What’s the process for forming a Cohousing community?
Because they’re unconventional in an American context,
cohousing & coliving projects
are not about speed. Below is an overview of the process we’ve seen the most success with:
You may be thinking: that’s a lot of steps! On the bright side, nearly 200 cohousing communities in the US and a network of professionals can assist you.
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Thanks to Katie McCamant for distilling this complex process into twelve steps!
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Form an organizing group.
- Identify your criteria for selecting a property.
- Search for property.
- Place the property under contract & vet its feasibility with professionals (see post on who that includes here).
- Begin the design process.
- Seek planning approval for preliminary design (this may involve other authorities).
- Finalize design decisions.
- Create construction documents.
- Secure construction loan.
- Submit for building permit & negotiate construction contract.
- Build it.
- Move in!
You may be thinking: that’s a lot of steps! On the bright side, nearly 200 cohousing communities in the US and a network of professionals can assist you.
_
Thanks to Katie McCamant for distilling this complex process into twelve steps!