Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Age-restricted access to common house?

[Sue STIGLEMAN (sstigleman]

When I was researching the Fair Housing Act in response to a situation here, I 
found quite a bit written about court cases that had determined that age-based 
restrictions to common elements violate the Act.  The main situation litigated 
was access to swimming pools.  The understanding that I took away (which is 
definitely amateur and not authoritative) is that age-based restrictions are 
not ok but ability-related ones are.  For example, if you want to have a 
restriction on access to a swimming pool, it can be based on swimming ability 
but not on age.  
Has anyone in Cohousing land investigated this is any more formal way?  
--sue
Sue StiglemanWestwood CohousingAsheville, NC Sue Stigleman sstigleman [at] 
bellsouth.net 828-989-9373

 
      From: Liz Ryan Cole <lizryancole [at] me.com>
 To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org 
 Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2016 10:37 PM
 Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Age-restricted access to common house?
   

I hope people reply to this list with their answers.  I have not moved into our 
cohousing community yet, but I am 
a) the mother of 4 adult sons (and 4 grandchildren) and 
b) am a veteran of collective living in my younger days,including when our sons 
were children and
c) am part owner of a hospitality business where families come with children to 
stay in our cabins and swim in our pond.

The one thing I would add to this conversation is some perspective —  that if a 
community is going to worry about kids, they will find that people aged from 13 
to 21 are going to find many more creative ways to get into trouble than any 9 
year old -  (said with much love and many happy memories).

I know perfectly well that if my 9 year old grandsons are quiet for 15 minutes, 
I am going to want to quietly check into what they are up to, and that if there 
are three or four 15 year olds working together on a school project, that I’d 
better be offering snacks, and wandering by on a regular basis.  At the very 
least, a good argument for design that allows for spaces for adults to 
work/read, etc. in the common house without being on top of the kids who view 
the entire place as their home.

and if kids don’t follow the rules, shouldn’t the consequences be that they 
lose privileges, not that all kids are penalized?  

:)  liz


Liz Ryan Cole
lizryancole [at] me.com
Pinnacle Cohousing at Loch Lyme Lodge
Lyme, NH
Home 802.785.4124
Work 802.831.1240
Lodge 603-795-2141

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire 
to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”
― E.B. White

On Dec 11, 2016, at 9:53 PM, Beverly Jones Redekop <beverly.jones.redekop [at] 
gmail.com> wrote:


Just checking in: do any other cohousing communities exist where people
under 13 are locked out of the common house, or are we the only one?

I have only heard from communities that allow people under 13 to use the
common house quietly on their own.

The rule here requires a 12 year old to find an adult to provide continuous
supervision if he wishes to read in the common house or play chess with
another person who is, say, 9-12. It is not sufficient to have a parent
check in every half hour.

I promise not to say judgemental things if you disclose that your community
has similar rules. As a mother of responsible, considerate sons aged 9 and
12, I have heartache that my community has this rule, but perhaps I will
feel less disappointed if I learn that this is a common type of rule.

Beverly
Groundswell Cohousing at Yarrow Ecovillage
Yarrow, BC, Canada

On Sat, Nov 19, 2016, 1:29 PM Beverly Jones Redekop <
beverly.jones.redekop [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> I live in Groundswell Cohousing at Yarrow Ecovillage in BC, Canada, and our
> common house is a separate building with keypad access. The code used to be
> shared with all residents, but for awhile now (perhaps a year?), it has
> been restricted to residents aged 13 and older.
> 
> Which residents get access to the common house in your communities?
> 
> 












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