Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: affordable cohousing

[Beth Baker (bethbaker]

I thought folks might be interested in my new posting on changingaging.org 
about the affordable senior cohousing community, Sand River, in Santa Fe.

http://changingaging.org/blog/conscious-aging-in-cohousing-community/


Beth Baker
12 Sherman Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(301)270-8969 (office)
(301)537-1597 (cell)
bethbaker [at] starpower.net
www.bethbaker.net
Facebook.com/withhelpfromourfriends

Author, With a Little Help from Our Friends--Creating Community as We Grow 
Older (Vanderbilt University Press, May 2014)

Available through your local bookstore: 
Or from other booksellers
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On Feb 22, 2016, at 12:53 PM, mira Danyel brisk wrote:

> 
> Alan,
> Thank you for this post.  This is very detailed and more specifics on why
> and what can work and not work than I have heard before.
> 
> I wonder how common the 'informal caste system' due to varied
> social-economic situations of the members is among communities?  Any
> others' can speak to that?
> 
> It honestly makes sense. As much as people like to speak about 'diversity',
> the reality is its not easy and would take a lot of concerted / deliberate
> effort  / desire to make it work between people of many diverse situations.
>  I'm in no way implying its not worth it or important, but the reality of
> our living situations is that we tend to socialize with those we can more
> closely relate to.  I don't see why that would change in cohousing unless
> the point was made from the beginning to make it different.
> 
> Is that your experience?  Thanks!
> 
> 
> Peace,
> *Mira Danyel Brisk*
> *Move With Spirit!*
> *704-293-0412*
> 
> *Cohousing Charlotte & Coho/US*
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Feb 22, 2016 at 11:37 AM, Alan O'Hashi via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> silver sage village has 16 homes of which 10 are market rate and six were
>> built for the city of boulder permanently affordable housing program. (i
>> will let you look it up on the city of boulder website, rather than explain
>> it.) wild sage cohousing across the street partnered with habitat for
>> humanity as well as the city affordable program. here are a few random
>> thoughts:
>> 
>> - i suggest you have a serious and frank discussion among yourselves about
>> why you personally - as opposed to philosophical - want affordable housing.
>> get strong commitments about all being willing to pay more money out of
>> pocket to level the field for those who cannot otherwise afford to live
>> there. (partner with others rather than tackle affordable housing on your
>> own. even if you do find ways to subsidize building costs that doesn't
>> lower monthly hoa costs.)
>> 
>> - the affordable homes are 800sqft and worth $150000 (i live in one of
>> these) and limited in appreciation. the   market rate are between 1100 and
>> 2300sqft and valued at $500000 and $1000000 and rising. (market rate owners
>> have a bigger desire to protect their interests by jacking up reserves and
>> buying more / pricey amenities.)
>> 
>> - i suggest you build your homes so they are all affordable to people /
>> families of similar means. (at silver sage over the years an informal caste
>> system arose.)
>> 
>> - i suggest building all your homes of similar size so the homeowner fees
>> are more equally distributed. (at silver sage fees range from $450ish to
>> $650ish.)
>> 
>> - i suggest you build enough homes to spread around the fees, see above.
>> (i think the sweet spot is around 32.)
>> 
>> - i suggest you design the homes ala 'the not so big house' by sarah
>> susanka to encourage residents to use the common house. (at silver sage,
>> the common house is used more by the affordable homeowners because our
>> living spaces are smaller. we have more use by non-residents who rent it.)
>> 
>> i have more, but this should fuel the conversation.
>> 
>> Alan O'Hashi
>> Have Camera - Will Travel
>> BCM  303-910-5782
>> WCM 307-245-1910
>> Typos By iPhone Auto-Correct
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>> 
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