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Copyright © 1997 by Erica Ohr
All rights reserved. Inquiries should be addressed to
Twelve Star Publishing, P.O. Box 123, Jefferson, MD 21755
Do you know your neighbors? Have you ever wished to
be part of a close-knit community?
Cohousing offers alternatives in residential development
which create and promote neighborhoods; where next-door neighbors
know one another and collaborate on many things -- from meals
to the purchase of a common lawn mower, from childcare to workshops.
Just six years ago there were only two cohousing developments
in the United States. Today there are about 50 completed projects
around the country with more than 200 others in various stages
of development.
Cohousing originated in Denmark in the early 1980's and
has gradually gained widespread popularity as a desirable trend
in development. Typically pedestrian trails or "main streets"
are created to engender connection between families. At the heart
of the community, the Common House includes a kitchen and large
dining area for shared meals, office space, workshops, playrooms,
storage area and laundry room.
Cohousing developments are usually designed, planned and
managed with a high degree of participation by future residents.
Ideally, residents include a broad social mix, diverse in age,
race, economic background and marital status.
The land use plan and architectural design encourage systems
that engender community -- the primary goal for cohousing communities.
Residents seek to avoid the sterility of most modern living and
create an environment where community members may work and socialize
together, yet maintain needed privacy.
Three local developments -- EcoVillage in Loudoun County,
Virginia, Liberty Village in Frederick County, Maryland, and Blueberry
Hill in Fairfax County, Virginia -- incorporate cohousing principles
into their development plans. Each of these communities originated
with a core group of people who wanted to create a neighborhood
where they could live, thrive and create a community to call home.
Each of these local communities is unique and in a different
stage of completion:
EcoVillage
Eco Village is finalizing home and Common House designs. The 180
acre site near Leesburg, VA is comprised of rolling farmland,
several streams, spectacular views and mature trees. Only 15 percent
of the property will be developed to accommodate the building
of two clusters of 25 homes, each with its own Common House. EcoVillage
is being created with the recognition of the interdependence of
human health, community health and the health of our planet. Besides
the incorporation of cohousing principals, EcoVillage is also
implementing many energy saving and sound environmental practices.
Sale of land and homes is expected to begin in January of 1998.
Liberty Village
Liberty Village is located on 24 acres in the beautiful rolling
country of eastern Frederick County, MD. The property is fully
designed and 57% sold. New residents ("Partners" as
they are called) may still choose home size and layout. Eight
acres are dedicated for separate residences grouped around the
Common House. Sixteen acres are reserved for open space, streams,
pond, woodlands, wetland and meadows. Future residents are committed
to creating a community that meets their needs for both privacy
and something they feel is missing in their lives: a sense of
community and sharing that was once a more common part of daily
life in neighborhoods and extended families. Construction of the
first 20 residences will begin as soon as final platting iscompleted.
Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill, a community that is actively involved in its
planning stage, anticipates occupancy in the spring of 1999. This
cohousing community is located in Vienna, VA, just 30 minutes
from Washington, D.C., with access to the Metro bus line and a
highly rated public school system. Blueberry Hill is 50 % sold
with a planned total of 19 single-family detached homes. It will
have a 2,500 square foot Common House, and features 15 acres of
outdoor space adjacent to the largest certified working organic
vegetable farm in VA. One of the goals of the community is to
preserve the open space and the farm -- a rarity so close to Washington
D.C.
Each cohousing community develops in a different way, but
in general involves a collective purchase of land, the development
of clustered homes around a Common House, and the encouragement
of community building activities. Shared ownership of homeowners
tools -- from washers and dryers to lawn mowers and cars -- contributes
to energy efficiency and conservation. Although members of cohousing
communities have common goals, the overall goal of the community
is not to live as one, but to establish the foundations for a
community where balance between privacy is guarded and community
enhanced.
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