Frequently Asked Questions About Cohousing:
- Is Cohousing the same as Co-op housing?
- Is this Affordable Housing?
- Is this seniors housing/are children allowed?
- Is this suitable for families?
- Are there opportunities for me to operate a home-based business?
- I’d love to be a part of Pacific Gardens Cohousing but don’t know how I can afford it.
- Will my unit have a kitchen, or do I have to eat all my meals in the common house?
- Can I have pets?
- Community sounds great, but at times, I need my privacy. How does that work?
- Will I be able to garden?
- When will it be completed?
- What units are available?
- Is there a selection process?
- How can I learn more about cohousing?
- Where can I read articles about cohousing communities in Canada?
- I’d like to email a question that isn’t answered here
Q. Is Cohousing the same as Co-op housing?
A. The ‘co’ in cohousing refers to ‘collaborative’. The basic concept is one of reducing one’s privately owned space and amenities in favor of increased access to shared ones. A full 28% of our building square footage is common space, while the average condo development allots only 6%.
A cohousing developments is designed to foster relationships amongst its residents, whereas co-op housing is a type of ownership and tenancy, often linked to government sponsored Affordability Programs. Pacific Gardens is a cluster of fee-simple strata-titled properties built in an apartment style with extensive common amenities. It boasts a glass-roofed indoor ’street’ accessible from all units. There is an extensive ‘common house’, which has a large kitchen adjacent to a dining/activity hall in which residents participate in community meals, often twice a week or more.
We have several more common activity rooms, such as an exercise room, crafts room, soundproof music room, teen room, children’s playroom, shared office, guest rooms, conversation lounge, woodworkshop, and bicycle storage room.
When it comes to laundry facilities, residents have a choice. Each apartment has a utility room with hook ups for a washer and dryer, but some residents prefer to use the communal laundry room instead.
As we settle into our community, experience what it’s like to live here, and have a chance to figure out the logistics, we may build additional communal facilities. For example, some of our residents are keen to erect a greenhouse, and this is something we are considering.
Q. Is this “Affordable Housing”?
A. In British Columbia, Affordable Housing (Capital A, capital H) is a form of subsidized housing intended to provide certain qualified individuals or families with housing opportunities, normally beyond their financial reach. Although a cohousing development may opt to include some “Affordable” units, this is not generally the rule since the residents are vetted on their philosophical compatibility rather than their income bracket. When the discussion is about affordable housing (without the capitals) the topic must naturally include some distinction between affordable buy-in and sustained affordability. You can either buy a pair of $29 shoes every four months or a more costly pair every three years. The founding members of Pacific Gardens aimed to create a cost effective project in the long term, although this involved incurring higher costs in the short term.
Q. Is this seniors housing/are children allowed?
A. Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community strives to ensure a diverse multi-generational community welcoming all age groups and family sizes. We feel that when three or more generations live together in the same complex, it provides an opportunity for the respect and inclusion of our elders, minimizes the alienation of any age group, and strengthens our community. For those of us who live here, the variety of family constellations is one the delights of Pacific Gardens.
Q. Is this suitable for families?
A. PGCC was created to be multi-generational and family-friendly. Mothering Magazine has published several articles about the benefits children and parents experience in co-housing. To see the relevant articles, please click here. We Pacific Gardeners can attest how enriching it is to have neighbours all the way from four years of age to 74.
Q. Are there opportunities for me to operate a home-based business?
A. Yes. These days many people work from home, and that includes some of us Pacific Gardeners. Keep in mind, however, that the City of Nanaimo has a number of regulations that govern the type of business you may conduct from home. Additionally, as we continue to gather experience of living in community, our Strata Council may adopt consensual guidelines regarding allowed business practices.
Q. I’d love to be a part of Pacific Gardens Cohousing but don’t know how I can’t afford it.
A. If you’re concerned about costs, come in and talk to us. Many of our owners have solved their financing issues and may be able to offer ideas and suggestions that would work for you too. Co-ownership is another area that several prospective owners are investigating. If you’d like to explore that option, please contact us. There also are rental opportunities at Pacific Gardens.
Q. Will my unit have a kitchen, or do I have to eat all my meals in the common house?
A. All units are self-contained. All have fully functioning kitchens and laundry hookups. We regularly have common meals, and most residents participate. Indeed, for many of us, sharing meals in our dining hall is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the cohousing lifestyle. But, with that said, participation in common meals is entirely optional. We also have a common laundry room for those who do not wish to have private laundry facilities in their units.
A. Yes, pets are permitted. In fact pets already are amongst the occupants of Pacific Gardens. However, our bylaws do include some stipulations about spaying, neutering, vaccinations, etc.
Q. Community sounds great, but at times I need my privacy. How does that work?
A. Many of us who live at Pacific Gardens appreciate community but also value our privacy. After living here for a short time, we sense who is an extrovert and welcomes company at almost any time and who is an introvert and needs personal space. Several of us use our kitchen blinds as a signal. Closed kitchen blinds mean, “Privacy please,” while open blinds mean, “Drop by if you like.”
A. Absolutely! The high regard that many of our residents have for gardening is reflected in our very name — Pacific Gardens. Although our community is new and we still are settling in, a start was made on a small communal winter garden during the fall of 2009. Discussions already are under way for the expansion of our organic vegetable gardens in the spring and summer of 2010. As our property previously was a heritage apple orchard, we are fortunate to have some established fruit trees. In time, we would like to build a greenhouse. Our compost bins already are accumulating naturally nutrient-rich soil for our green-thumbers.
A. Construction is substantially complete. September 4, 2009 was a red letter day for us. That was the date on which we received our occupancy permit.
A. Click Here to see the list of units available.
Q. Is there a selection process?
A. Pacific Gardens is a self-selecting group. Essentially, if you meet most members of our group, acquaint yourself with our values, policies and decisions, and decide you are a good fit, then you probably will be. We feel that, if you fully understand and consider what cohousing is, you are the one best qualified to determine if you will be a good member of the community and if the community will be good for you.
Q. Where can I read articles about cohousing communities in Canada?
A. Past issues of the Canadian Cohousing Network newsletter are available at: http://cohousing.ca/newsletter.htm.
Q. How can I learn more about cohousing?
Read:
- The Cohousing Handbook by Chris & Kelly Scotthanson
- Creating a Life Together by Diana Leafe Christian
- Finding Community by Diana Leafe Christian
- On Conflict and Consensus by C.T. Butler
- Introduction to Consensus by Bea Briggs
- Browse articles on www.cohousing.ca and www.cohousing.org
Watch:
- “Practical Tools to Grow an Intentional Community” with Diana Leafe Christian at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlMDckgqU30
- “Voices of Cohousing: Building Small Villages in the City” DVD by Matthieu Lietaert
- Note: The DVD and all of the books mentioned above are available for short-term loan from the Pacific Gardens Office.