FAQ - Brooklyn Cohousing

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Where will you be located?

1901 Eighth Avenue. Located in the South Slope/Windsor Terrace /Greenwood Height area (PS 10 school zone), this site has abundant outdoor space and 30 units of varying sizes are planned. We are now working with our development consultants on the design and construction bid processes.

When will you move in?
We intend to start construction this fall and move in in late 2010.

What is school zone/district is it in?
We are zoned for the PS 10 public elementary school, and our families with young children look forward to sending their children to school there. We are in District 15. Public school zones were a very important factor in our site selection process. Links: www.ps10.org and www.insideschools.org.

How are residents selected?
We do not "choose" new members. We ask rather that you choose us thoughtfully by taking the time to get to know us and by reviewing our community agreement and decisions to date to be certain you wish to commit to them. This self-selection process has proven to work very well for cohousing, and the group was founded with that intention. We are a cohesive group that works well together, cares about each other, and is effective in making decisions together; we all self-selected.

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 ethnicities, backgrounds, income levels, family types and religions. 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, cohousing is not the place for you. We are not utopians, we simply seek to join forces with like-minded people to improve our quality of life.

Are you a diverse community?
Yes, the group has diversity in terms of background, ethnicity, socio-economics, age, professions, lifestyle etc. As our founding vision states "This will be a family-friendly, multi-generational community that is open to all ages, races, cultures, religions and family types." We warmly welcome all people who share our goals.

How big will it be?
30 units of varying sizes are planned.

What size apartments will there be?
We have designed for a wide range of sizes of each apartment type (studios -> 3BRs) to meet a wide range of needs. We are creating housing for ourselves (not buying apartments), so those who participate have a big influence on what gets designed.

In cohousing, in order to create the common spaces that enable community life, units tend to be a little smaller as each unit is also paying for a share of the extensive common spaces. We have designed a varying sizes in each unit type to meet a range of needs and means.

What is the ownership structure?
We have decided the co-op model makes the most sense for us here in NYC (Dec. 2008 decision). So legally we plan to be a co-op, although socially we will be cohousing (and we won't have a "co-op board" in the sense that people are used to experiencing them; see above on how residents are self-selecting).

What kind of shared spaces do you plan to have?
Common spaces we are designing include a courtyard, vegetable gardens, a community dining room for optional regular shared meals and celebrations, community kitchen/cafe, workshop, a children's playspace, and exercise room, a solarium, an "adults only lounge", a common roof deck and terraces. Also under consideration are a music room, a small wine cellar, and indoor bike storage.

Do you plan to eat meals together?
Yes, we plan to offer common meals for those who want them, perhaps several times per week. Common meals are optional, and all units will have their own private kitchens.

How much will units cost?
We are still getting costs from contractors etc. Generally speaking, cohousing ends up costing about the same as comparable co-op apartments in the area (so about market rate for the Park Slope area). Our current projections are in the ballpark of: Studios (5) $260,000-$350,000; 1BRs (4) range from about $400,000-$460,000; Small 2BRs (5) range from about $515,000-600,000; Larger 2BRs (5) $649,000-756,000; Small-Medium 3BRs (8) $630,000-790,000; Largest 3-4BRs (3) 950,000-960,000.

Can I save money living in cohousing?
One may be able to select a smaller-sized apartment to help with affordability, given the community's extensive shared spaces. Living in a cohousing community can lower your cost of living because of the natural sharing of resources that takes place (people tend to share child care, tools, etc.) and the focus on long term cost-effectiveness. For instance, we have decided to build our building to "Passive House" standards, which will result in a 90% reduction in heating and cooling costs over a typical NYC building. Furthermore, we expect to save more on our utility bills by doing collective heat and hot water, not individual metering.

Is cohousing 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. We plan to design for a range of unit sizes to allow people of varying means to participate. We hope that when we are successful, many other cohousing groups will form to meet the latent demand in NYC. We also hope to offer a social model for subsidized housing development, which might be able to create cohousing at a lower cost than a self-developed group could.

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. Unfortunately that isn't how the system works. 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 would be a long shot.

Do I have to be an extrovert to live in cohousing?
No, not at all. You are in full control of when you want to be alone in your own space and when you socialize with others. You do need to have a willingness and desire to spend time getting to know your neighbors, and be able to function well with others at times you choose to interact.

