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.
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