BROOKLYN COHOUSING

Where will you be located?
Our Preferred Area includes Park Slope, Prospect Heights, and Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn. We are focusing our land/property search in those neighborhoods.

What is cohousing in a nutshell?
The term cohousing describes the process by which a group of people work together to create and maintain their own neighborhood, or in our case, building. By participating in the planning and design of their community, residents form the bonds which are the basis of ongoing community. Cohousing emphasizes a supportive, inter-generational community, common facilities and participation by all members using a consensus process to make decisions. Its setting can be urban, suburban or rural and can involve building houses or rehabilitating existing structures. The design can take a variety of forms, depending on the wishes of the group, however the homes are always self-contained, have access to shared facilities and the overall intention is to create opportunities for interaction among neighbors.

Who is attracted to cohousing?
The following generalization gives an overview of who is typically attracted to cohousing. They tend to be people who have thought about this idea of creating community long before they heard the term cohousing. They tend to be people seeking to improve their quality of life, people who are interested in the larger community around them and people who tend to think globally and act locally. To the best of their ability they take responsibility for themselves, for the world they experience, and for the world their children will inherit. People who choose to be a part of a cohousing community come from a variety of backgrounds, income levels, family types and beliefs. What they do have in common is a desire to have a say in how their neighborhood will be and a belief that having more connection with their neighbors will be good for them.

Do you share a common ideology or belief?
We share a strong belief in the value of community. Other than that, we do not want nor attempt to have any other commonality of belief or religion. So for example, if you only want to live with other Buddhists or Catholics or Vegetarians, this is not the place for you.

How much will units cost?
We expect to have estimated unit prices available in mid-April 2008. Generally speaking, cohousing ends up costing about the same as comparable housing in the area.

Will I save money living in cohousing?
Living in a cohousing community can lower your cost of living because of the natural sharing of resources that takes place. You may also get by with a smaller-sized apartment, given the community's shared spaces.

Is this Affordable Housing?
Unfortunately, cohousing is not an answer to the affordable housing crisis. The cohousing development process saves money in some ways and spends it on others, resulting in a final cost about the same or sometimes even slightly higher than comparable developer-created housing. Cohousing does result in high value for your money - where a typical developer would put in fancy countertops and cut corners where buyers can't see, cohousing groups will invest in high quality construction and common spaces that benefit everyone.

What about city subsidies?
To date cohousing is rarely subsidized. Participants are generally those who can afford to buy their own home.

Many people think we should be able to get city money to help make this project more affordable. While we will certainly be considering including a component of Affordable Housing, subsidized by city programs, it is important to understand that any such units would by law be required to be lotteried to the general public. So if you join the group with the hope of getting an externally subsidized unit it is a long shot.

How big will it be?
We are aiming for 20-30 units.

Will you build from the ground up or buy an existing structure?
We are considering both of these options. It will depend on the properties available and what best suits our needs.

What kind of shared spaces do you plan to have?
Common spaces we hope to have include a courtyard, multi-purpose community rooms, guestrooms, a children's playroom, etc. Living in urban Brooklyn, we expect to creatively design spaces for multiple purposes and flexibility of use.

Do you plan to eat meals together?
Most cohousing communities do have common kitchen and dining facilities and choose to share some meals together. Our community will decide what makes sense for its members. Common meals are optional, and all units will have their own private kitchens.

What happens if I want to sell my home?
Typically cohousing units are offered first to the community and its waiting list for 30 days, at the owner's asking price, and then the owner is free to list it on the open market. Most cohousing units are sold without a need for brokers.

How much time will be required of me?
As an associate of the group (the initial joining level) you can put in as much or as little time as you freely choose. As an associate you can get to know the group and understand the development process, allowing you to evaluate for yourself whether this is for you. Meetings are 2 hours weekly and most associates attend a majority of meetings as well as take on tasks or join committees. Once you become a full Member, the time expectations increase substantially.

What is the joining process?
Before you can join the group you must attend both an orientation and an open meeting as an observer. More about membership is covered in the orientations.

Please come to an orientation to get more of your questions answered.