Berkeley Town House Co-op (map)
East Bay Cohousing is delighted to welcome participants at the EcoVillage/Community Creation workshop, today's bus tour riders, our supporting members and members at large to join us in South Berkeley this evening for a casual celebration of community with time for conversation and networking.
We'll have some social time and then a presentation starting around 7-7:30:
Core Elements of Thriving Communities
Insights and inspiration on building and sustaining community.
A slide show presentation by Tracie Sage (a participant in Diana's workshop).
Learn tried-and-true practices to help us connect, collaborate, cooperate and thrive in community. Sustainable living teacher and relationship coach Tracie Sage shares insights from a lifetime of research and a recent tour of European communities that have stood the test of time. See and hear how seven core elements of thriving communities can help you restore the social roots of village in your life today.
No charge, but donations welcome for food/drinks and to support Tracie's work.
BTH is a market-rate (not limited equity) co-op, but we've seen some relatively affordable asking prices (starting under $200k, with monthly charges under $500) on units in this great location with panoramic views, walking distance to both downtown Berkeley and the heart of campus, and lots of physical structure (built elements) that support community - the social side is up to you! We took a tour and participated in a reception July 11, and found some interest in sustainable community there.
As several neighbors will be happy to inform you, it is most definitely not cohousing (and please respect them and their culture by making it clear that you're not there to see cohousing or to take over and remake it), but it seems to us like a place where people interested in doing more together can flourish, forging connections with like-minded others and finding common ground. The units have their own small kitchens, and a large institutional common kitchen and dining area on the ground floor finds use for potlucks and other community gatherings. Self-organizing residents also run on-site concerts, music and art practices, movie screenings, dinners, parties, discussion groups, and an unofficial website. Think of BTH as an opportunity for "instant cooperative housing" -- community you can buy into right away, without years of risky, expensive, time-consuming development and get some of the benefits immediately, with deeper connections emerging over time as you integrate into the culture.
Learn more about openings at our host community, and see photos at the unofficial website maintained by some of the BTH residents.