BROOKLYN COHOUSING

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 building(s), 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.

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 moral belief or religion. So for example, if you only want to live with other X people, cohousing is not the place for you. However if you want to live with a diversity of people and have your personal moral values respected & appreciated (but don't expect them to limit the behavior of others), then cohousing may be for you.

 

We are not utopians, we simply seek to join forces with like-minded people to improve our quality of life.

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. We are a mix of people, some of whom really look forward to this aspect of cohousing and others who do not expect to participate in the meal sharing option.

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. Cohousing is well suited to meeting different social needs within a couple - the extroverts can socialize more and the introverts can choose more privacy. 

Can I save money living in cohousing?
One can choose 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.

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 have designed a range of unit sizes (thus unit costs) 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, hopefully some can find city affordability support.

 

What about city subsidies?
To date cohousing is rarely subsidized by government in the US. Participants are generally those who can afford to buy their own home.

We looked into getting city money to help increase our economic and other diversity. Unfortunately that isn't how the system works. Any such units would by law be required to be lotteried to the general public. So the affordable housing system is counter to the way cohousing socially develops - people join a cohousing group based on compatibility of goals and values and expectations, not anonymously (as would happen by lottery). If anyone knows about private sources of funds that would like to help us multiply our existing modest internal affordability mechanisms, please let us know (would have to be funders willing to help specific qualified individuals interested in our project buy an apartment - downpayment assistance and the like).

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?
You can put in as much or as little time as you freely choose.  Meetings are 2.5 hours weekly and some people attend weekly, others much less frequently. We do a lot on email, and again people participate at different levels through email. We do not require any set time commitment, and different people contribute in different ways and amounts according to their life circumstances. We are supportive of parenting and recognize that those caring for young children have limited time available to them to participate formally, yet their presence in community life is highly valued. The same is true of those who work long hours, or have other commitments that limit their time participation. Basically we take the long view - the system works because people participate in the ways they enjoy and as they are able, rather than out of some sense of obligation.

What is the joining process?
We are not accepting new members at this time.

Still have unanswered questions? We're trying to answer as many as we can through this website, please email faq@brooklyncohousing.org and let us know what else is on your mind.