2009 Featured Developers

Cohousing Developers are a rare breed in the United States. While many have been involved as developers (of their own, self-developed cohousing community), very few have been involved in more than one project. All of these developers have, and will share what they have learned with you. Developing property in the United States is a very difficult thing and it's far too easy to make very costly mistakes - some of which are easily avoided if you have the right information. Whether you want to self-develop or work with a professional developer, come learn from these experienced Cohousing Developers about how to create a more successful project.

Jim Leach

Conference Session: Developing and Living the Senior Cohousing Experience, included in Conference
Pre-Conference 3-hr Workshop: Project Management Best Practices, $60
Jim Leach is president of Wonderland Hill Development Company and chairman of CoHousing Partners. Jim has led Wonderland Hill Development Company as the largest developer of cohousing communities in the United States. Jim is a professional engineer with over 40 years of experience in the design, construction and development of sustainable, planned neighborhoods and cohousing communities.

He has served as a trail blazer in the industry in implementing energy-efficient strategies, leading-edge design and community participation, resulting in neighborhoods that provide maximum value to the residents. His award-winning neighborhoods have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Association of Home Builders, National Council of the Housing Industry, Urban Land Institute and The Congress of New Urbanism. Jim holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering and Bachelor of Business Management from CU and a Master of Construction Engineering from Stanford University. In November 2007, Jim and his wife moved into the newly completed Silver Sage Cohousing in Boulder, CO. He is enjoying the community he developed, and the daily oh-so-short-five-minute walk to the office.

Kathryn McCamant

Conference Session: Working with Consultants Effectively, included in Conference
Pre-Conference 3-hr Workshop: Project Management Best Practices, $60
Pre-Conference 1-day Workshop: Getting it Built, $95
A licensed architect and co-author of the book Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, Kathryn McCamant founded McCamant & Durrett Architects and The CoHousing Company with her husband, Charles Durrett in 1987. The firm, with offices in Berkeley and Nevada City, California, specializes in sustainable design, cohousing, affordable housing, urban planning, and childcare facilities.In 2006, she founded CoHousing Partners with Jim Leach, a cohousing development company, of which she is now president. CP is currently working on projects in Fresno and Grass Valley, CA.She sat on the CohoUS Board for six years from its initial founding. Kathryn lives with her husband and teenage daughter in the Nevada City Cohousing Community. They previously lived at Doyle Street Cohousing in Emeryville, California for 12 years.

Chris ScottHansen

Pre-Conference 3-hr Workshop: The Right Site, $60
Chris ScottHanson has been a cohousing development consultant since 1989, working with groups all over the US and Canada. He specializes in non-profit self-developed cohousing for groups who are surprised to discover that they actually have the financial horsepower to do it themselves.

Jack Wilbern

Pre-Conference 3-hr Workshop: The Cohousing Timeline Game, $60
Jack Wilbern is the architect/planner for Blueberry Hill cohousing community in Vienna, VA (completed in 2000.) He is also a principal partner of the architectural firm, Butz-Wilbern, with extensive experience in project development and management. Jack Wilbern is also a principal partner of Cohousing Collaborative, LLC a cohousing development company serving the mid-Atlantic region.

Ann Zabaldo

Crucial Conversations: Case Study for Regional Outreach, included in Conference
Pre-Conference 3-hr Workshop: The Cohousing Timeline Game, $60
Ann Zabaldo specializes in marketing, outreach, and lighting and fueling the fires of burning souls. Ann is both a pioneer volunteer and a paid professional in the cohousing movement since 1991. Ann is past president of The Cohousing Association of the United States. She was the cofounder of Mid Atlantic Cohousing. In 2008, she completed a two year project co-producing a DVD on developing cohousing communities targeted to professional developers new to cohousing. Ann was on the development team for Takoma Village Cohousing in Washington, DC where she lives, and Eastern Village Cohousing in Silver Spring, MD.