Peace and Environment News* April 1996
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Peace and Environment News * April 1996 |
by Jane Keeler and Peggy Caldwell
Ten local families are cooperating to set up a cohousing community in the area. The group is nearly ready to buy land, and they are looking for more families to join them.
The group, Terra Firma Housing, have been planning their cohousing community for the last three years. They were attracted to the cohousing model by the possibility it offers of closer, more vibrant community living.
Cohousing is a concept originally developed in Denmark, that seeks to incorporate advantages of traditional villages into a modern context. In a cohousing community, private homes are clustered around a common house, which provides space for shared dining, play areas, workshops, and gatherings. In some communities, work spaces, such as offices and studios, may be shared, as well as day care facilities. Outdoor greenspace is shared, too, and may includes gardens, natural areas, and recreational areas. The homes are joined by pedestrian walkways, and cars are kept to the perimeter.
Members of a cohousing development are encouraged to be actively involved in the design and construction of the community. Community residents can gather socially in the shared areas, while keeping the option of privacy in their own homes. Meals and social activities can be shared, both for adults and children, without the need for complicated transportation.
The members of Terra Firma Housing want to incorporate energy efficient and other ecologically sound features into the design of their community. They are considering both rural and urban sites. They would like to double or triple their membership, since more members will give them more flexibility as well as making the project more sustainable in the long run.
The group is holding public information meetings in April and May. If you would like to find out more about their cohousing project, please come to one of the information nights on April 3 or April 9, at 8 P.M., at the Old Ottawa South Community Centre (the Old Firehall) at 260 Sunnyside Avenue. Childcare will be provided.
For more information, please call Fred Simpson at 730-0156 or Keith Shackleton at 730-9614.
Converted April 11, 2000 - Lg
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