Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Detroit Co Housing

[Alice Alexander (alicecohous]

I am so pleased to hear of cohousing possibilities in Detroit, so good for
your Fran.
And wonderful affirmations from Ann Zabaldo, and support from Tom Smyth;
cohousing at its best.

Your post reminds me of an inquiry I received just before the May
conference about a retrofit effort in Detroit, from John Gruchala. I
suggested he share on this list serve, but I do not recall seeing, so I am
taking the liberty of reposting here.
Folks can reply directly to John with ideas and inspiration.
jsgbase [at] aol.com
See below.
Alice Alexander, Coho/US Executive Director

...we are in need of assistance related to 'retrofitting an existing
neighborhood' .   We have lived in our Detroit, Mi., neighborhood for over
40 years, and have been renovating houses on our block and adjacent blocks
for the past 25.  Because of our 'urban' location, over the years those
interested in cohousing have been reluctant to tackle the issues that go
along with our location.  We do, at this time have several new
neighbors/tenants that are very interested based upon the retrofit
examples(N Street  I shared with them.  In fact, we already do have a
network of sharing tools, helping with repairs, urban gardens, etc.
Several of our neighbors and I, purchased a former drug house that I'd love
to see become a community home rather than tearing it down.

Some major concerns are:
1. setting the value of the homes and gentrification ( prices are currently
lower because of urban location compared to a suburban location 2 miles
away) , Sections of city starting to gentrify.
2. drafting land contract agreements that are more about protecting the
future when/if  residents have to sell home in the future.
3.     enlarging the circle of civic and social concerns within a cohousing
framework.

These concerns along with others are a few stumbling blocks that someone
with more experience, and who has copies of such legal agreements,  could
possibly help us make some advances.

Perhaps after the conference we could talk when you have more time,  I will
be exploring how to get away to possibly visit or if any of your staff are
out this way arrange a visit.   I have a daughter living near Wash DC that
I need to visit soon as well.

Thank You .

John Gruchala







On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 9:29 AM, Tom Smyth <tom [at] sassafras.coop> wrote:

>
> Very excited to see this subject line in my inbox. As a resident of one of
> the Ann Arbor cohos, I would say you'd be likely to get some support from
> out here in terms of how to go about things. I also love the idea of urban
> (and hopefully affordable!) cohousing.
>
> On Mon, Aug 31, 2015 at 9:24 AM, Ann Zabaldo <zabaldo [at] earthlink.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Hello Fran!
> >
> > Welcome to  Cohousing-L!
> >
> > I recently did a radio interview w/ Paul Bridgewater, Director, Detroit
> > Area on Aging, about cohousing for seniors in Detroit.
> >
> > Detroit is a perfect urban area for cohousing.  LOTS of housing stock and
> > vacant property combined w/ very strong civic activism and tangible
> results
> > (the City’s gardening project converting vacant land to food production
> is
> > a MODEL program) make it highly fertile for cohousing.
> >
> > Plus Detroit has renewed economic gains.  So there’s lots going on there.
> >
> > I’m such a proponent of urban cohousing.  To get cohousing started it
> > really just takes one person willing to light the flame.
> >
> > Could that person be you, Fran?  If there are others on this list looking
> > to start cohousing in Detroit I hope you connect w/ Fran and get the
> > process started.
> >
> > Time’s a wastin’!
> >
> > :-)
> >
> > Best --
> >
> > Ann Zabaldo
> > Takoma Village Cohousing
> > Washington, DC
> > Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
> > Falls Church, VA
> > 202.546.4654
> >
> > > On Aug 30, 2015, at 6:19 PM, Frances Murphy <fmurphy [at] garanlucow.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > This is my first post to Co Housing.  I hope I did it correctly and am
> > open
> > > to feedback.
> > >
> > > Does anyone know whether there has been any interest expressed to
> develop
> > > co housing in Detroit?  There is co housing in Ann Arbor, Michigan but
> I
> > am
> > > interested in the idea of co housing in Detroit and beginning the
> process
> > > of looking into it if it hasn't already been looked into.
> > >
> > > Kind thanks.
> > >
> > > Fran
> > >
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>
> --
> Tom Smyth
>
> Worker-Owner, Sassafras Tech Collective
> Specializing in innovative, usable tech for social change
> sassafras.coop *·* @sassafrastech
>
> Resident, Touchstone Cohousing
> touchstonecohousing.org
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-- 
Alice Alexander
Executive Director
www.cohousing.org <http://www.cohous.org>
[image: The Cohousing Association]