WHAT IS COHOUSING?

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WHAT IS COHOUSING?
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Cohousing...

• is a form of intentional community that was
  imported to the United States from Denmark in the
  late 80s.
• provides the privacy we are accustomed to with
  the community we seek.

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Characteristics of Cohousing

• Participatory Process --
• Residents participate extensively in the
  planning and design process for the housing
  development.

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• Intentional Neighborhood Design --
• The physical design encourages a strong sense
  of community

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• Extensive Common Facilities --
• To supplement private living areas, common
  areas are designed for community activities like
  optional shared meals and community gardens.
• Complete Resident Management --
• Most decisions are made using a refined
  consensus process.

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Cohousing strives to create a village of all ages
and backgrounds where neighbors know and support
each other.
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Cohousing is supportive of all generations.

• Children have the opportunity to be raised by a
  nearby extended family.
• Adults enjoy the opportunity to socialize and
  form interest and support groups without the
  stress of driving across town.

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Bringing people close together can make it easier
to share resources.

• Individuals unique skills are shared and valued.
  You can always find someone to help with a chore
  or do something you cannot.
• Children can have many adult mentors from whom
  they can learn a variety of skills.

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The cohousing model recognizes that a balance of
private and common spaces helps support a strong
community life.
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Cohousing is more ecologically sustainable than
most suburban housing in the U.S. today.

• Clustered housing saves valuable land for
  community facilities, recreation, and
  conservation and promotes community connection.

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• Smaller homes save construction materials and
  energy for heating and cooling.
• Shared items mean less consumption of
  non-renewable resources.

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The common house is a shared space used by
residents for many functions.

• Cooking and dining together
• Celebrations
• Large events, such as weddings
• Entertainment -- theatre, music, and
  multicultural sharing
• Meetings

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The common house also provides...

• Guest rooms as a community asset for visiting
  friends and relatives.
• A kids room as a play space and childcare area,
  where children can be children.

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• Laundry facilities which save resources and bring
  people together.
• A community workshop which allows tools and
  materials to be shared, thus freeing up space in
  individual homes.

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How is cohousing built?

• Most groups make development and design decisions
  by consensus.

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• Groups call on the expertise of professionals
  such as developers, engineers, architects,
  lawyers, builders and contractors.

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It takes longer to build a cohousing community,
but the process is worth it!

• Because residents design the community themselves
  . . .
• They feel a connection to the land and each other
  before the physical community is built.

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What is Garden State Cohousing?

• A startup cohousing community in New Jersey which
  formed in May 2003.

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• We envision about 30 units in our community.
• We are researching sites within 1 ½ hours of NYC.
• We are currently determining our land criteria.

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• We are researching ways to have units of varying
  sizes and initial costs.
• We are in the formative stages of creating Garden
  State Cohousing the earlier you commit, the more
  input you have into the entire direction of the
  project.