Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: A Glimps of Cohousing in 2060

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

The scale and mix of shared amenities may differ considerably from one coho to 
the next.  Consensus decision-making may be a fad whose time will come and go.  
The demographic profile morphs around, whether we want it to, or not.  But I 
would imagine that the inescapable characteristics of a viable, autonomous coho 
will include:
Number of Households:  For a whole bunch of reasons, size matters.  We’re 
pretty sure that three households is too small to be a coho, and three hundred 
is too large.  I am thinking 25 to 40 households is a good target.  Which 
relates to …
Easy Walking Distance:  The entire coho needs to be within easy walking 
distance of the commons, and of itself.  Most people would agree that a couple 
of minutes is an “easy” walk; hardly anyone would live with a 20 or 30 minute 
walk.  Someplace between these extremes is a time and distance that works.  And 
that, like number of households will set the boundaries of the community.

RPD

> On Dec 17, 2014, at 11:42 AM, Sharon Villines <sharon [at] 
> sharonvillines.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 13, 2014, at 12:30 PM, Zev Paiss <Zev [at] abrahampaiss.com> wrote:
> 
>> Have you ever wondered what cohousing will be like in say 2060? 
> 
> I think it will look like converted condos and apartment buildings, and 
> neighborhoods with various features of cohousing. That has already started 
> with many amenities in new condominiums. In addition to exercise rooms, 
> shared office space, and party rooms, they are including things like music 
> practice rooms, yoga and floor exercise rooms, conference rooms, theater-like 
> rooms with very large screens, etc. Luxury condos have much more like smoking 
> rooms, temperature controlled wine lockers, dog playgrounds, billiard rooms, 
> etc.
> 
> With all these spaces, interaction increases and a cohousing like atmosphere 
> will develop.
> 
> I found that in condos where I lived there was a culture like cohousing on 
> each floor. I did know my neighbors and some got together regularly to watch 
> TV or play cards. I think this is probably more common in apartments with 
> long term residents, with singles, and with interior hallways. 
> 
> One apartment building I visited had a community room just outside the 
> elevator. In addition to comfortable furniture, residents had various group 
> activities set up on different floors-- one had a perpetual card table with 
> puzzles. It also had a large room used for potlucks, bingo, lectures, dances, 
> etc. And this was at least 20 years ago.
> 
> Sharon
> ----
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
> http://www.takomavillage.org
> 
> 
> 
> 
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