I recently attended a talk at the Museum of Art and History presented by Walnut Commons. Walnut Commons is a group of Santa Cruz people who have just purchased property downtown and are proceeding with plans to build a downtown cohousing community. The speaker was Charles Durrett, architect and author who has designed cohousing in many parts of the U.S.
Cohousing combines community with private space. Each family unit has its own house or apartment within the complex, but emphasis is on facilitating community interaction with an inviting commons and shared spaces such as a workshop, garden, guest rooms, kitchen and dining area for several shared meals a week, etc. It’s up to the individual community to decide on design and priorities.
Walnut Commons is seeking more members for the three-story, twenty unit cohousing community currently being designed.
Sylvia Patience, Author 