the 'Right' way to conduct practical business in our specific domain?
 
Yes, there is a middle ground. Several people have already suggested it. A 
good, thorough
contract defines everything between two parties and is the basis of a 
professional relationship
between the cohousing group and a developer. Typically, the contract would be 
generated after
selection of the developer as it is a detailed document which involves 
considerable time and
money to develop. Our contract ran to well over 100 pages. Neither party would 
want to make the
investment in working through that document until there is a high likelihood 
that the project
will move forward. Consequently, the contract occurs after the selection 
process has been
completed.

My extreme concern over the use of an RFP is the fear that you will get what 
you ask for, not
what you really want or need. Good developers bring much more to the party than 
simply an
ability to deliver what you ask for. They can be instrumental in helping you 
decide what you
really want and also play a major role in putting the financing together.  

I have been involved in both writing and responding to many RFPs in my 
lifetime, although none
in a construction project. They are most suitable when you have a specific goal 
in mind and are
willing to allow the contractor to choose the method of implementation. In 
contrast, a cohousing
project is likely to be one where the community wants considerable involvement 
in every aspect
of design and construction. An RFP makes this very cumbersome, if not 
impossible.

Larry Miller
Oak Creek Commons