The "Saturday" explanation of all those rooftop solar panels is on Saturday August 2, 2008, at 9 a.m.! Hope to see you there!

I tried, without success, to find more pictures of the project. By what I can see, it looks like people with moving disability would have a hard time driving up to the house.
In my book, associations aren't a desirable feature of home ownerhip. I have learned that those without children usually get out-voted by those with the children. But the concept of such a neighborhood sounds great.

If you like politics get involved in an association.

I can see a draw back if you can't get along with some association members.

Hello,
My partner and I are about to be cohousers in the Grass Valley project (Wolf Creek Lodge).

The advantages of a readymade community have started to show up in the monthly planning meetings. These meetings (and other social events) have shown us that we do like the folks. We are getting to know them gradually while our group settles a bunch of important details. Incidently, the kids will be quite a distance from us in the "intergeneratinal area "). The original people have been meeting for 2 years while we have been involved for only 6 months. We expect to move in another 14 months. The concept of green cohousing thrills us!
Robin Doyno (Los Angeles)

The organizational structure at Fresno Cohousing (and probably all cohousing communities) is a lot more than a Home Owner's Association (HOA). It will be, and already is, a community that is diverse and cohesive. Under California regulation, we do have an HOA, as does any condominium. But, unlike many HOAs, all adult residents of the community are members of the HOA Board. Thus, we avoid the politics of getting elected to the Board so that one might "control things." All major decisions involve the whole community through a consensus process. That was difficult, cumbersome and time consuming when we first formed. Now, however, we have smoothed things out by having committees (that anyone can join) work out proposals which are then considered by the community. That process is now refined into something where all voices are heard, concerns aired and resolved, and decisions reached in a pretty smooth and efficient manner.

One feature of Fresno Cohousing that we are all proud of is the accessability. There are fully accessible garages and parking places; walkways and entrances to the homes are level; there is even a lift into and out of the swimming pool. All six of the downstairs flats, and the ground floor of one three-bedroom townhouse, are fully ADA accesible. All the other townhouses have accessible features such as 36" wide doorways and level entrances. The community building (Common House) will be ideal for those with moving disabilities and is also ADA compliant.

George Burman's blog (7.28) prompted me to make a hardcopy of the item.
Thank You
Isabell Lawson

If anyone wants additional information, go to www.fresnocohousing.org , e-mail info@fresnocohousing.org or call 866-246-7717

Sunday's Bee Business section had an article about another type of intentional community. This one is more communal than cohousing, but the spirit is similar. (I couldn't find it on fresnobee.com, so click my name for a link to the same article on a San Diego website.)

Wolf Creek Lodge, Grass Valley's future cohousing community is very much like La Querencia except that it is specifically for active adults. Wolf Creek Commons, to be built just down the way, is where the families with kids will live. However what they have in common is neighborliness and sustainability-two features that get more important as the cost of living increases. Once we live in cohousing, we plan to help each other out, rather than paying for help, and we will live greener than we could ever live in our present home, which was built when people believed energy was limitless. Nothing is perfect, but to me, cohousing comes pretty close.