What is Cohousing?

This definition, from the Cohousing Association of the United States, says it well:

Cohousing is an intentional community of private homes clustered around shared space. Each attached or single family home has traditional amenities, including a private kitchen. Shared spaces typically feature a common house, which may include a large kitchen and dining area, laundry, and recreational spaces. Shared outdoor space may include parking, walkways, open space, and gardens. Neighbors also share resources like tools and lawnmowers.

Households have independent incomes and private lives, but neighbors collaboratively plan and manage community activities and shared spaces. The legal structure is typically an HOA, Condo Association, or Housing Cooperative. Community activities feature regularly-scheduled shared meals, meetings, and workdays. Neighbors gather for parties, games, movies, or other events. Cohousing makes it easy to form clubs, organize child and elder care, and carpool.

You can learn more about cohousing from their site — http://www.cohousing.org — if this concept is new to you. They offer many different models for organizing a community.

Here at the Pinnacle Project, we intend to build a community from a group of old and new friends on the property of the Loch Lyme Lodge in Lyme NH. Please read our materials on this site to learn more, and please contact us if you have an interest in meeting with us.

Cohousing in the News

Cohousing is getting a lot of attention as vibrant communities demonstrate its benefits for people across wide varieties of towns and cities.

Cohousing in NY Times
An interesting article in the NY Times about how cohousing strengthens a community by allowing people, young and old, to live together in private homes with opportunities to share space and time together. More »

Cohousing Helps Prevent Isolation
A recent PBS Video about Cohousing shows how having a nearby community of friends and neighbors helps to prevent isolation. More »