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 right for you. Meetings are 2.5 hours weekly and most associates attend a majority of meetings as well as take on tasks or join committees. Associates who are moving towards Membership tend to put in a fair amount of time voluntarily; those who are moving away from Membership naturally scale back their participation. Once you become a full Member, the time you put in tends to increase. However we do not require any set time commitment, and different Members contribute in different ways and amounts according to their life circumstances.

What is the joining process?
Those who are interested in learning more about our group and the cohousing development process become Associates. Before you can become an associate you must attend both an orientation and an open meeting as an observer. About 1 in 3 Associates goes on to become a Member (ie is financially committed to living there). There is no minimum or maximum amount of time you can be an Associate before making your decision. We take new Members as they are ready to join. Only Members have the right to an apartment in the end, and the order in which Members join establishes unit selection for such time as units are available for sale (in the future). More about membership is covered in the orientations.

Please come to an orientation to get more of your questions answered. Or email faq@brooklyncohousing.org if you have a question you think we should answer on this page.

BROOKLYN COHOUSING
a sustaining & sustainable community forming in Brooklyn, New York
Contact us at outreach@brooklyncohousing.org or (718) 374-5177. Sign up for our e-mailing list.
Frequently Asked Questions 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. Where will you be located? 1901 Eighth Avenue. Located in the South Slope/Windsor Terrace /Greenwood Height area (PS 10 school zone), this site has abundant outdoor space and 30 units of varying sizes are planned. We are now working with our development consultants on the design and construction bid processes. When will you move in? We intend to start construction this fall and move in in late 2010. What is school zone/district is it in? We are zoned for the PS 10 public elementary school, and our families with young children look forward to sending their children to school there. We are in District 15. Public school zones were a very important factor in our site selection process. Links: www.ps10.org and www.insideschools.org. How are residents selected? We do not "choose" new members. We ask rather that you choose us thoughtfully by taking the time to get to know us and by reviewing our community agreement and decisions to date to be certain you wish to commit to them. This self-selection process has proven to work very well for cohousing, and the group was founded with that intention. We are a cohesive group that works well together, cares about each other, and is effective in making decisions together; we all self-selected. 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 ethnicities, backgrounds, income levels, family types and religions. 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, cohousing is not the place for you. We are not utopians, we simply seek to join forces with like-minded people to improve our quality of life. Are you a diverse community? Yes, the group has diversity in terms of background, ethnicity, socio-economics, age, professions, lifestyle etc. As our founding vision states "This will be a family-friendly, multi-generational community that is open to all ages, races, cultures, religions and family types." We warmly welcome all people who share our goals. How big will it be? 30 units of varying sizes are planned. What size apartments will there be? We have designed for a wide range of sizes of each apartment type (studios -> 3BRs) to meet a wide range of needs. We are creating housing for ourselves (not buying apartments), so those who participate have a big influence on what gets designed. In cohousing, in order to create the common spaces that enable community life, units tend to be a little smaller as each unit is also paying for a share of the extensive common spaces. We have designed a varying sizes in each unit type to meet a range of needs and means. What is the ownership structure? We have decided the co-op model makes the most sense for us here in NYC (Dec. 2008 decision). So legally we plan to be a co-op, although socially we will be cohousing (and we won't have a "co-op board" in the sense that people are used to experiencing them; see above on how residents are self-selecting). What kind of shared spaces do you plan to have? Common spaces we are designing include a courtyard, vegetable gardens, a community dining room for optional regular shared meals and celebrations, community kitchen/cafe, workshop, a children's playspace, and exercise room, a solarium, an "adults only lounge", a common roof deck and terraces. Also under consideration are a music room, a small wine cellar, and indoor bike storage. Do you plan to eat meals together? Yes, we plan to offer common meals for those who want them, perhaps several times per week. Common meals are optional, and all units will have their own private kitchens. How much will units cost? We are still getting costs from contractors etc. Generally speaking, cohousing ends up costing about the same as comparable co-op apartments in the area (so about market rate for the Park Slope area). Our current projections are in the ballpark of: Studios (5) $260,000-$350,000; 1BRs (4) range from about $400,000-$460,000; Small 2BRs (5) range from about $515,000-600,000; Larger 2BRs (5) $649,000-756,000; Small-Medium 3BRs (8) $630,000-790,000; Largest 3-4BRs (3) 950,000-960,000. Can I save money living in cohousing? One may be able to select a smaller-sized apartment to help with affordability, given the community's extensive shared spaces. Living