Westport Cohousing News & Views

Re-forming, change in emphasis

2010-10-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Regrets that the Westport Cohousing blog has not been been updated over the past several months. Our Facebook page has become our primary communication tool while we were in between webmasters.

We have been rethinking our timeline and strategies. The current economic climate has limited our options to create a physical community. For now, we have refocused our efforts and are creating a social community while we live in our current homes. We have many of the same goals of living "green" and developing a new community in beautiful Westport; at this time we are enjoying shared meals, friendship and social support.

We meet twice a month, and one of those meetings - the third Sunday of the month at 5:00 PM, is always open for new people. The new few informational meetings are on October 17, November 21 and December 19. Call 508 636 6537 for the location.

March Coho Meeting

2010-03-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Westport Cohousing's monthly meeting will be Friday March 26 at the Macomber Community House, 930 Main Road in Westport. There's a Potluck supper at 6 PM, and the meeting is at 6:45.

Rosemary and Tony Melli are the co-chairs for the meeting. RSVP to 508 636 8047.

Next Meeting February 19 at 6PM

2010-02-06T11:26:00.001-08:00

We continue to meet at Macomber House, 930 Main Road in Westport - pictured above. Potluck supper is at 6 and the meeting will begin at 6:45, over about 8:30 PM. Children are welcome. RSVP to Emily and Dave at 508 636 4963. Questions, call Elaine at 508 636 6537.

Frequently Asked Questions

2010-02-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

Frequently Asked Questions about Westport Cohousing

1.In a nutshell, what is Westport Cohousing? It’s all about building community – we share the desire to create a neighborhood – a supportive, family friendly, intergenerational community with responsible, caring neighbors. The community will be planned, developed and managed by the people who live there. The big idea is to “live gently on the earth.” People can choose their level of community involvement and privacy. It will have about 24 households.

2.What will the community look like? There will be closely clustered housing, joined by walkways with open areas where children can play safely. It will have a larger “Common House” where families have the option of organizing & enjoying group dinners 1-3 times a week. The Common House serves as the center for many activities, such as play space, work shops, exercise room, guest rooms. The group will prioritize this as we design it. Cars, and sheds for parking, will be kept to the perimeter of the community, to make it more pedestrian friendly.

3.Do people own their own homes? Yes, through a condominium structure that includes the land and the Common House.

4.Do homes have their own kitchens? Yes

5.What are the sizes of the individual homes? Smaller than usual! They can range from 700 sq. ft for 1 BR, up to 1500 for 3-BR (all this to be designed and planned by the group).

6.What are the ways that you’ll be environmentally friendly? We plan to have high green standards. The basics are location of the community to minimize use of cars, positioning of the houses for solar gain, the possibility of shared walls, good insulation, triple glazing, alternative innovative wastewater treatment, and a large community garden. We’ll plan for solar panels, but they and other features such as geothermal, wind turbines, composting toilets, and other design features are all to be evaluated, added as feasible. Some items may be for the whole community; some may be by individual household.

7.What are the categories of membership? Equity members invest $1,000 and $50 per month; Associate members, $100 and $30 a month.

8.How many members do you have? As of February 1, 2010 we have 5 Equity Members and 3 Associate Members. There are over 100 people on the “Keep in touch” list.

9.How do you make decisions? By consensus.

10.Do you have any land in mind? Yes; we’ve identified about 5 properties in or near Central Village that we are evaluating now. You’ll learn more about them at our meetings.

11.What will it cost? Cohousing typically costs a little more than something of comparable size in the town as a result of the shared amenities such as the Common House. We’ll be detailing projected costs in relation to the properties.

12.Will there be any affordable units? Yes. In order to build more densely and with smaller lots per home, we’ll be applying for a ‘Comprehensive Permit” as a Local Initiative Program. Twenty-five % will be affordable as part of the permitting process. The details of eligibility for the “Affordable Units” are very precise and will be explained at a meeting, with handouts.

13.What is the time frame for planning, building and moving in? It generally takes 2 – 4 years. We’ve been meeting for about a year.

14.Suppose I (we) change our mind and need to pull out. What are the financial risks? People will get their initial investment back, but it may not be immediate. It might require waiting until the next person joins, so as not to impact the development process.

15.What professional help have you had to date? We’ve been fortunate to have had substantial “pro bono” contributions from very experienced people including a cohousing development consultant, an engineer, an architect, and a builder.

16.How can I learn more about Cohousing? Online, via www.cohousing.org is an amazing, deep website where you can learn about all the other communities in the US, as well as overall Cohousing philosophy and practices. You’ll find links to newspaper and magazine articles world wide. It lists good books and slide shows. Teleconferences are also helpful. You can join the list serve, and get daily updates on the concerns and solutions from other cohousing communities. The best way to learn is to visit other communities. We have visited at least 7 as a group in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and another 5 as individuals or smaller groups.

