Apex Belltown Co-op

  • Community
  • 2 followers

About the Community

What we do

We have been creating an intentional community since 1982.
The Apex is a limited-equity housing cooperative located at First Avenue and Bell Street in Seattle’s Belltown district. Apex provides its members with affordable housing and community facilities on a nonprofit basis. Apex seeks diversity of all types in its members and caters especially to people eligible for low-income housing.
We own it!
Apex members (there are about twenty-five of us) collectively own and operate 38% of the building (the upper two floors; the owner of ground level retail owns the remaining portion). This ownership translates to a lot of freedom, responsibility, and community involvement on the part of members.

Our Vision

To live and maintain our home together happily, harmoniously, and affordably.

Our Mission

To live and maintain our home together happily, harmoniously, and affordably.

  • 25 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
25

How to join

We have 2 openings for October 1st!

Membership limited to 21 members. New members are sought whenever a member moves out. Vacancies listed on our website as they occur.

How our membership selection process works:

1) When we have an opening we give tours and accept applications until the deadline posted on the website. (All applicants MUST tour in person: no exceptions are ever made. When there are no openings we don’t accept applications and keep nothing “on file”.)
2) We review the applications as a group and invite a few candidates to interview.
3) We hold in-person interviews and then decide whether to offer membership to candidates.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

*COVID update* Limited visitors or tours. Please call or email us to schedule a tour or to attend one of our periodic potlucks. We cannot host overnight guests. COVID restrictions are in effect.

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Governance structure

  • Representative/Democratic

Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.

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: $3006
Monthly fees/dues: $509
Labor required: 3 hours/week
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
Weekly chores, committee service, yearly building-maintenance work parties. Share price refunded upon end of membership. Monthly fee varies by room size. See website for details.

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

Library, Internet, Lounges, Roof Deck, 4 Kitchens, 8 Bathrooms

Frequency of communal meals

  • 1-3 times per month

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

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

Setting

  • Urban

Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Energy sources used

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    0.2 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Washington, United States

Apex Belltown Co-op

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
11 months ago

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Need
  • Communities with Openings
1 year 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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