Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Flattery by imitation

[Grace Kim (grace]

David -
While the article makes no mention of cohousing, the article is about pocket 
neighborhoods - a type of residential community that architect Ross Chapin 
(noted in the article) has helped developers to create.  He is very cognizant 
of the role of cohousing in defining community oriented neighborhoods.  Which 
is why in many of his pocket neighborhoods, Ross includes a common building in 
the central green.  In his book, Pocket Neighborhoods, Ross devotes a chapter 
to cohousing - I know this because I spoke to him at length about cohousing and 
provided him with photos from my various visits.  

As I recently explained to the organizer of a local lecture series, pocket 
neighborhoods are the result of community forming organically over time.  
Cohousing, however, is the same community forming in a very intentional way.  
In physical form, they could very likely be the same community.

Cohousing is one type of pocket neighborhood. The author of the article chose 
to take a different focus.  While it's great that you brought the article to 
our attention, I think it's more important to look at this as an 
advocacy/educational opportunity.  Perhaps some of you AARP members out there 
might be moved to write Sally and let her know about cohousing and how it fits 
in with the community life she describes in her article.  You can contact her 
via her website. http://www.sallyabrahms.com/



grace h. kim | schemata workshop inc.
aia, principal architect

206.285.1589
www.schemataworkshop.com


From: "David L. Mandel" <dlmandel [at] pacbell.net>
Subject: [C-L]_ Flattery by imitation?

See http://pubs.aarp.org/aarpbulletin/201205_DC?folio=16#article_id=163858.

I guess you could say that. But funny there's no mention of 20 years of 
cohousing proliferation, and too bad the residents of these places don't seem 
to be given the opportunity to have even a minimal common house.

David