Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: The Village of Wildflowers

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

Deborah Carey <boiester [at] gmail.com>
is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
after replacing the "digest" subject line.
--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
 "I love consensus as a way to operate a  community but feel it is a
great impediment when used as a way to develop residential housing...I
have  the personal resources to fund this process and have done so in
The Villages of  Wildflowers."

I often say, if it weren't for other people, think how much I could do.

Cohousing is essentially about people, messy, confused, well
intentioned (for the most part) people.  So I submit to WW Gilman,
that there is nothing new under the sun.  Utopians have created
communities before him and will after him.  And the people who want to
be a community, learning to act as one, will continue to create
cohousing, or not, given our messy, confused, and well intentioned
(for the most part) nature. I certainly wish him well!

Deborah Carey
boiester [at] gmail.com



On Jan 27, 2013, at 6:16 AM, cohousing-l-request [at] cohousing.org wrote:

> o: Cohousing-L mailing list <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
> Message-ID: <alpine.DEB.2.00.1301260712530.16692 [at] web02.tigertech.net>
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
> WW Gilman, The  Village of Wildflowers,
> Wwgilman [at] aol.com 828 692 8506
> is the author of the message below.  It was posted by
> Fred, the Cohousing-L list manager <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
> after deleting quoted digest and replacing 'digest' subject line.
>
> Please only quote material needed for context for your message.
> Digest subscribers need to also fix subject line.
> --------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------
>
> I am a member of your list, and appreciate the outstanding job you do.
> I am a seasoned lifestyle developer, and have studied the model that
> has been created  in the US. Unfortunately when the real estate market
> changes, do to economic  conditions beyond our control, it effects
> everyone. I live in Hendersonville NC  and have searched for a group
> that wanted to create a new community. After  several years I found a
> sincere lack of interest, as the sentiment was simply,  there is no
> money available for this type of project, so why waste time. My
> enthusiam for this type of life style, and its timelyness for the
> thousands of  people like myself, led me to create a hybrid
> development model. Thus I visioned  and implemented, a plan to create
> The Villages of Wildflowers. This is a  community of five
> neighborhoods enjoying all the attributes that are found in a  true
> cohousing. My master plan is created around the functioning of a
> community  center, kitchen/dining hall, Coffee House, Community
> fitness center, and a  Lifestyle Coordinator. Other featured aspects
> are Produce Gardens, walking  trails, fish ponds, and Hobby Shops. The
> most important aspect of living here  will be the personal involvement
> in the socially active lifestyle including  operations and management
> of the community. What I hope to achieve with my  model, is to kick
> start the development of many new  communities. Eliminateing the need
> to select land and try and finance it  moves the creation process
> light years ahead. Sometimes this is the process that  impedes any
> real estate development, even if done by professionals. I  have  the
> personal resources to fund this process and have done so in The
> Villages of  Wildflowers. While selecting a future residence is
> important,I found it also  confusing, and therefor am using modular
> construction for the base dwelling  units. These units can be
> personalized with expansion options. The exterior  designs all fall
> into a simple category with mandatory front porches, landscaped  yards
> and gardens, and appealing colors. The exteriors will all be created
> to  offer the owners, A Cottage in a Mountain Meadow, surrounded by
> apple orchards  and vineyards. Upon purchase of the cottage, the new
> resident will agree to be  part of our community and its activity's
> will be explained by the Lifestyle  Coordinator. Residents will
> ultimately become part of a coop owning the  land and associated
> structures jointly. I am rapidly creating the  documentation including
> community rules and regulations, and as you can imaging  the job is a
> big one. I solicit the help from anyone that may have an interest  in
> my project. I honestly believe it can be the development model for the
> rapid  expansion of cohousing in America. I love consensus as a way to
> operate a  community but feel it is a great impediment when used as a
> way to develop  residential housing. A recent visit from the creators
> of a world re known  cohousing community were astounded when they saw
> what I had  accomplished in a short time. I had done in six months
> what it took them  six years to accomplish. It is quite simple to me.
> Find a need and fill it! The  AARP as well as others has recognized
> this need for us. Sad to say,Too Many  Cooks Spoil The Broth, and is
> this case when you put consensus into  action prior to purchising the
> dirt. Please send out my request to  your mailing list, as I need help
> in administrative maters. I will be glad to  offer my model and
> personal guidance to anyone that would be interested. Only  with each
> other, can we become stronger in our own community. Assuredly together
> we can bcome stronger and we can share our lifestyle with the
> thousands who cant find it in their geographic area.
>
> Sincerely,
> WW Gilman, The  Village of Wildflowers, 828 692 8506