Woodard Lane Cohousing

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Urban

What we do

*As of December, ’24, we have no units available for sale or for rent. When we do have any availabilities, we’ll put them on our web site, www.woodardlanecoho.org and facebook page.

Our loving and vibrant community has been living together for 11 years. We share meals, conversations, helping hands, babysitting, song circles and the joy of connection. We are tucked into the edge of a ravine, within walking distance of downtown Olympia, but in a lovely older neighborhood.

In 2016, we completed the 2nd and final phase of our construction project, which expanded us from 11 to 18 units. The approximately 50 members range in age from 1 to 88.

Our site is on Olympia’s West Side, just 1.6 miles from downtown, and 6 blocks from the beloved Westside Olympia food coop. Part of our land is a green belt provided by a deep ravine sculpted by a year-round stream that enters Puget Sound several blocks away. We currently have a large vegetable garden and play areas for the kids. All of our homes surround a Center Green where we gather to talk, walk our dogs, ride bikes and scooters, and enjoy the sunshine.

Our legal structure is a condominium with a Steering Board made up of two members from each of the working committees – Building Maintenance, Grounds, Administration, and Community Life.

Our Vision

Living Our Values in Community

Our Mission

Living Our Values in Community

  • Community type
  • Cohousing

Video

  • 48 Total members
  • Not open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
48

How to join

When we have openings, It’s best to start the process by coming to a community meal to get a sense of our community and we can get to know you. From there, we ask prospective members to fill out a membership application and come to at least one community meeting as well as more social gatherings to get to know folks.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Call Liv at (360) 357-4503, email David at [email protected], or fill out the Contact Us form on our web page.  We’re not currently offering tours of the community, but we will when a unit becomes available.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

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

Governance structure

  • Sociocratic/Circle-Based

Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • 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

Monthly fees/dues: Yes (amount not specified)
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (3 hours/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
All members must be able to afford to buy or rent, although we often use creative financing and rental options.
All members are expected to share in the work of the community, including Community meals, meetings, work parties and other communities chores and commitees.

Each unit pays a monthly condo fee, based on square footage and the number of adults in the household. The Community pays all utilities, reserves, insurance and maintenance, plus a portion of community activities such are garden supplies and Common House furnishings.

The new buildings each host a solar power arrays. Currently, the income generated by selling the power to the public utility repays the loan for installing the arrays, but evetually there will be small income for our community. We are proud of our small but signifigant commitment to lower our carbon usage.

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

Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Christian
  • Buddhist
  • Jewish
  • Quaker
  • Sufi
  • Unitarian Universalist

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

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    2.9 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Washington, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Marketplace
2 years ago

From Vision to Reality: Master Community Led Development with Expert Guidance! [book]

Unleash the Power of Community Led Housing (including Cohousing): Your Blueprint for Community Growth and Connection! Empower yourself and your community with our groundbreaking guide to community led development! Are you ready to revolutionize the way you live? Dive into our meticulously crafted book, designed to equip you with the tools and strategies needed to foster vibrant, sustainable communities. From conception to construction, we cover every aspect of the cohousing journey, ensuring that you and your fellow visionaries can navigate the path to success with confidence and clarity. Discover the secrets to: Fostering Community Growth: Learn how to recruit members, foster meaningful connections, and cultivate a thriving, inclusive community that stands the test of time. Combatting Loneliness: In an era marked by isolation and disconnection, cohousing offers a powerful antidote. Explore innovative approaches to building strong social networks and combating loneliness through shared living. Creating Sustainable Environments: Dive into the principles of eco-friendly design, resource sharing, and sustainable living practices that lie at the heart of cohousing communities. Navigating Legal and Financial Challenges: From legal agreements to financial planning, we provide expert guidance to help you navigate the complexities of cohousing development with ease. Finding Your Perfect Site: Uncover strategies for identifying and securing the ideal location for your community, whether you’re in urban, suburban, or rural settings. Managing Construction: Turn your vision into reality with practical tips and best practices for overseeing construction projects, managing timelines, and ensuring quality craftsmanship. Join us in reshaping the landscape of modern livin
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month ago

Vibrant Co-Housing in Sonoma County, California

Yulupa Cohousing invites you to become an active participant in their vibrant community! The Members of the community are instrumental in creating “The Greenway” public park and open space project next door. Members often gather as neighbors and friends to share meals and events. The community gardens, playground and common kitchen are in the same courtyard as Unit E. The gym and guest quarters are steps away. Shared resources include a well equipped workshop, bike storage and EV parking. This upstairs, single level unit has an open and stylish design featuring two bedrooms, two baths, an office with built-in shelving and an in-house ladder leading to the bonus space loft. The home has been updated with bright and charming features including fresh paint, luxury vinyl plank flooring with radiant heat, and in-unit washer/dryer. The kitchen has a custom hammered copper sink, breakfast bar, and new stainless steel stove. Bedroom views of Mt Bennett and convenient location near shopping, Howarth, Spring Lake and Annadel parks. Schedule a visit to learn if Yulupa CoHousing offers the home and lifestyle for you! Contact Cynthia at 707 592-9833 or Sheila 707 775-7973 Offered at $525,000 Property Details: 2 bed/2 bath plus Home Office and Lofts 1064 sq. ft, built in 2004, Assoc Dues $444/month Features: Heated Flooring, New Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher, and Gas Range Yulupa CoHousing Website: https://www.yulupacoho.com
Offer
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
5 months ago

INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY SEEKS TINY HOME DWELLER or SHARED HOUSE DWELLER

Hello! Simply Home Community is a beautiful intentional community on 2/3 acre in the Cully neighborhood in NE Portland (established in 2014). Here are the available open spots: One plot to plant a Tiny Home (no RVs or Campers please). Cost is about $400 per month rent, plus an equal share of utilities. The spot has 30a/240v electrical hookup, city water, internet, and greywater disposal. No sewer hookups. The second floor of our community house; it includes 2 small bedrooms, a small living area, and a private bath. The total cost, including utilities, is about $1,160/month. This house is shared with one other person. The common areas are community areas and can be used by other members. All races, colors, national origins, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations are welcome. We are especially excited about welcoming folx who identify as AAPI, BIPOC and/or LGBTQI+ Wanted: A communally-conscious person or couple, folks with strong process and communication skills, folks who want to jump in and help (we do a lot of projects in our community), folks who embrace human diversity in all its forms. We’re looking for people who are kind, emotionally mature, and excited to live in a community with kids. Indoor cats only. Well-behaved and cat-friendly dogs will be considered on an individual basis. There are 3 tiny houses on our land plus 2 traditional sized houses (one with a laundry, indoor community space, kitchen & bulk pantry), a wood shop, bike shop, bike storage, and ample, generous garden space! Required of all members is a monthly contribution of 6 work hours toward the community (land maintenance, building projects, community upkeep, chores) and attendance of one community meeting per month. We host community potlucks every Sunday (attendance optional) and some holiday celebrations (winter solstice, summer solstice, spring equinox, etc). Every fall we go

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