Bellingham Cohousing

  • Community
  • 2 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Suburban

What we do

The mission of Bellingham Cohousing is to work together to create a diverse multigenerational neighborhood of 33 homes on the historic Donovan Farm site. We intend to be supportive of one another, share resources, and strive to be stewards of the land. We aspire to collaborate with the larger Bellingham community to build housing for mixed-income households.
Bellingham Cohousing is a living situation that requires considerable neighbor participation. Bellingham Cohousing residents dedicate as much as 20 hours per month attending committee meetings, planning meals and community activities, and working on community projects.

Although Bellingham Cohousing is a supportive community, it is not designed or intended to be an environment for individuals needing therapeutic levels of attention or care.

Bellingham Cohousing offers many opportunities for neighbors to develop and foster a sense of community through:

Optional common meals several times a week
Working together on projects around the site and in groups and committees
Managing our community together through consensus-based decision-making
Community-wide celebrations of major life events: Already we have had 2 weddings and fantastic birthday celebrations
And…casual discussions, book groups, salon-style discussions, a regular mid-morning coffee klatch, barbecues and potlucks, performances and talent shows, impromptu dinner concerts, and other shared activities ranging from shopping expeditions to sea kayaking and backcountry skiing

Our Vision

We trust, respect and accept one another.
We bring joy to our work and play.
We resolve conflict responsibly.
We live interdependently and acknowledge our individuality.
We contribute to our community.
We care for each other.
We live lightly on the earth.

Our Mission

We trust, respect and accept one another.
We bring joy to our work and play.
We resolve conflict responsibly.
We live interdependently and acknowledge our individuality.
We contribute to our community.
We care for each other.
We live lightly on the earth.

  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • 74 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
74

How to join

See http://bellcoho.com/availability/availability.htm for unit availability

Basic expectations or agreements for members

We invite you to visit during our daily coffee hour, held every day at 10 a.m. in our Common House. Members and friends gather for coffee, tea, conversation and community. It is a great chance to meet us, and get a glimpse of cohousing in action.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a one-time fee, investment, or share purchase to join the community separate from accessing housing
  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Join fee: Yes (amount not specified)
Monthly fees/dues: Yes (amount not specified)
Labor required: Yes
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
not applicable

9 hours per month per adult member is expected.

Members own their own condominium units

monthly dues based on size of unit

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Vehicle Share, Library, Workshop, Hot tub or hot springs, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Quaker
  • Wiccan, Paganism, or Earth Religions
  • Unitarian Universalist

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a single individual, couple, or Family Trust

Setting

  • Suburban

Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    5.8 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Washington, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
Need
11 months ago

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