A brand new co-housing/co-owning opportunity in Alameda has arrived!

Visit the blog and leave comments if you're interested. Serious folks encouraged to write soon Dave can plan the FIRST meeting in the new year.

EBCOHO supporting member Dave Kirwin writes: "I have a unique opportunity to start a very small affordable living community in Alameda’s Bay Farm Island. The number of shares or units could be 2-7, depending if it is individuals or a family and if modifications are done. It is currently a legal duplex owned jointly by two owners, one wants to sell. We originally purchased this as a 5 bedroom single family home. Two couples made the original purchase which I was part of and we converted it to a duplex. We purchased the home from the children of the original owner / builder, and later my wife and I purchased the other couples interest.

A very sunny, garden filled ¼ acre, it is the last house on a small street with only 3 houses on one side, and a park across the street. Isolated by a golf course and the park which wraps around the side of the house, it feels remote yet it’s close to everything. Renting begins February 1st with the intent of converting to a ‘Tenants-in-Common’ (TIC) ownership arrangement, preferably very soon. Front 3 BR 2 B home can be owned separately, or provide for separate renters with a community spirit.

Transportation: It’s a 5 min walk to Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center with several bus lines within a few blocks. It is 1 mile from SF-Alameda ferry. We have several ’share-bikes’, a bike set up for shopping, and a bike trailer. I envision a community of friends maximizing the community strength to minimize fossil fuel based personal vehicle use, striving to grow much of our own food, fully functioning with a lighter footprint.

We have 6 hens, fish ponds w/solar waterfall, excellent gardens, honey bee colonies, lots of prolific young fruit trees, lavender lined walkways, hot tub, and many other benefits. There are also still many goals for expansion of eco-friendly home elements like solar hot water, gray water irrigation, wind and solar-voltaic energy harvesting. There is TV-Internet-phone, common space and a nice community kitchens.

There is also the potential for conversion of a detached 1100+ sq ft garage/shop. I am determined to find a way to remain part of this unique property and looking for others who want and are able to be part of this partnership. The potential is tremendous; all we need is highly communicative, like-minded people and the willingness to contribute resources and creativity. I am open and interested in any ideas that you might have.

We are in the early stages of creating a concept like this, so it lends to constant revision of ideas and as of yet, nothing is really ‘set’. What we need right now, is people who want to begin a discussion, have a need for funds housing, are creative and have moderate financial resources. There is a time factor here so please act now if it sounds appealing.

Please contact Dave Kirwin ASAP for an interview and detailed understanding of the plans."

EBCOHO members can discuss the concepts on the East Bay Cohousing Discussions message thread (login to your free MeetUp account required).