Cohousing: It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

By Susan Finch
Web Exclusive - March 24, 2009

Gone are the days when a trip to the grocery store meant stopping by your neighbor's house to see if they needed a gallon of milk or an errand run while they tended to a new baby. Front porches are no longer used as an opportunity to invite friends up for an evening chat and glass of lemonade. And children no longer linger in yards littered with games, unsupervised play, and laughter.

But a new movement with old roots has taken hold in communities across the country. While some of us watch old movies with a wistful eye to the idealized small town charm, cohousing residents are living its reality. They can wisely state, "It takes a village to raise a child," and mean it.

What is Cohousing?

Cohousing started in the United States in the early 1980s with the influence of architects Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett. They were inspired by Denmark's communal living concept and spread the word through the United States with their book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves. They currently run a firm that specializes in designing such communities. Cohousing has since spread throughout the world and can be found in a number of states in the US, including New Mexico, Georgia, California, Maine, Oregon, Washington.

Communal living might conjure up images of free love and a counterculture lifestyle. You might even be whispering that dreaded word commune. But cohousing looks less like a haven for misplaced hippies and more like a traditional swatch of townhouses or a gated community with plenty of shared space. Residents typically do not share a specific religion, political view, or sexual orientation with one another and tend to work in white-collar careers, have young children, and are looking to escape the alienation of traditional suburbs. Cohousers don't pick their neighborhood based on the size of the home or the bonus of a private yard, but to intentionally interact with neighbors and embrace community living.

What are the Benefits of Cohousing?

These intentional communities offer an opportunity to own a private home in a unique setting with common dues for gardens, green space, pools, playgrounds, and the community center. Most developments incorporate detached homes or townhouses along pedestrian streets with anywhere from 7 to 67 residences. Parking can be found in designated areas away from the wandering curiosity of resident children, leaving streets free to stroll and play.

Unlike a traditional suburban neighborhood that shuts its doors at night, the common house or community center is the core of cohousing's modern villages. Neighbors utilize the center's large dining rooms, kitchen, fitness room, children's playroom, workshop, meeting space, and laundry room. And instead of squeezing out-of-town visitors in your kids' room or family den, common guest rooms are also available. Several times a week, neighbors gather together at communal green spaces, playgrounds, community centers, potluck dinners, and gardens.

Thinking of going green? Because cohousing focuses on shared space, common gardens, meals prepared in bulk, and communal work, their communities prove more sustainable than traditional living. Rambling lawns, extra guest rooms, and garages aren't duplicated over and over again in each home, thus saving on environmental and personal resources.

But it takes hard work from everyone involved to keep such a village running smoothly. Residents are required to volunteer several hours a month to cook weekly meals, tend the gardens, or organize events. Monthly meetings are also held to discuss issues about noise, landscaping, or taxes. Residents might even drop off their toddlers for a playdate with the family next door while they catch up on a deadline at work.