Cohousing-L Mailing List: partnering with or giving development over to a developer

[Liz Ryan Cole (lizryancole]

Pinnacle Cohousing at Loch Lyme Lodge (Lyme, NH PinnacleProject.info) is 
finally moving "Beyond the Planning Board" (seven years and it's not over yet, 
but we are going to build at least 12 units as soon as we have 10 of them 
spoken for - which is exciting! and we hope to move in during the spring of 
2014, before our summer season at the Lodge)

We are talking to a developer we like, but could really use some perspective 
from other cohousing communities (this developer has worked with affordable 
housing, but not with cohousing) about cost issues and shared decision making 
issues.  Can anyone who has worked with a developer (rather than doing it all 
yourselves) or has thoughts about working with a developer reply to me off 
list?  Phone calls are fine too.

Thank you.  liz

PS - It even occurs to me that we could see if an experienced developer who is 
not local would be willing/able to partner with a local developer who doesn't 
know cohousing.  We have had some very good help from individuals who have 
developed one more more cohousing communities (not in New England), but who are 
not actual "developers" from a bank's perspective (who are these people? Why 
should we loan them any money?).  Perhaps this is a failing - could we create a 
network of more local developers who Wonderland could take under their 
wings/partner with, etc?




Liz Ryan Cole
lizryancole [at] me.com
Pinnacle Cohousing at Loch Lyme Lodge
Lyme, NH
Home 802.785.4124
Work 802.831.1240
Lodge 603-795-2141