Upper Langley

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Town/Small City

What we do

16 families have joined to share and care for 10 acres of forest and meadow at the edge of Langley town on South Whidbey Island, walkable to Salish Sea shore (Puget Sound) and one hour north of downtown Seattle including fifteen minute ferry ride. Each family income qualifies at medium or low income level to own a 2000 sq. ft. lot (plus their equal share of the remaining 10 acres) on which to design/build their own home, under 975 sq.ft. There are 15 homes built and inhabited and 1 more home in building phase. Homes and lots will remain perpetually affordable. In addition there is a shared common house and guest cabin which can be booked for short length overnight guests.

Our Vision

Upper Langley is an intentional neighborhood that celebrates community, nature, ecological sustainability, and simplicity while providing perpetually affordable housing in the city limits of Langley, Washington. In the spirit of service, we benefit in the sharing of ideas, time, skills, tools, and responsibilities. We enjoy communal time while respecting individual and family needs. We honor our connection to the earth, to our neighbors both on the shared land as well as our wonderful town of Langley, and the world community.

Our Mission

Upper Langley is an intentional neighborhood that celebrates community, nature, ecological sustainability, and simplicity while providing perpetually affordable housing in the city limits of Langley, Washington. In the spirit of service, we benefit in the sharing of ideas, time, skills, tools, and responsibilities. We enjoy communal time while respecting individual and family needs. We honor our connection to the earth, to our neighbors both on the shared land as well as our wonderful town of Langley, and the world community.

  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Ecovillage
  • 22 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
22

How to join

Read website thoroughly: upperlangley.wordpress.com
Call or email to initiate contact

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Make arrangements through email: [email protected]

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: $80
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes (some debt)
Monthly “dues” are currently $80, for development and maintenance of shared land (forest and garden) and building maintenance, improvements and utilities (Common house, various out buildings).

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

Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Library, Outbuilding(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit

Frequency of communal meals

  • 1-3 times per month

Substance use culture

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

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

Setting

  • Town/Small City

Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    10 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Washington, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
  • Communities with Openings
12 months ago

Water Birch Co-op. Urban living in central Denver.

Large, lovely house built in 1900, two blocks from Cheeseman Park in downtown Denver.  5000 square feet. The house was a Buddhist Meditation Center for 20 years before we got it and has lovely, calm vibes. We currently have ten people and have room for one more. We are an intentional community sharing dinners, 3 living rooms, 2 new kitchens and a kitchenette, & 5 baths. Staple food (organic) is bought together. The group is self-regulating as a co-op; it decides together how the house runs. There are chores ;-) Average cost per room is about $1000 ranging from $650 to $1354. Currently available room is $875. We are just finishing renovation of three bedrooms on the third floor  they are $875 each and share our largest, newest bath (shower and separate claw foot tub) and a brand new kitchenette  they all have beautiful windows and lots of light. PLEASE CHECK OUT COMMUNITY LISTINGS FOR MORE INFO. Initial lease for 3-6 months while we and you decide if we are a good fit for each other.  Deposit in the amount of one months rent is required prior to move in.  We do background checks on all members. Utilities are currently $130 per person per month and are all-inclusive.  They will change if costs go up, that amount is insufficient to cover utilities, or more people mean the cost per person goes down.  WiFi is via mesh network from gig-speed fiberoptic service.  Heat is with radiators.  Cooling is evaporative.  We have a storage room in a nearby commercial facility.  And a new large workshop in the garage. Shared food is $125 per month per person; it is a pass-through cost divided evenly among residents; it does NOT include meat or alternative protein nor any alcohol.  We will not be surprised if that needs to go up some soon ($10 or 15). We have two dogs and three cats in the house  that seems like a sufficient quantity of furry friends for now. Our community intentions include: Communication with compassion. Shared space and life. Shared meals. Shared staple foods which are non-GMO and Organic. Group decision making. Safe, inclusive space: queer and trans friendly, anti-racist, non-violent, and feminist. The purchase of the house by the co-op in about five years. The expansion of the co-op, possibly to include other housing types (like separate apartments). Weekly meetings and house committees to manage our community. We are considering implementing Sociocracy as an organizing method. Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am. We are looking for community members who: Want to live in a community not just have a place to sleep and eat. Want to live in a beautiful, clean, and organized house and are willing to help make and keep it that way. Residents should expect to spend 16 hours per month towards this goal. Are curious, compassionate, flexible, and open to living with others who will undoubtedly have different ideas about many things. Are interested in pioneering a new co-op. There will be work involved to get there. Are responsible and communicative. Embrace enthusiastically that living in community requires introspection and personal growth. Are not joining the community as a way of running away from something.
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