Getting it Built

The 2009 National Cohousing Conference is now in full swing, and even though I’m not attending any of the main events, I have plenty to think about from the Getting it Built workshop I attended on Wednesday with Jason. Kathryn McCamant was the presenter, and it was interesting to hear about her extensive experience in cohousing development.

I’m still processing some of the info-overload from the workshop, but there were definitely a few things that stuck out to me initially.

Updates from our first conversation

Thanks to everyone who made it out on Saturday for our first gathering!  I’m looking forward to continuing the process together.  As was mentioned, the next step at this point is the Cohousing Conference Workshop “Getting it Built” on Wednesday 6/24, which will provide an overview of the cohousing process (online registration is available).  There’s also a ton of different workshops, tours, and events being offered, so if others are interested, feel free to make a suggestion (there’s even a free workshop on incorporating affordable housing into urban cohousing).

To summarize what we discussed for those who were unable to attend, we briefly shared some of our varied experiences with different forms of community living/housing, and some of the pros and cons of intentional communities.  We talked about the possibilities and reservations on our minds considering the cohousing model, and briefly discussed ideas around shared space, group size, and location.

Welcome to Southside CoHo!

I realize that it’s probably premature to give this hypothetical project a name, but I had to call it something, so there it is.  At this point, at least it will make things simpler than repeatedly referring to it as “a potential cohousing community in South Seattle” (and it makes for a much shorter URL).  Names aside, I’m really hoping for some good exchange of questions, ideas, and suggestions about what this could become.

While the bulk of this conversation will (and should) take place in the “real world” and not on some blog, I thought we might be able to use both mediums together.  If folks decide that it’s too cumbersome or awkward or just plain weird to post ideas here, then I’m totally fine with just moving it offline.  But in the meantime, amidst the difficulty of arranging multiple schedules of busy people, I hope this will be some food for thought.

Cohousing: starting a “formal” conversation…

I’ve blown a lot of hot air about cohousing over the past year, and so I’ve finally decided to pursue something just slightly more structured than the handful of random blog entries that I’ve posted here.  Over the next couple of months, I’ll be attempting to start a more “formal” dialogue with people who might be interested in being a part of a small, urban cohousing community in South Seattle.

This process will likely be a long, slow journey of discernment and planning, but I think Chris and I (and Jonas) are ready to enter into that process with others to explore how a collective interest in shared space, neighborhood investment, and community living could become a reality.

More than a Place to Live…

Yesterday’s Faith & Economics Workshop at Quest was an interesting exercise in trying to cram several hours worth of potential material into a roughly 40 minute time slot.  Chris and I attempted to tag team a breakout session on “place,” real estate, and community, and though I can’t exactly say it went as planned, we did try to address a few larger questions and issues (albeit vaguely).

So in an effort to redeem what might have been more confusing than helpful, I’m reposting my thoughts here as a second attempt at relative coherence.  The question I had hoped to address was: Is choosing a place to live (whether buying, renting, cohousing, or somewhere in between) simply a matter of personal preference for arbitrary geography, or are there ethical and theological implications involved in the arrangement of our neighborhoods, especially in the larger urban context?

Keeping the Dream Alive…

No, not this dream (although I do long for that dream as well), but this one.  It’s been a year since I started thinking about cohousing more seriously, and while the recent real estate crash has put a damper on my enthusiasm, the itch is still there.  So I’m excited that the first National Cohousing Conference is coming to Seattle this summer, and it makes sense since Seattle is a hotbed for cohousing activity nationwide.  To top it all off, the conference is being held at UW in the HUB, my old stomping ground when I was just an aimless, slacking undergrad.  If anyone else would like to go, then let me know- I’m hoping to register for at least part of the conference, and some of the workshops will be free.

downwardly mobile housing alternatives…

in the wake of recent events’ economic downturn, i’ve been thinking more about housing and the many complex problems we face as we begin to realize that neither we (nor the world, for that matter) can afford this particular piece of the vaunted “american dream.”  the financial collapse connected to corporate abuses and consumer irresponsibility in the subprime mortgage market is indicative of a deeper, more insidious problem in our culture as it relates to housing (and, well, capitalism on the whole, i suppose)- namely, that greed, individualism, and upward mobility are the driving factors behind our home consumption, as opposed to sustainability (social and environmental), communitarianism, and a holistic sense of place.

weird but not crazy…

[cohousing part 3] i came across this article a couple days ago and it confirmed for me a realization i’ve come to accept: i may be a little weird, but i’m not that crazy.

i think when most people hear about the concept of intentional communities, they probably either find it “interesting” or dismiss it as a bit odd. after all, it is somewhat strange to talk about “sharing resources” and “common space” in this pervasively capitalist society based on private ownership, right? or is it?

cohousing continued…

[cohousing part 2] though i’m still marinating in some ideas, early conversations with a few friends have produced fairly positive responses. at this point, the biggest obstacles to actually getting a cohousing community off the ground would be construction financing and availability of land. part of that reality is that most of us are invested where we live right now and wouldn’t want to leave the neighborhood even if it meant being able to do cohousing together. but why consider any of this at all? i thought i’d post some more thoughts on why cohousing makes sense.

new year, new ideas…

[cohousing part 1] on our drive down to portland last week, chris and i started talking (well, mostly i was talking, but chris seemed interested) about what it might look like if we decided to seriously consider starting a cohousing community. i’ve been interested in cohousing for quite some time, but never really thought about it for myself, and i’m not sure why. i was surprised at how excited i felt considering the possibilities and realized that i probably haven’t felt that way since a number of friends decided to intentionally move to south seattle together a couple years ago.

combined with an increasing interest in the work of local architect tony case (whose projects i’ve been secretly stalking for some time now), my infatuation with cohousing is beginning to grow into something more.