Our community will consist of thirty-six private
dwellings, which will be clustered to foster neighborhood
interaction and to preserve open space. There will be a
network of pedestrian paths in and around the community
with vehicle parking at the periphery.
The homes will have from one to three bedrooms, and will
vary in size from 440 to 1,500 square feet. They will be
partially standardized, with limited customization to
reduce building costs. Some site locations will accommodate
the construction of an additional room, thus expanding the
range of options in each size category and making a
four-bedroom home a possibility. The homes will be private
— individually owned and financed — with preliminary
base-cost estimates ranging from $140,000 to $270,000.
Belfast-based G•O Logic has been selected to design and
build our homes, and has been working closely with members
of the community to help realize our collective vision.
Built to the stringent Passiv Haus standards,
their state-of-the-art prototype home on the Crocker
Road in Belfast has been generating considerable buzz in
the news media, including articles by the
Portland Press
Herald,
WABI-TV (a CBS
affiliate), the BBC,
and Maine Public
Broadcasting. Video clips
detailing key elements of the construction process are
posted on our video page. You can
view a slideshow of the now completed building by
clicking here, and can see
some of G•O Logic’s current design packages by visiting
them at gologichomes.com.
The Common House
The Common House
is crucial to the concept of cohousing. It is centrally
located, where residents regularly pass by on the way to
and from their own homes, increasing their opportunities to
interact with their neighbors. It provides the community
with a focus for socializing and sharing. As cohousing has
evolved over the past 20 years, research has shown that the
Common House should be built before the residences to help
build the community most effectively, and that communities
with larger common houses are happier with smaller private
residences.
A well-equipped commercial kitchen is an important feature
of the Common House, used for community meals which are
served in the large dining area several times a week. The
dining area is often used for other purposes, such as
community meetings, workshops, presentations, etc.
A children's play room is usually located near the dining
area, so parents can participate in community functions
without worrying about childcare. Older children generally
have their own space for homework and recreation.
Guest rooms in the Common House replace the need for
individual homes to provide for visiting friends and
family. Office space may be made available so residents can
share equipment and supplies typically found in individual
homes. Communities generally also include areas for
laundry, woodworking, food storage, arts & crafts, and
music.
Planning for our Common House is well underway. The
architectural firm of Elliott, Elliott, Norelius
is working
with us on its design. Preliminary sketches are shown
below.
