Thriving in a sustainable community

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. Shared outdoor space may include parking, walkways, open space, and gardens. Neighbors also share resources like tools and lawnmowers.

We envision our own community to include all of the above with the addition of co-working/studio spaces, a woodshop, children play spaces and an orchard.

“Cohousing helps individuals and families to find and maintain the elements of traditional neighbourhoods - family, community, a sense of belonging - that are so sorely missing in our society.”

 -from Creating Cohousing by Kathryn McCamant & Charles Durrett  

What does cohousing look like

Most cohousing communities are designed to be compact. Cohousing communities consist of private, fully-equipped dwellings and extensive common amenities including recreation areas and a common house. Many neighborhoods are planned to keep cars to the periphery, which promotes interacting with neighbors and increases safety for playing children. Shared green space is also a key feature – whether for gardening, playing, or socializing. A final key feature is the common house – the “living room” of the community. Cohousing communities depend on cooperation and collaboration, from start to finish.

Residents work together to create a custom-built, resident-managed, close-knit neighborhood that offers a healthy balance of privacy and community. It takes time to build a cohousing community, but the process is worth it!

-Cohousing.org