Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: [C-L] Developers

[balaji (balaji]

Dear Bruce:  I appreciate your input, and don't find it at all
self-serving.  I only wish you could set up operations in Utah, where we
are looking for precisely the kind of development relationship you
describe.

Best of luck,

Chares
Utah Valley Commons Cohousing
www.utahvalleycommons.com

>
>
> I had not originally intended on responding to the developer discussion
> for
> fear of it appearing self serving. But, after reading the post from
> Francoise Paradis, I thought it made sense to chime in.
>
> Confession - I'm a real estate developer and have been for almost 20
> years.
> My first 10 years were spent with regional non-profits in Northern
> California, building affordable rental apartments & sweat equity ownership
> homes. Since then, the focus of my company has been developing green,
> entry-level homes for working families.
>
> I have been intrigued with cohousing since first reading Chuck & Katie's
> book almost 20 years ago. Over the years, I have followed the evolution of
> cohousing in the U.S. with great interest and now find myself with two
> properties in Northern California that would make ideal cohousing
> communities.
>
> Unlike a traditional cohousing community that starts with a group, or a
> developer driven community that is built and then sold to members, this
> model starts with the developer finding a good location, securing the
> land,
> and then assisting interested individuals in forming a group. From that
> point on, the community building & development process is pretty much the
> same as in traditional cohousing.
>
> The major hurdles for new communities seem to be locating and securing a
> suitable site, finding a seller willing to give the group time, and
> obtaining experience in development and community building. This model
> addresses those issues before the group is formed, which should save the
> group a great deal of stress, time and money.
>
> CoHousing Partners is assisting in group formation, will be providing
> resources to help with the community building process and will be an
> important member of the development team.  Since I don't have the time or
> inclination to reinvent the cohousing wheel, working closely with
> CoHousing
> Partners and their team of professionals seems to make sense.
>
> Knowing what we don't know is half the battle.
>
> Wish us luck!
>
> Bruce K. Shimizu
> bruce [at] cw-homes.com
>
>
>
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