Cohousing-L Mailing List: New Housing Options Emerge for Older Americans (WSJ)

[Ann Lehman (ann]

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/new-housing-options-emerge-for-older-americans-dfa4c8f5?msockid=1d938450f20964792b66922df350650c


.......A lot of people dream about buying land with friends, building
homes, and growing old together.

David and Susan Burwen actually did it. Mountain View Cohousing Community
is the result of a conversation they had 20 years ago as newly-retired
empty-nesters.
<https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/the-college-drop-off-is-done-and-the-nest-is-empty-now-what-7f9d35d2?mod=article_inline>

They spent 10 years finding land in Silicon Valley, recruiting members,
designing and building the community with the help of a well-known
cohousing architect, Charles Durrett. Once everyone moved in, they had to
figure out how to live together.

Cohousing is self governing. Decisions are made by consensus. They came up
with eight teams, each assigned responsibilities to manage, including
maintenance, landscape and community activities.

The three-story building with 19 units, gardens and common spaces, opened a
decade ago and has been fully occupied since. All of the original owners
are still there, except four who died. About 20 to 30 people are waiting to
move in when there is a vacancy.

The Burwens, now 78 and 80, coach others building cohousing developments in
the Bay area. “What we did can and is being done around the country,” says
David, adding that there are about 150 cohousing communities in North
America, many focused on those in the last third of their lives.

More options will appear, in large part because of demand. By 2030, about
one in five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older. But more options also
will be needed because one solution won’t fit everyone’s needs or budget.
And people age at different rates.
<https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/one-couple-in-their-90s-confronts-a-stark-reality-aging-at-different-speeds-5344b69b?mod=article_inline>
What works for one, won’t work for all.

Write to Clare Ansberry at clare.ansberry [at] wsj.com
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/new-housing-options-emerge-for-older-americans-dfa4c8f5?msockid=1d938450f20964792b66922df350650c




*Ann Lehman*
*ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com <ann [at] zimmerman-lehman.com>**510.755.5701 *

*S*

*ubscribe for Free ENews, ZimNotesserving nonprofits for 30-plus
yearshttps://annlehman.substack.com/subscribe
<https://annlehman.substack.com/subscribe>*



*@zimnotes.bsky.socialMy Project 2029
<https://nonprofitquarterly.org/crafting-elements-of-a-2029-agenda-a-new-fair-deal/?>,
called a New Fair Deal*