Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Apartment Sharing Developer attempts to co-opt cohousing Name

[Wendy Willbanks Wiesner (wwiesner]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for sending along this link.  Here is another article that provides
additional clarity:

https://denverinfill.com/blog/2017/06/new-project-wellington-apartments.html

The key information is found in the comment section, refer to comment made
by "JORDAN".

This is for all intents and purposes a Carmel Co. student housing project,
consistent with the investment company's  past endeavors--student housing
in the University of Denver neighborhood, an area most certainly well known
to you, Katie (see VISTA, Asbury Green).

The term "cohouseholding" (see work of former COHO US ED Oz Ragland) could
have application here IF the principles of cohousing were, in fact, being
upheld in a shared housing context.  At present, future residents will have
no intentional or apparent input/agency/stewardship/community--either
before or after the fact--so it's a moot point.

Contrast this with student housing at nearby Regis University, specifically
Romero House, where the current arrangement has the natural possibilities
within it for adopting self-management, one key element of cohousing:

http://www.regis.edu/About-Regis-University/University-Offices-and-Services/Service-Learning/RC-Service-Learning/Programs-Services/Romero-House.aspx
.

Imagine if students in architecture or planning programs were to lead the
design and development of this kind of (intentional) housing, on or near
campuses around the country?  Wouldn't that be interesting?  What if these
were multigenerational learning communities or student communities paired
with senior cohousing communities, the latter of which is consistent with
what you have been writing and lecturing about, Chuck Durrett?  Wouldn't
this kind of housing be a valuable asset to/for the Auraria campus and
surrounding community, in a way that the housing as proposed can not, will
not be?   To transform such a project as currently envisioned would require
breaking the 273 units proposed into smaller communities, possibly divided
by floor.   Such has been done in Europe, of course, where multiple
community groups with specialized needs/concerns/affinities/aspirations not
only drove the projects but also lived in them after the fact.

Wendy

Wendy Willbanks Wiesner
Executive Director
Partnerships for Affordable Cohousing (PFAC)



On Tue, Nov 28, 2017 at 5:51 PM, Thomas Lofft <tlofft [at] hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/11/28/
> developer-takes-unique-co-housing-approach-to-new.html?
> ana=e_ae_set1&s=article_du&ed=2017-11-28&u=tx%
> 2BEnMzYLeTYlhk%2BnDEtlxxZ4f&t=1511916163&j=79251401
>
> <https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/bio/19541/Caitlin+Hendee>
> [https://media.bizj.us/view/img/10361579/caitlin*60xx994-1325-3-0.png]
> By Caitlin Hendee<https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/bio/
> 19541/Caitlin+Hendee>
>  –  Associate Editor, Denver Business Journal
> 3 hours ago
>
> A developer is taking a unique approach to affordable housing with the
> development of a multi-family complex in Denver.
>
> Carmel Partners<http://companies.bizjournals.com/profile/
> carmel-partners/356828/>, based in San Francisco, is building the complex
> — the Wellington Apartments — on the concept of "co-housing."
>
> Co-housing is an "intentional community of private homes clustered around
> shared space. Each attached or single family home has traditional
> amenities, including a private kitchen. Shared spaces typically feature a
> common house, which may include a large kitchen and dining area, laundry,
> and recreational spaces," according to the Cohousing Association of the
> United States.
>
> The Wellington Apartments – at 1403 Osage St. — will include 253 units —
> 211 of which will be four bedroom units where tenants can lease a private
> bedroom and bathroom, but then share the kitchen, living and dining room
> areas and outdoor patio or balcony with the other unit tenants.
>
> The project costs for the 5-story building are $41.99 million, according
> to Buildzoom.com's analysis of public records<https://www.buildzoom.
> com/property-info/1493-n-osage-denver-co?utm_swu=5285&
> utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=permits&utm_source=reporter>. According to
> Denver site development plans, the 482,737-square-foot complex will include
> 347,681 square feet of residential and 135,056 square feet for parking.
>
> It will also include a fitness center, clubhouse, bike and ski shop, pool
> and courtyard and is a three-minute walk to the Regional Transportation
> District's<http://companies.bizjournals.com/profile/rtd/191677/> Colfax
> at Auraria light rail station in downtown Denver.
>
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