Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing Pioneers: Second Round

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> includes space for several
> clusters of closely placed residential units (up to 109 total); a
> greenhouse/community garden and seasonal farmers market complex; and a
> mix of private, nonprofit and public facilities/programs dedicated to
> environmental, horticultural, health-fitness, arts and educational
> purposes--see website at www.thewoodlandcommunity.com. 

Sorry, I now see you did include a link to your lovely website. I was so 
focuses on getting the Australian community link to you I didn't notice it.

Target price range or price ranges from Zillow or such would also be helpful. 
The descriptions are wonderful but to people from either of the coasts or from 
large cities, it sounds very expensive. The reality is that money matters and 
people want to know if they can afford this before they get interested. It's 
self protection. Put target price ranges up front.

And my personal reaction after looking at site plans for cohousing communities 
is that it would be much more interesting with open space to one side or on the 
perimeter than in the middle. That is how conventional communities are arranged 
to give the feeling of privacy. The point of cohousing architecture is that it 
is designed to foster and facilitate interaction and familiarity. There are 
many cohousing communities that have lots of woodland so they can give you 
ideas on how to manage this -- what works and what doesn't.

If you envisioned 3 or 4 community clusters with open space between the 
clusters, people could have the often strived for ideal of the front part of 
the unit looking out on the community and the back looking out on a private 
area. It seems like you have plenty of room to do this.

Right now, it looks like a fabulous idea, but doesn't feel like cohousing. 
Participating in the conversation here would provide more information both on 
ideas for developing a community and what people would be attracted to in that 
community.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org