Last weekend my husband Thom and I drove to Tucson, AZ to visit three thriving cohousing communities. As I wrote about in January, even though the concept of cohousing is still relatively young, it’s appeal is growing as others discover the benefits. Ever since I first heard about them, I recognized how many ways they mimic the advantages I find from rightsizing. After touring all three facilities, it is also evident that they embrace the core values of SMART*. Is cohousing a wave of the future? It likely depends on whether you value community, and if you see them as a path to living your values.
Tucson is unique because they have three cohousing communities within their city limits that have existed for over ten years. Fortunately for us, Tucson is only a six to seven hour drive from where I live in Southern California. Each of the three communities has a website and contact information, so it wasn’t difficult to arrange tours with enough notice. Is there a cohousing community near you? The best way to find out is to go to the website: cohousing.org where they have an extensive list of all existing and forming cohousing communities in the U.S. The organization is also planning a nationwide “open-house” on April 30, 2016 with more information on their website.
The first community we visited is named Stone Curves Cohousing Community and it rests on 5.1 acres about four miles from downtown. There we met a young woman and resident named Kat who enthusiastically showed us through her community. From the outside, Stone Curves looks somewhat like an attractive condo project. A big difference is that the parking exists solely on the outside perimeter, and none are connected to the homes themselves. Why? This makes
people walk to-and-from their front doors. Even better, it creates friendly spaces for people to wave or connect with their neighbors as they come and go. After living in a large suburban home for many years, I can attest to how easy it is to drive into a three-car garage without a word or even eye-contact with your neighbors. That’s just not possible in a cohousing community—and that’s the point.
The 48 residences at Stone Curves are clustered into five “villages” built around a central courtyard area with a table and chairs under a variety of different canopies. Each “village” features a different personality, plants, and artist touches designed and maintained by the residents of that village. Stone Curves is multigenerational with floorplans ranging from one bedroom-one bath homes for singles, to up to four bedrooms for families.
Another thing that makes cohousing communities unique is the intention to sacrifice large square footages within the homes in order to make both the space and the resources to build and maintain common space and facilities with others. In other words, cohousing promotes sharing resources to benefit everyone.
Stone Curves has a 3,850 square foot Common House built around an open courtyard. In the Common House, there is a big kitchen with commercial grade appliances, a dining room with seating for up to 100 people, a laundry room, three guest bedrooms, a library, living room, children’s room, exercise and yoga room, and more. Beyond the Common House is a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, an 800 square foot workshop, outdoor barbecue area, children’s playground, a community garden, a dog run, a chicken coop and yard, and a large open space lawn for games, picnics and outdoor movies.
Of course, other housing developments and condo projects may contain some of these amenities, but what makes cohousing properties even more unique is that they are self-managed and maintained. At Stone Curves, every adult resident is expected to volunteer to do a task of his or her choosing. For example, I asked about an art room for residents and was told that a previous resident offered all sorts of art classes and projects, but when that resident moved, the benefit dropped away until someone else takes up the offering.
Another clearly visible distinction was a design embracing the natural environment. Like most cohousing communities, the Stone Curves community aims to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. Using low-water plants and landscaping, indigenous fruit trees, a permaculture design, composting and rain-water capture and cisterns for irrigation, they strive to live lightly on the planet.
Our second tour was the nearby Sonora Cohousing Community. Sonora was the first project in Tucson built in 2000 and contains 36 homes on 4.8 acres. At Sonora a resident named Martha strolled proudly through her community sharing details about how she helped to create the property. Like most cohousing neighborhoods, the idea of the community began long before construction ever starts. By bringing together people with shared intentions, the design, location, financing, and creation, all followed those early meetings that began back in the mid-1990s.
Like the other two, Sonora is a multigenerational community. What is evident at both Sonora and Stone Curves is that families are both encouraged and supported. At both properties we witnessed children playing freely with one another in the open spaces and play areas provided. It is easy to imagine why a parent would be appreciative of a community where their children are given safe and fun areas to play and the ongoing interaction with other kids. As one mom said when we stopped to chat, if I need a break, I suggest they find their friends and play outside. There is always one or another mom ready to keep an eye on them. Clearly a huge benefit is that children play outside with each other rather than on video games or sitting blankly in front of a television.
Many of the residences at Sonora are rows of both one and two-story homes with front porches leading out to the collective front gathering spaces. While the front porches invite interaction, all units have a private patio in the back. Martha made sure to tell us that the original residents of Sonora designed and built their Common House using straw-bale themselves. That building features a community kitchen and dining room, one guest room, craft room, children’s room, laundry and more.
