Frequently Asked Questions
Links
The Cohousing Network
www.cohousing.org
The Cohousing Company
www.cohousing.com
(3/24/99)
Imagine coming home to a neighborhood where you know your neighbors - where
neighbors keep an eye on your kids - where you can sit on your front porch and
feel safe.
A concept called co-housing is built around this idea, a concept that is
alive and prospering in a Salt Lake neighborhood.
According to Donna Abe, "This is a way of bringing back the neighborhood, or
bringing back the community."
The first co-housing community in Utah is called Wasatch Commons. It's
located at 1450 South 1600 West.
The concept originated in Denmark 25 years ago.
Those who live here say co-housing gives them what has been missing in
their old neighborhoods.
Abe says, "We don't have to live in our little box, with our garage to pull
into and never see our neighbors."
Vivian Garcia says, "I like the idea of coming home to this. A potluck, or a
common meal, it's like single mother heaven."
The property - which is technically a 26-unit condominium complex - is
managed by the residents, who meet twice a month to make decisions.
Each unit has its own kitchen, but residents can sign up to cook potluck
group meals.
Cars are parked on the outside, leaving room for spacious yards and a
winding footpath.
Residents say living here is like a dream come true. Children can play freely
with other kids.
But most importantly-- families look out for one another.
Garcia says, "My daughter's training wheel just broke a couple of weeks ago, so
someone in the community came over and tried to fix it, and realized they
couldn't. So they taught her how to ride the bike. So she's now riding a
two-wheeler without training wheels."
For more information on Co-Housing, call our Family Now information line at
1-800-575-5751.
