Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 105, Issue 14

[R.N. Johnson (cohoranda]

 Cohousing comes in a lot of shapes and sizes.  It sounds like Yarrow falls 
into the upper end of optimal numbers.  I don't remember the survey, but some 
years back someone surveyed residents at many communities, and based on how 
satisfied the residents were suggested a range of 25-33 as optimal, although 
there are communities with as little as 6 units, ans as many as 60+.  Some have 
many stacked units, some have single family homes. Not knowing what specifics 
are in your vision, I can't comment on whether on not your vision is being 
undermined. Do you have any agreement on the addition of basement units or on 
renting out all or part of a unit? I suspect that there is some variation in 
your community on what people think has been agreed upon- it happens a lot, 
especially in the transition from dream to reality.  If you have concerns, I 
would bring them up to your community so you can all get more clarity.  My 
community has certainly had its share
 of "oops, next time we'll do it differently" experiences.
    The community I live in just celebrated its fifth year on site earlier this 
fall. The first few years after move-in can be a rough time due to construction 
and moving chaos, and  as people adjust to living together.  It has been my 
experience that many of the concerns I had in the first few years diminished or 
disappeared as I became more comfortable with my new neighbors and the various 
processes became old hat. 



Randa Johnson
New Brighton Cohousing
Aptos, CA



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