Cohousing-L Mailing List: Baltimore Cohousing Announces Kickoff Workshop

[Lorraine Faris (lor.f50]

Baltimore Cohousing Announces Kickoff Workshop for April 5 & 6, 2025

Cohousing of Greater Baltimore, LLC announces its Kickoff Workshop, to be
held April 5 and 6, 2025, for people interested in living in a 55+
collaborative condominium community in Baltimore City. Kathryn “Katie”
McCamant, known for her work introducing the concept of cohousing in North
America, as well as consulting on the development of dozens of such
communities, will lead this in-person two-day workshop.  She will share all
details known-to-date about the site, costs, expected development process,
timeline and how people can get involved.

The target audience for the workshop is active adults in their 50’s, 60’s
or 70’s who are ready to downsize and are looking for more social
connection in their lives. Cohousing communities are intentional and
collaborative, combining extensive common facilities with private homes,
and designed to support an active and interdependent community life.

Workshop participants will:

●      Explore the possibility of living in cohousing in Baltimore

●      Learn from the North America expert on cohousing, Katie McCamant

●      Meet others who want to live in an intentional community

●      Learn about the development process, schedule, financing, costs,
risks and benefits so that they can make an informed decision to join

●      Secure seniority for home selection - based on workshop payment date

●      Those who join now will be part of the collaborative design process

●      Make cohousing a reality in Baltimore

The workshop fee is $200 per household, plus $35 for the second adult from
the same household.  The fee increases to $250 after March 22.  The final
registration deadline is April 3.  Interested persons can register here:
https://www.cohousingofgreaterbaltimore.org/kickoff-workshop

Cohousing of Greater Baltimore, LLC has land under contract since January,
2025.  The 1.1-acre site will be the future home of the first 55+ cohousing
community in Maryland.  The site is in a residential neighborhood in
Baltimore City, near Hampden, zoned R-6 and having a walkability score of
87. Living in Baltimore provides access to world-class health care,
professional sports, a vibrant arts, music and theater scene, an abundance
of universities, and recreational opportunities such as hiking and boating.

Environmental sustainability is a core value in cohousing. Future residents
are involved in the collaborative design and development. The project will
be designed as fully accessible and for aging in place. Once completed,
cohousing communities are typically self-managed condo or Homeowners
Associations.

The community will consist of individually-owned market-rate condos, each
with a complete kitchen, and indoor and outdoor areas that extend living
and gathering spaces. The central space, known as the Common House,
typically includes a large dining room, kitchen, lounge, workshop, and
guest rooms.  The building will house sufficient parking at ground level
with three to four levels of residences above. The elevator building will
be sustainably developed with a focus on energy efficiency.

Cohousing of Greater Baltimore, founded in 2018, is poised to begin the
development of the first cohousing community in Baltimore.  There are
approximately two hundred established cohousing communities in the United
States, including two in Maryland. Cohousing of Greater Baltimore holds
virtual information sessions and is actively seeking new members. Joining
now allows members to collaborate in the design and development process,
form relationships with future neighbors and secure seniority when the
project begins unit selections.

Cohousing of Greater Baltimore has partnered with Katie McCamant, President
of Cohousing Solutions, Inc. Katie is a licensed architect and coauthor of
two authoritative books on cohousing. She has designed and developed dozens
of cohousing communities.

Cohousing of Greater Baltimore selected Moseley Architects to design the
community.  Moseley Architects has served the Baltimore area for over 55
years and has a portfolio that includes the design of over 24,000
multifamily units.  The new Baltimore cohousing community, while not
age-exclusive, will target active adults aged 55+ and their families. The
design will cater to a wide range of needs, placing accessibility and
interconnectedness at the forefront.

To learn more about the Cohousing of Greater Baltimore’s Project, contact
baltocoho [at] gmail.com or visit https://cohousingofgreaterbaltimore.org .

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