17.What are the next steps for Westport Cohousing? When we have 8 Equity households we’ll hold a planning retreat with John Ryan, our development advisor. At that time we’ll learn much more about the financing, the development process and will establish a development framework and timeline.

WE HOPE THAT YOU’LL JOIN US AT OUR NEXT POTLUCK & MEETING. CONTACT EMILY AND DAVE SUTTON AT 508 636 4963 or emilyhsutton@gmail.com.

Rocky Hill, another site layout -

2009-10-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Rocky Hill folks wanted more trees in their center area.

Pathways center area, at the Common House deck

2009-10-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Visits to 3 Western Mass Cohousing Communities

2009-10-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

7 people from Westport Cohousing visited 3 cohousing communities on Sunday October 4. Pioneer Valley Cohousing in North Amherst was the first in Massachusetts; they moved in 1994. Pathways Cohousing folks moved in 2000 and Rocky Hill Cohousing folks moved in 2004. We visited them in that sequence, and saw the evolution and how each development was informed and inspired by the previous one. Our Pioneer Valley host said, "We just went a little wild; we were the first! We were all so excited with the choices that we could make..."

Here are photos looking at the settings of each. Pioneer Valley is on a hillside; each home has glorious views. And many stairs. Pathways is on flatter ground; the trees were cleared to make an open space. The houses are laid out so that people from every house can see the center area and the Common House. The Center area has play equipment and walls where people can sit. Rocky Hill wanted to have trees in the center, and just glimpses of each other house.

The kitchens and the 'Great Rooms' in each community are also somewhat different, although they each function effectively as the 'heart' of the community.

Week 12 - Our last week at the Farmer's Market

2009-10-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

The Westport Farmer's Market at the Grange was a fine place to be on Saturdays throughout the summer. We met a lot of interested people who stopped by our table to ask us about cohousing. There was good conversation as well as books, maps and great slide shows to introduce them to cohousing. We added over 60 people to our 'Keep in Touch' mailing list.

The "Introduction to Cohousing" slide show developed by Kraus & Fitch Architects was a graphic and very succinct way to show people the basics of cohousing. We had 4 shows loaded on the computer - 3 from Kraus and Fitch and one that we had developed about Westport Cohousing. The photo shows the setup of Emily's laptop computer and an interested person watching the show about Westport.

Recent Press about Westport Cohousing

2009-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Three related articles appeared in the local weekly newspapers; two of them are online: Shorelines - eastbayri.com/detail/130539.html and
Dartmouth Chronicle
The third article by Ty Gordon was in the Dartmouth Chronicle of August 5 where he reported on the presentation we made at the Housing Partnership Committee on July 30.

Macomber House, 930 Main Road - Where we meet

2009-08-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

If you are new to Westport, this is the building where we hold all of our meetings. This is the Community House of the Westport Friends Meeting; it is a favorite location where many organizations hold events, classes and meetings.

Updates about Westport Cohousing on August 20, 2009

2009-08-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Thursday August 20, 7:00 PM: Public Meeting - Learn More About Westport Cohousing, at Macomber Community House, 930 Main Road, Westport. Meet the people already committed to Westport Cohousing. See some conceptual designs of how our community of clustered houses, pathways, Common House, gardens, and play spaces could work on a 3-acre lot. Learn about the affordable housing options. Review the possibilities for social, environmental and economic sustainability. Check out the proposed timeline.

Join us for dessert and cold drinks while exploring displays and materials. Free.

Saturdays - Westport Cohousing at the Farmer's Market

2009-07-18T18:47:00.000-07:00

Today was the second Saturday that Westport Cohousing had a table at the Farmer's Market, held at the Grange on Main Road. It is a very good opportunity to introduce new people to Cohousing and to the early planning of Westport Cohousing. It's also great practice in the 'elevator speech' - trying to communicate some engaging information about Cohousing in a very few seconds. In addition to our explanations, we have three excellent slide presentations that we show on the laptop computer, along with various handouts. Cohousing members staffing the table wear our buttons that say, "Ask me about cohousing." The new banner shows well - see the photo.

The Farmer's Market is a colorful scene - both outdoors and inside the Grange building. Outside there are small tented stands with area farmers and artisans selling colorful luscious fresh vegetables and fruits, tantalizing bake goods from a local bakery, plants and flowers, dried and fresh arrangements, baskets being made, ...it changes a little each week. Inside there are painters, quilters, weavers, knitters, jewelry makers, photographers displaying their work. Several area non-profit groups are inside as well, along with Westport Cohousing. It's also a good place to catch up with old friends!

