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Potential retrofit cohousing fourplex: EBCOHO private tour this afternoon (N. Berkeley) & other upcoming events this week

Raines Cohen
Posted Jul 5, 2010 12:24 PM
raines
Berkeley, CA
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Longtime EBCOHO member Tim Silk, a realtor, just let us know that a fourplex right behind his home just came on the market, and he's eager to find (and represent, if you don't already have a buyer's agent) some cohousers to buy it, and potentially build connections with him and his neighbors, building community in place in the style of a "retrofit" cohousing neighborhood.

I got to visit the site yesterday at an open house and take some pictures, which I have posted in the album linked to this MeetUp. -- Raines

The property, for which offers will be accepted starting this week once the pest report is out, has 4 2-bedroom 1-bath units, half upstairs; two are occupied and two vacant. All units have washer/dryers and fireplaces, carports and storage. includes a large yard and backs up against a creek, on the border with Albany. It is down a long driveway, tucked behind some on-the-street units, so very quiet and private. It is off of Albina street, which runs off Hopkins between Sacramento St. and Gilman (and features Berkeley's oldest home), so it is close to Monterey Market, North Berkeley BART, many restaurants, the BART bike path.

The asking price is $775,000. It is not condo-ized, so a group wanting to purchase it together would have to work out their own arrangements. Our hope is that some EBCOHO members can figure out how to band together to purchase it, and then connect with neighbors to make it into a full-fledged cohousing neighborhood. I met some North Oakland Cohousing members at the site and at least one is reportedly seriously interested.

Tim is available this afternoon to show the vacant units; please RSVP here and arrive promptly so he can do a single trip. If you are interested but can't make it today, please RSVP "No" (if you get this before the event time) and indicate your interest in the comment, and drop Tim a line to see about seeing it some other time.

Note: the MeetUp location is Tim's house, not the property for sale.

Full disclosure: If Tim earns a commission through helping someone buy this unit, he plans to make a donation to EBCOHO. But we wouldn't be listing it here if I hadn't visited it and felt the potential as a community. - Raines


Other upcoming EBCOHO events this month include:
  • Wed, 11 AM: Joanna Macy speaking via teleconference as part of a Transition movement "Heart and Soul" series - live at The Hub (Berkeley Downtown)
  • Wed eve: Community Living Abroad and Afar, Cheap and Warm: Potluck at Berkeley Cohousing (Event is full but you can join the waiting list)
  • Saturday: Open houses in Nevada City and Folsom for existing and forming cohousing
  • Sunday AM: North Oakland Cohousing general meeting
  • Sunday PM: Berkeley Townhouses 55+ co-ops open house and community discussion (South Berkeley)
  • Next Monday: Virtual Tour of East Bay Cohousing Gardens (Berkeley Downtown)
  • Next Wednesday: East Bay Cohousing Introduction/Orientation
  • Next Saturday: Tierra Nueva Cohousing open house (San Luis Obispo area)
  • 7/31 Saturday: Bicycle Tour AND workshop on talking about money in community with master facilitator/trainer Eris Weaver (of Frog Song cohousing in Cotati)

And coming in late August, the first 3-day Creating Community/EcoVillages workshop with author Diana Leafe Christian.


Announcing a new Meetup for East Bay Cohousing!

What: Potential retrofit cohousing fourplex: EBCOHO private tour (N. Berkeley)

When: Monday, July 5, 2010 4-5 PM

Where:
Tim's house
1300 Albina St. (down the walk, last door on left)
Berkeley, CA 94706

Learn more and RSVP here:
http://www.ebcoho.org...
Raines Cohen
Posted Jul 5, 2010 10:52 PM
raines
Berkeley, CA
Post #: 203
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Longtime EBCOHO member and pioneer in "retrofit" cohousing Jeff Fry had this to share about the concept and his group's experience:

Just as a plug, we started Hidden Creek Cohousing -- four household retrofit cohousing in the Fruitvale -- almost exactly five years ago, and we're so happy. No turnover since we purchased the units. Subdividing and condoization took a while and were a pain in the butt, but worth it in the end.

By now we've gotten to pay a bit more attention to the things that excite us, like gardening our 1/2 acre property. We've put in a guerilla greywater system this year, followed by 11 fruit trees and a red oak. We've put in a low-water lawn, and two abundant vegetable beds...I've eaten at least something from them almost every day for the last six weeks, and the best is yet to come. Now we're starting to think about building a play structure for the one child born here so far.

The common wisdom is that cohousing really suffers without a common house. That might be true for some (and we'd certainly need one if we grew much bigger) but as is, we can fit each other into our own living rooms quite nicely, and so common meals and meetings work quite well without one. That said, we've been setting up our outdoor common space to be able to accommodate more of our meetings (when the weather is right).

I'd be quite happy to talk with folks who're considering doing a 4-ish unit cohousing venture. The advantages and disadvantages of doing cohousing are different on this scale than on the 25-35 unit scale -- and certainly the makeup of the group matters even more at this size -- but for us anyway, it's been a wonderful experience.

Perhaps we need a small-scale coho meetup this summer? Hank (or someone from Mariposa Grove) could talk about their experience as well.

Best of luck to any who decide to pursue the N. Berkeley opportunity. It sounds tantalizing!

Jeff
Michael
Posted Sep 14, 2010 6:03 PM
user 11781758
Union City, CA
Post #: 1
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Hi,
I'm wondering: Did anything ever come of this?
Michael
Raines Cohen
Posted Sep 15, 2010 12:21 AM
raines
Berkeley, CA
Post #: 207
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Hi,
I'm wondering: Did anything ever come of this?
Michael

Michael,

The last I heard, they accepted an offer from somebody not necessarily interested in cohousing. However, other interesting properties have come along since then.

Raines
Michael
Posted Sep 15, 2010 3:02 PM
user 11781758
Union City, CA
Post #: 2
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OK, hmmmm - thanks for the update, Raines.
Regards,
Michael
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