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Formed:
2004
Established:
2010
Woodard Lane Cohousing
Olympia
,
Washington
,
United States
(on the west side, 1.6 miles from downtown)
Website:
www.woodardlanecoho.org
Contact:
David Lerner
Woodard Lane Cohousing
1620 Woodard Ave NW B-2
Olympia, Washington 98502-4218 United States
Address Status:
Good as of 11/1/2011
dlerner1 [at] speakeasy [dot] net
Cj Russo
1620 Woodard Ave NW C-3
Olympia, Washington 98502 United States
Address Status:
Good as of 2/16/2010
Phone:
360-866-4557
Links:
woodardlanecoho.org
5/11 house concert with Carl Tolsten
Garden raising party

We are actively seeking new members. In April 2012 we celebrated our second year of living together. We have one new member committed for a home in phase two. Our plan is to build another four-plex and a permanent common house with one or two more small units. This will provide a total of 17 or 18 homes. Persons interested in participating in some design aspects of their new homes or to get the sized home they want are encouraged to check us out soon. We also have a couple of homes available for sale (or rent with intention to purchase) in this first phase of 11 homes. Check out our web site for additional details: www.woodardlanecoho.org.

We're currently live in three fourplexes whose units range in size from 950 sq ft to 1950 sq ft. One of the units is our temporary common house, and will be available for sale after building phase 2.

Our site is on Olympia's west side,just 1.6 miles from downtown, and 6 blocks from the west side 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. We're actively landscaping throughout the grounds.

More important than building houses, we have been building community since we started this process in late 2004. Now that we live together we continue to have dinners together (twice a week), sing-alongs, work parties and celebrations.

We are legally a Condominium with a Steering Board made up of one member from each of the working committees (grounds, community life, financial, membership, and maintenance) and two members at large.

We welcome diversity of all kinds. As far as age goes, all generations are represented, from babies less than a year old to retired seniors. In April 2012 our count was 24 adults and 13 children, all under 12.

We use consensus decision making and Nonviolent Communication; value living lightly on the land, building green, and sharing resources. We support each other as unique, evolving, compassionate, spiritual beings.

Community Affiliations:
Network Affiliations:
Coho/US
Last Updated:
4/29/2012
Visitors Accepted
Visitor Process:
Contact Cj Russo at 360-866-4557.
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
(Ready to build phase 2 after homes are purchased)
Year Completed:
2010
(Phase I completed 2010, Phase II in a few years)
Area:
2.9 acres (1.2 hectares)
Number of Units:
11 built, 8 more to be built after members sign up
Square Feet in Common House:
3000
(to be built with phase 2. Our temporary Comnon house is 1000 sq feet)
Architect:
Tom Sanford of MSGS for the Site and Common House Bergford and Associates designed the homes with us
Developer:
Member designed and developed with consultation from Scott Homes who did the building
Commercial Lender:
Olympia Federal Savings and Loan
Population
Members:
37 (24 adults, 13 children)
Non-Member Residents:
0
Open to new members:
Yes (We will be embarking on phase 2 and need new members for this.)
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus (We value effective and inclusive decision making. This includes consensus, delegation, Sociocracy, coin flipping, and more as agreed.)
Identified Leader:
No (Cj, Liv, David and Justin are the Membership Team)
Leadership Core Group:
Yes (A Steering Committee of 7 members, one from each working committee and two at large)
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Labor Contribution:
Expected (Attend meetings, work on committees, help with meals)
Join Fee:
Yes ($40/month for Associate Members and $20,000 to become a full member, down payment)
Regular Fees:
Yes (Their share of the common expenses including all utilities, reserves, insurance and maintenance)
Land and Buildings
Community:
Urban (surrounded by green belt)
Land Owners:
The community
No. of Residences:
19 (Phase 1 = 11 units. Phase 2 = 8 more.)
Food, Etc.
% Food Grown:
6-20% (have a shared garden)
Shared Meals:
2-5 times/week (2 dinners/week, occasional breakfasts)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual (many gluten free folks)
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used (not in common buildings. Outside only in designated areas. No current member smokes)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
No (All Members are on their own spiritual paths)
Which Spiritual Traditions:
Other (All and none)
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled (Home schooling also)
Garden raising party
snow storm party
welcoming spring
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