Fall River Herald News story

2009-07-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

Cohousing development could be coming

By Grant Welker

Mon Jul 06, 2009, 12:38 AM EDT

WESTPORT - Central Village could host a community where residents share everything from meals to lawnmowers to vegetables if a group of residents succeed in bringing a cohousing development to town.

The group has just launched a Web site and is promoting a meeting in Dartmouth later this month about the cohousing movement, lead by the cofounder of a renewable energy building company and a cohousing resident on Martha’s Vineyard. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 23 at the Apponagansett Meeting House at 850 Russells Mills Road.

“This summer is our coming out,” said Elaine Ostroff, a Planning Board member who is leading the cohousing effort in town.

The group is considering multiple sites in Central Village, and an architect will soon present a conceptual design for the community, Ostroff said. Plans call for about one-fourth of the 24 units to be designated as affordable. Most cohousing developments are that size, though some have more than 60 units.

If built, the Westport project would be the 15th in Massachusetts. The nearest is Alchemy Farm in Falmouth, a 13-unit development on 16 acres. The group planning the Westport development prefers a site of about 3 acres, Ostroff said.

“A guiding principle of Westport cohousing will be sustainability” — socially, environmentally and economically, the group’s Web site says.

The Cohousing Association of the United States, which promotes awareness and development, lists defining characteristics of cohousing developments as: a process for residents to participate in the design of the project; a design that encourages a sense of community; common facilities like a kitchen or exercise room; and a management structure run by residents.

Management is not hierarchical and residents do not share incomes.

Residents usually share two or three meals a week, baby-sit for each other and plan trips together. Most developments cluster houses together like an old village. “It’s the idea that people can walk between the houses and see each other,” Ostroff said.

The Westport cohousing group will set up a table at the Westport Farmers Market this summer and has a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Macomber Community House to explain their plans.

E-mail Grant Welker at gwelker@heraldnews.com.

Site Planning with generic site

2009-07-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

We had a a site planning workshop with architect Randall Imai as part of our meeting on July 16. This was a conceptual exercise to help us begin to understand the density in having 24 units on 3 buildable acres. We came to a few agreements; we wanted more open space in front of the houses; we wanted to feel connected to the Town; there should be a mix of configurations - ranging from a stand alone house to duplexes, Town Houses and perhaps a 2 floor 6-unit dwelling that would have an elevator. This multi-family unit might be adjacent to the Common House. The parking might be in clusters around the site, with pathways connecting the houses to the parking and Common House. We understood that this was 'site planning lite' - to do this properly would be a weekend workshop. We wanted to do this initial planning to have some concepts to share with the community at our big public meeting on August 20.

Randall is going to make some sketches to incorporate our ideas; we'll discuss at the next meeting on Friday July 31.

There were 3 new people at the meeting; they attended the 45 minute pre-meeting
to get a little introduction to the group.

John Abrams speaking about Cohousing

2009-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Thursday July 23, 2009 at 7:00PM

Cohousing guru John Abrams will discuss the philosophy behind the growing Cohousing movement, and other ideas on how to build inspired thinking into communities at every level. His talk is entitled “Thinking Like Cathedral Builders: Affordable Housing, Community Preservation and Business for People and Place.”

Abrams is cofounder and CEO of South Mountain Company, a 34-year-old employee owned design/build and renewable energy company on Martha’s Vineyard in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. John's is the author of Companies We Keep: Employee Ownership and the Business of Community and Place (Chelsea Green publishing in 2008).

Abrams serves on the Island Housing Trust and Island Affordable Housing Fund boards, the Green Building Advisor, and the steering committee of Island Plan, which is working on a 50 year plan for the island of Martha's Vineyard. He and his family live in Island Cohousing, West Tisbury, a cohousing neighborhood designed and built by his company.

The event is the third lecture in the Summer Conversations Series that takes place at the Apponagansett Meeting House in Dartmouth, MA. Abrams’ presentation coincides with the launch of Westport Cohousing (www.westportcohousing.org), a small, active group of families planning to build a cohousing community of 24 units in Westport. The multigenerational group, which is actively recruiting new members, seeks to create a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable community comprised of:

24 individual living units built to the highest green standards, near Westport’s Central Village

A beautiful “Common House”, where several times a week families have the option of

enjoying a group dinner

A safe place where homes are joined by walking pathways and places where neighbors can gather to chat

Open areas where children can safely play with each other

A supportive community with responsible, caring neighbors

And much more (think of it as an old-fashioned village)

Apponagansett Meeting House is located at 850 Russells Mills Road in Dartmouth, MA 02748.

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