in a cohousing community can lower your cost of living because of the natural sharing of resources that takes place (people tend to share child care, tools, etc.) and the focus on long term cost-effectiveness. For instance, we have decided to build our building to "Passive House" standards, which will result in a 90% reduction in heating and cooling costs over a typical NYC building. Furthermore, we expect to save more on our utility bills by doing collective heat and hot water, not individual metering. Is cohousing 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. We plan to design for a range of unit sizes to allow people of varying means to participate. We hope that when we are successful, many other cohousing groups will form to meet the latent demand in NYC. We also hope to offer a social model for subsidized housing development, which might be able to create cohousing at a lower cost than a self-developed group could. 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. Unfortunately that isn't how the system works. 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 would be a long shot. Do I have to be an extrovert to live in cohousing? No, not at all. You are in full control of when you want to be alone in your own space and when you socialize with others. You do need to have a willingness and desire to spend time getting to know your neighbors, and be able to function well with others at times you choose to interact. 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 right for you. Meetings are 2.5 hours weekly and most associates attend a majority of meetings as well as take on tasks or join committees. Associates who are moving towards Membership tend to put in a fair amount of time voluntarily; those who are moving away from Membership naturally scale back their participation. Once you become a full Member, the time you put in tends to increase. However we do not require any set time commitment, and different Members contribute in different ways and amounts according to their life circumstances. What is the joining process? Those who are interested in learning more about our group and the cohousing development process become Associates. Before you can become an associate you must attend both an orientation and an open meeting as an observer. About 1 in 3 Associates goes on to become a Member (ie is financially committed to living there). There is no minimum or maximum amount of time you can be an Associate before making your decision. We take new Members as they are ready to join. Only Members have the right to an apartment in the end, and the order in which Members join establishes unit selection for such time as units are available for sale (in the future). More about membership is covered in the orientations. Please come to an orientation to get more of your questions answered. Or email faq@brooklyncohousing.org if you have a question you think we should answer on this page.
© Brooklyn Cohousing. MEMBERSHIP IN BROOKLYN COHOUSING LLC (THE “GROUP”) INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL NET WORTH OR WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MEMBERSHIP FEES THAT MAY BE PAID. NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING MEMBERSHIP OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT “INVITATION FOR MEMBERSHIP” AS SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. ALTHOUGH EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO PRESENT ACCURATE INFORMATION IN THE GROUP’S EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY ORIENTATIONS, PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS, EACH SUCH MATERIAL AND PROGRAM IS NOT LIKELY TO BE COMPLETE. BECAUSE THE GROUP IS AT A FORMATIVE STAGE, ITS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS ARE NOT TO CONSTRUE THESE MATERIALS, OR ANY PRIOR OR SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE GROUP OR ANY OF ITS MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES OR CONSULTANTS, AS LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, INVESTMENT OR TAX ADVICE. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND ARE INTENDED OR SHOULD BE INFERRED WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROPOSED PROJECT OF THE GROUP, THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ANY SUCH PROJECT, OR THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ANY OFFERING REGARDING APARTMENTS IN ANY SUCH PROJECT. EACH MEMBER AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBER IS DIRECTED TO CONSULT ITS OWN ATTORNEY, ACCOUNTANT AND ADVISORS AND MAKE ITS OWN, INDEPENDENT DECISION REGARDING MEMBERSHIP IN THE GROUP. THE ENCLOSED MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A SALE OR OFFER TO PURCHASE REAL ESTATE WHICH CAN ONLY BE MADE BY AN OFFERING PLAN FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. NO FILING HAS YET BEEN MADE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK HAS NOT PASSED ON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE BROOKLYN COHOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL. MEMBERSHIP IN THE GROUP IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INVESTMENT AND THE GROUP IS NOT A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT COMPANY. NO PROFIT IS INTENDED TO BE MADE FROM MEMBERSHIP. ITS MEMBERS ARE THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF THE GROUP, ITS ACTIVITIES AND ANY PROJECT IT MAY UNDERTAKE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GROUP’S OPERATING AGREEMENT. THE ACCOMPANYING MATERIALS HAVE BEEN PREPARED SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GROUP’S MEMBERS AND OF PERSONS CONSIDERING BECOMING MEMBERS. ANY REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THESE MATERIALS IN WHOLE OR PART, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, OR THE DIVULGENCE OF ANY OF ITS CONTENTS, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE GROUP IS PROHIBITED.

BROOKLYN COHOUSING