Blogs

We welcome blog submittals of cohousing stories, reflections, celebrations and issues. Send them to us, or contact us to become a regular blogger here.

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Don't Give Up the Dream

Submitted by gimnig on

By Betty Grant

DON’t GIVE UP THE DREAM - IT JUST MIGHT PAY OFF
The seed of cohousing along the Willamette River in Eugene was planted in 2011. Oakleigh
Meadow, LLC incorporated in 2012 . With design & architectural plans in our pocket and
membership interest growing solidly into the double digits, we were jazzed! OMC’s Planned
Unit Development application to the city of Eugene was approved in late 2013 and we
anticipated breaking ground by September 2014 . Then the clock got turned back.

Pioneer Valley Cohousing Excited to Welcome Summit Attendees Next Month!

Submitted by JennyG on

Laura Fitch, Architect and Pioneer Valley Cohousing member

"Spring Fling" at Pioneer Valley Cohousing (photo by Rebecca Reid)

My community is hosting the Northeast Cohousing Summit! Come learn about how to develop a cohousing group or help your existing community thrive through changing times. Or just enjoy networking with some kindred spirits - that is the part I like best about the many cohousing conferences I've attended. I always come away from cohousing conferences with renewed enthusiasm for my community and my architectural design work.

How America Lives: Parade Magazine on Cohousing

Submitted by JennyG on

Jenny, Coho/US Outreach Associate

Scenes from Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing

"Old is new again in housing, from tight-knit neighborhoods where residents look after one another to fresh twists on boardinghouses. The hot word is communal..." begins a recent Parade Magazine piece, featuring communities like Capital Hill Urban Cohousing and Village Hearth. "How America Lives" brings cohousing to the mainstream public, and as in much of the recent prominent coverage of this topic - demystifies and celebrates this unique, collaborative housing type many of us live in/are in pursuit of.

Impact of Senior Cohousing

Submitted by JennyG on

Chuck Durrett of McCamant & Durrett Architects, NE Cohousing Summit Presenter

Silver Sage Senior Cohousing, Boulder, CO. Architecture by McCamant & Durrett Architects
Mountain View Cohousing, Mountain View, CA. Architecture by McCamant & Durrett Architects

There is a senior housing crisis in this country. In the United States, traditional senior housing options aren’t meeting the needs of older adults. Many attempts to put seniors in community have proven to work short term, but funding and employee retention continue to strain these organizations. Senior support, like Meals on Wheels, drains local economies and is constantly at risk of being dropped, which could leave seniors without access to proper nutrition and socialization.

Bring your Fliers to Amherst!

Submitted by gimnig on

Karen Gimnig

The world of cohousing includes generous and talented people spread all over the country. When they find each other, amazing things happen. Communities get needed members and cohousing seekers find new homes. Cohousing professionals get the work they need to remain focused on cohousing and communities become more effective in anything from site design to consensus process. The challenge is that connecting people who are spread all over the country can be tough.

Are You Kidding?

Submitted by JennyG on

Shelly Parks of CoVision Consulting, Cohousing Summit Presenter

Whiteboard "Are You Kidding?" moment
Example of cohousing neighbors collaborating at Nevada City Cohousing
Shelly Parks

We are better together in cohousing…

It seems every day I experience a moment when I’m reminded of how cohousing offers us a way to live better lives, especially during these times when our world can seem so divisive.

A few months ago, my cohousing moment involved a white board. I call it the “Are you Kidding?” moment. Here’s what happened…

Maintenance and Adaption Track at the NE Summit

Submitted by gimnig on

Maybe someday we’ll figure out how to build communities that fix themselves. Until we manage that, join us at the NE Cohousing Summit this September to learn how to keep your community in good working order. From getting the work done, to making sure you have the money to pay for it, and even making needed changes, our Saturday sessions will give you tools for keeping your community vibrant, financially stable and in good working order.

Got Conflict? Join the discussion this September in Amherst.

Submitted by JennyG on

Elizabeth (Liz) Magill, NE Cohousing Summit Presenter

Why can't we all just get along?

Some percentage of people who join a cohousing community do so because they want everyone to "just get along". Idyllic images of not just knowing your neighbors, but also of really liking to hang out with your neighbors flutter through our heads.

And then we move in. Or maybe the first break with that image happens before move-in. Maybe its an email that sets it off, or something that happens with the kids and you have different views of what to do about it or even different views as to what happened.

Intensively Fun!

Submitted by gimnig on

Karen Gimnig

So you are looking over the conference schedule and reading through all the amazing information you are going to receive in Saturday’s sessions. You are wondering whether it is worth the added time and expense to attend a half-day or full-day session on Friday. Here are my top five reasons for attending intensives in addition to the Saturday sessions.

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