For over four decades, over 90% of cohousing communities were in rural and suburban settings. But in the last ten years, more and more cohousing projects are being launched in cities, sometimes even in ultra-urban downtown cores. How did urban cohousing become part of the mix? In the beginning it was rural, all the way …
Many young couples head for the suburbs when their first child comes along, seeking more space and a big backyard. But, many more, we think, would happily trade a long daily commute for city living if there was a viable option. Our cohousing community is offering an alternative for young families who want to stay in Vancouver. …
Read more Can cohousing help young families stay in the city? Maybe.
OUV is in our final sprint, breaking ground in just a few months. This article is a thank you note to the cohousing communities in British Columbia. Without you, we would not be here today. It’s likely that cohousers everywhere share their experiences with new communities. I have a feeling, though, that BC’s communities have …
Read more It takes a community. How BC’s cohousing communities support each other.
In the last few weeks, Tomo Spaces has received the Development Permit for the project from the City of Vancouver, putting us one step closer to our (literal) “ground-breaking moment”. The next step is to get a Building Permit! We are eagerly anticipating watching the demolition work start sometime this fall.
Like many people who eventually wash up on the shores of cohousing, I had been feeling for a long time that the way I was living didn’t make sense. I’m an introvert, so I wasn’t unhappy with my singular life, really, but I felt something was missing. I had loving daughters and a great circle …
The average time from formation of a cohousing community to move-in is a heart-stopping 5-7 years. Our own community will likely take 6 ½ years. Over that extended period of time life often intrudes with members moving away, personal financial circumstances changing or major external events (like COVID) impacting a project. Even without such challenges, …
Read more Workshops. The secret sauce for cohousing communities?
For Tara Gallen, it started with a cargo bike. Ms. Gallen was looking through a Facebook page for families who bike and saw mention of a co-housing style project that was cargo-bike friendly. Because cargo bikes are wide and awkward, they don’t fit into the average bike storage room. Tomo House, on Vancouver’s Main Street, …
“Once you get them built [it’s great]. It’s getting them built that’s a bitch. It’s a good way to live.” Pushing forward an innovative housing project in a pricey market such as Vancouver takes a level of commitment few have the capacity to maintain over the longterm. But Kathy Sayers is among those who’ve persevered …
Read more Vancouver’s first ‘cohousing lite’ housing project close to breaking ground
Most multi-family housing projects have amenity rooms, but with the cost of land rising and new units getting smaller, many of these common areas are being downsized. Often they are only 450 square feet. “You put in a few exercise bikes and you’re done,” said Vancouver architect Marianne Amodio. “They are getting smaller and smaller.” …
Read more Architects and planners aim to create family-friendly apartment housing in the city
Multi-family housing collaboration Can we design multi-family housing to nurture strong, supportive social relationships? Hundreds of hours of research led us to believe the answer is Yes. Tomo House brings this idea to life. Tomo House has brought Happy City into a unique collaboration with an enlightened developer (Take Root), a creative design team (Lanefab …