The property has a swimming pool, a community garden, a chicken run and a dog run. Activities include weekly dinners, weekly yoga instruction, book clubs and art classes. Much like Stone Curves, the close-in neighborhood is walkable to grocery, other shopping and University of Arizona at Tucson. Miles of bike trails connect it car-free to many areas of Tucson.
The final community we toured in Tucson was Milagro Cohousing. The 28 homes of Milagro were designed and completed in 2002 specifically to create a more rural and secluded community than the other two with a stronger emphasis on nature. With a total of 43 acres owned by the community, the homes and community resources only occupy eight of those acres, leaving 35 acres of undisturbed open desert space.
The homes and the 3,600 square foot Common House are built using adobe blocks and passive solar orientation. Natural landscaping, permaculture and other landscaping compatible with the environment are all evident. Of particular note is the private wetlands and wastewater recycling program that sustains the community.
Milagro is the smallest cohousing community with the least amount of children, although as we learned this is a fluid event in all multigenerational communities. And although it feels much
more rural than the other two, Milagro is only a few miles outside the main part of Tucson and 12 minutes by car to downtown. The expansive views and the peaceful and quiet setting are part of its charm.
Final Thoughts
After spending just two days touring these properties, we felt slightly overloaded with impressions, questions, and ideas. Then at the last minute, we were graciously invited to attend a potluck being held that night at Stone Curves for all three communities. Although we had only spent an hour or so at each property, we were welcomed back in as old friends. Talking a mile a minute, eating piles of good food, and having a glass of wine (or two) while enjoying the beautiful balmy spring weather was pretty close to heaven.
Are there challenges? Yes. An answer to the question we raised during every tour was that you can’t expect to get along with every person in your community. Instead, as one resident told us, it’s good to expect that you will be close to about one-third of your neighbors, be able to co-exist peacefully with another third, and just be polite and tolerant of the final third. But in a neighborhood where there are 100 people, ranging in age from 9 months to 93 years old, that both reasonable and desirable. Plus just, knowing that those 100 people share your values for most things and are willing to not only pay for them, but continually do the work to fulfill them, is another testimony.
Also problematic is the co-management of the property and facilities. The majority of cohousing communities strive for consensus. But consensus takes time, patience and even training. Learning to get along, deep communication, sharing resources and ideas, and living peacefully and cooperatively is not something that most people strive for in typical neighborhoods. Cohousing residents live that way every day.
It has become very common in our society to turn over responsibility for the things we say we want to experience in our lives. We go to a doctor and expect him to fix us in return for payment, we expect our schools to educate our children, and our government run things the way we think it should be run. A cohousing community instead asks us to get involved, take responsibility for the things we say we value, and participate, even when it is hard. However, the payoff seems to be the authentic and deeply connected values that so many of us crave.
Are Thom and I moving to Tucson? Probably not. But the examples we witnessed there hold great attraction. For so many reasons community is important. Even more important is the reminder that it’s SMART to live your values.
*SMART = Sustainable, Meaningful, Aware, Responsible & Thankful
Note: The Cohousing Association of the U.S. is holding it’s annual conference May 20-21, 2016 in Salt Lake City. For more info go to Aging Better Together—The Power of Community.
I watched a documentary about these types of communities not to long ago. I was fascinated in the way that they all pitched in and got things done. I don’t know if I could do it, but never say never. I’ve been such an island for so long I don’t know how I would react to “community”.
Hi Rena! I would think that you would be a natural in these types of communities based upon your caregiving and nurturing qualities. I think the advantage in this type of community is that you would never be alone even with the responsibilities you share because there were be close neighbors always watching out with you. Plus if you needed something, they would be right there to be of help. Of course, anytime people attempt to live near one another there can be challenges. It just depends on whether the trade-off for such a lifestyle would work for you. We’re still not sure, but it is something to consider for sure. ~Kathy
I love learning about alternative housing options, what a fun read this morning! It was great to hear how honest people were about the challenges of building and maintaining a cohousing environment. It does sound awfully appealing. Great article, thank you so much for sharing your visit.
Hi Terri! Glad I was able to share with you something that is new and growing here in the U.S. While it isn’t always easy, I do think the advantages of knowing your neighbors on a first name basis has a lot of appeal for some of us. And while not really “new” in concept, most of our suburbs and busy lives have taken us away from the way people used to live when the country was much more rural. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your thoughts. ~Kathy
So very interesting and appealing. Looking forward to learning more.
Hi Carol! Glad I was able to share some of the many positive qualities of this kind of living. It’s different for sure but fills a niche for many. ~Kathy
What an interesting concept! I looked at the website to see if there was anything in Southern California but didn’t see many (not that I am surprised – they are mostly up north). My husband would love the workshops! I would be thrilled with the gardens and community feel. The website also listed many cohousing groups that are forming so it appears that a lot of people are embracing the concept.
