Vision statement for our Co-housing Project and a bit about us:


Did you ever want to find a place that really feels like HOME? Help us create it! Join our "Quiet Revolution of Community" - Co-Housing.

What is co-housing?

Co-housing is a community of individuals living in private homes, but committed to a community with the benefits of a shared social space. That means common facilities and good connections with neighbors. This model of housing manifests in community social activities, shared meals, encouragement of creative expression, diversity and acceptance, and a sense of nurturance and safety. They offer unique and innovative answers to today's environmental and social issues.


We are creating a developer driven co-housing project in San Diego County similar to http://www.yulupacoho.... Depending on the number of people interested, the locations available, and the number of investors, we could either build from scratch in a style similar to that used at Yulupa, or retrofit existing building(s) to include both individual housing, and also common facilities.

The developer driven co-housing concept is where the developer buys the site (with some number of investors, which may include future owners), assumes all the risk, does the design work, and then recruits buyers by marketing the "co-housing concept". Note that this is different from the "Grass-roots"/Pure Concensus model in that the developer will define much of the architecture, and design.

The purpose of our group is:
1: To meet people that may be interested in living in this development, and grow social ties.
2: Meet people that may be interested in investing in this development


Specific things that are significant in our design:

* Childrens area
* Communiy room
* Workshop/art/project space with shared tools/equipment
* Holistic focus -ie. Community classes on self improvement and wellness, possibly a yoga/quiet meditation room or space.
* Be with other like-minded people that value diversity and honor individuality.
* Be in an open, accepting and friendly community - we welcome traditional as well as alternative family styles i.e. same sex, poly-amorous/fidelitous, intergenerational, single parent, did I miss any?.
* Community outreach - setting an example of an enlightened way of doing things that is attractive and compelling for others.
* Environmentally friendly buildings and concepts - work with local legislation for Eco-promotion including possibly-
* Straw bale or Cob buildings
* Solar or alternative power as a Significant energy source in the community
* Low impact gardens - xeriscape in some areas, drip irrigation for others
* Recycling/reuse/composting
* Some Community garden
* "open center" concept - with the community room, play area and open space in the center, with living quarters and parking progressively outward
* A a modified consensus model, meaning some HOA guidelines, ie. nominating leaders/small groups to decide for example on landscape committee choices.
* Possible Community activities
* 1-2 shared meals a week
* Game nights
* Field trips - some family, some adult only (zoo, parks, wine tasting)
* Accessible kid-sitting/sharing baby sitting
* Creativity - art/music/philosophy
* Community activism and outreach

Some Amazing Benefits of social integration:

Several research studies show that social connectedness is one of the most powerful determinants of our well being. The more connected we are with our community, the less likely we are to experience colds, be effected by stress, heart-attacks, strokes, cancer, depression and other health problems. Finally and most intriguing, some evidence shows that social connectedness helps to stimulate our imune systems to fight disease and buffer stress.

Research suggest that where trust and social networks flourish, individuals, businesses and enighborhoods prospor.

Our Values Statement:
The following adapted from http://www.yulupacoho...

Diversity and Acceptance:
We celebrate our differences: age, gender, ethnicity, couples/singles, sexual orientation, mono/poly, intergenerational, households with and without children, physical ability, spiritual belief/practice, and individual political and artistic expression.

We uphold the values of diversity and tolerance toward all, encouraging each person to fully express her/himself. We recognize and honor that each individual is an inherently valuable member of our community because of her/his unique being.


Communication:
We are committed to effective, inclusive, and timely communication. In all communication we aspire to keep our hearts open, be honest and sensitive, as well as to seek clarity. We are dedicated to cooperation. We will work together to resolve conflicts when they occur.


Privacy:
We respect each other’s needs for balance between community and private life.


Learning Growth and Innovation:
We are inspired to pursue continual learning and seek to utilize our community experience to foster personal and interpersonal growth and development.

With this in mind, we practice innovation and openness to a variety of creative modes of expression and modalities for learning which bring about personal and community enrichment: arts and crafts, music, song, dance, study, and contemplation.


Spirit of Place:
We hold a spirit in our hearts that manifests in the functional and aesthetic aspects of landscaping, care of our surroundings, and the architectural design of our cohousing complex. This spirit is joyful, warm, and welcoming to all; it expresses our sense of home.


Environmental and Ecological Consciousness:
We appreciate the natural world in our everyday lives. We challenge ourselves to deepen our awareness and learning about the environment and our connection to it. We practice stewardship and conservation of natural and non-renewable resources. To these ends, we are committed to sustainable living by recycling, sharing resources, and reducing our carbon footprint.


The Larger Community:
From our vision, we look to find our place with each other, other groups and individuals in the greater community, dedicated to peace, social, and economic justice. By creating new ways of living, thinking, being, relating, and working cooperatively, we intend to serve the goal of peace on our planet. We find opportunities to be of service, offering our resources and support to help alleviate suffering both in San Diego County and in the world at large.