COOPERATIVE HOUSING

I lived in coops (Co-Ops, not coops!) for 4 years at Oberlin College, and got the opportunity to hold various positions in the co-op system there, which feeds a third of the students on campus and has 4 living cooperatives. It is one of the largest cooperative college housing and food systems in the U.S.

I loved the autonomy that came with cooperative living. It felt inspired, because everyday if you wanted something to change or improve, all you had to do was say so and you'd have a room of smart people there to help you figure out how to make it happen (or tell you it's a terrible idea).

The housing options in the future EcoVillage are being developed with the residents input and needs in mind! This co-created housing community will aim to be comfortable, affordable, and beautiful for tenants and visitors alike. These values will be considered in the design:

- Accessibility for those with special needs

- Comfortable accommodation for all ages and generations

- Mixed-income housing options

- larger, medium and smaller units included that would be appropriate

for families, couples and independent folks

- If doable, LEED Certified

- Community Decision-Making Processes in place

- Regular Meals Together on a Schedule, prepared by tenants

DAVIS, CALIFORNIA

When I visited Davis, California I immediately fell in love. I was smitten by the charm of the Tri-coop system (3 houses in a cute little semi-circle just next to lovely grape vines and gardens), the domes, the chickens running around, the bike church, I could go on...

I was inspired, and immediately knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to dedicate my efforts to creating such a lovely community and sustainable way of life back in my hometown, Chicago.

What in Davis I saw several types of housing- very modern and comfortable eco-homes, the older cooperative houses where I stayed with college students (on the couch), and the more earthy (literally) domes.

For the EcoVillage housing options I want to build something that I would be delighted to live in with my family (husband and daughter), and hopefully you'd love to live in as well. This means a happy medium between luxury eco-mansion and dirt floor cave. The aim is to have comfortable and modern accommodations, but plenty of charm and whimsy (the passing chickens should provide this, no problem).

COMMUNITY IMPUT

There is no community without people. Please email me and let me know what you'd like to see in our residences! Let's make this village the place of our dreams, and a place you'd be proud to call home.

BIKE ACCESS

The site will be designed to accommodate residents who have cars, but the experience of being in the community itself will be car-free. The intention is that you can get your groceries from car to your kitchen (yes everyone will have their own kitchen, community meals are a few times a month), but we won't use up precious community space with vehicles.

Parking will cleverly be tucked where it doesn't distract from the natural beauty of the site and its design, and by design the residents will be encouraged to bike and walk the property.

TINY HOUSES

What do you need to make a great community? Great people!

So, in order to fit super terrific people onto a limited space site, enter TINY HOUSES! Tiny Houses are in line with the EcoVillage core values of simple living, sustainable consumption, and less is more.

The basic vision (though very rough at this point) is to have a circle of tiny houses and/or domes, with one larger main building with apartment units (maybe recycled containers? maybe not.) and a large community kitchen and gathering space for meals and events.

If you have a better idea- let me know! I'm not an architect- let me know if you know somebody...