Hi Janis! Yes, Thom and I are toying with the idea of seeing if others here in the Coachella Valley are interested in the idea and I’ll bet you could do the same in the San Diego area. I think it takes someone who finds the idea intriguing and then willing to see what happens. I think it took the Tucson group about 5 years or so to get going on their “dream.” Even then the original group broke in half with 1/2 wanting to be more urban and the other 1/2 wanting to be more rural. I think finding the land and keeping costs down is a big hurdle. Just looked at one of the homes online in a senior cohousing in Boulder at $800K+ so that alone can keep people from enjoying. BUT, the good news is that I think there are different ways to do it and Thom and I are enjoying the learning curve. ~Kathy
Kathy,
Mitch here, I live at Stone Curves.
There are a few contractors, architects and financiers who deal solely with Co-Housing.
Should you wish to pursue your thoughts on building your own Co-Housing, I would be glad to supply these contacts to you for further investigation!
Here’s a link to a great resource for infrastructure planning and creation of a co-housing community. http://www.cohousing.org/creating
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Hi Mitch! Sorry we didn’t get to meet you in person when we attended. Stone Curves is a wonderful community and from the people we DID meet there, filled with great people. I am familiar with the cohousing website and agree that it has tons of resources. Thanks for your offer. If we move in that direction I will contact you for a list. Of course, Thom and I will be attending the cohousing conference in May in Salt Lake City and believe we will be getting LOTS of input there as well. Thanks for your comment. ~Kathy
Interesting at first, but on further analysis it sounds like reinventingn the wheel with a few gimmicks. I imagine them being very expensive, too.
This is just like life in an old fashion village or borgo.
But, hey, just my humble opinion.
Hi Chiara! Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation. I agree that these communities are not “new” but they are an updated and “current” version of the old-fashioned village for the 21st century. I think as we all know that community is being eroded in our culture these days so this is an alternative for some. And as for expensive, they can be but 2 out of the 3 we visited in Tucson were quite reasonable and had waiting lists for both buying and renting. All stuff to note and compare. ~Kathy
Wow Kathy this is quite interesting. Extroverted, healthy people who are willing to interact and help could do well with the gardening, cooking, cleaning and sharing. Most of us crave some private space and it is great that the cohousing allows that. Do people buy in and then join something like an HOA?
Hey Gary! Yes, it was great to see these communities in action. And while they still have their challenges (doesn’t any group of people everywhere?) they are doing their best to find ways to work together for the good of the whole. They did insist that privacy was up to each person. Those we talked to assured us that some people are not that “active” and tended to themselves much more than others. The thing I think I learned the most was that it is a group of people just like any group of people. I think about the only difference is that they do come together for the purpose of community and working things out if possible. But from what I heard, they still attract their “odd man/woman out” now and then. I think it’s important to realize that even with “shared values” we all have different personalities and communication styles making us unique! Oh, and yes, when you buy you buy into a “condo” type arrangement. You own your home separately but all common areas are owned together. And then dues are collected to cover the common area needs. BUT–you don’t pay for management like so many other condos do so it should be somewhat lower. ~Kathy
At Stone Curves (and other co-housings) we do pay a COA, which is akin to an HOA. Our fees are commensurate with HOA fees in the area. Our amenities are beyond those of a standard Condo facility though. NOTHING here has a charge for usage. Want to throw that party for 100 of your closest friends? No problem, just sign up for the date. Laundry facilities, no charge and the laundry provides grey water to our citrus groves.
Ever have the relatives want to visit?
Me, I’m like, “I love ya folks, but I don’t want to wake up next to you…”:)
So…We have three guest suites for visitor usage – again, no charge.
Point of this? We can have outrageous amenities while having reasonable COA fees by providing the bulk of the maintenance, repair and upgrading of stuff ourselves.
I’ve been looking at cohousing for years in Washington State, where we live. Haven’t found the right place yet. In the winter, we live in a 55+ community where people live in park models (trailers) or RVs. It has much the feel of a cohousing community, and we love it.
Hi Linda! Good for you for checking it out and then being careful to make sure it’s a fit. If it doesn’t add to your life then why switch? Especially when you have something that sounds like it is working for you. Before we headed in Tucson we stopped in Phoenix (well east of Phoenix really) to visit my cousin and her husband. They too live in a 55 and older RV type community for half the year and I agree that in many ways it is similar. I think the real key is the “connection” you feel and whether you have people who are close that you can rely on in an emergency. Thanks for sharing your experience. ~Kathy
What great information, Kathy. I have a group of close Labrador breeders, and we’ve talked about doing this for a decade! So the ins and outs of how these communities function is great info for me/us.
I don’t know if we’ll ever actually get it done (lol), but we’re still talking about it! I’m going to send them all this link.
Thank You!