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Formed:
1994
Established:
2002
Milagro Cohousing
Tucson
,
Arizona
,
United States
Website:
www.milagrocohousing.org/
Contact:
Milagro Cohousing
3057 North Gaia Pl
Tucson, Arizona 85745 United States
Address Status:
Good as of 11/10/2010
Phone:
520-743-2097
info1 [at] milagrocohousing [dot] org
Milagro

Milagro Cohousing is a multigenerational neighborhood of 28 households clustered on eight of our 43 acres in the Tucson Mountains. Our mission is to create community living which values consensus decision making in a nurturing environment, encouraging the contribution and growth of each individual. We have built our homes and operate our community in a way that honors the sacredness of the earth. We are a demonstration of ecological community living.

Former/Other Names:
Community for Ecological Living
Community Affiliations:
Network Affiliations:
Last Updated:
2/3/2012
Visitors Accepted
(Please e-mail to make an appointment.)
Visitor Process:
Email us and let us know what dates you plan to be in the Tucson area. Please make reservations. A tour includes seeing our common house, common landscaped areas, sewage treatment wetlands, and possibly an interior of a home. If weather permits (i.e., not too hot), a walk of the 43-acre property perimeter may also be possible.
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
Year Completed:
2002
Area:
43 acres (17.4 hectares)
Number of Units:
28
Square Feet in Common House:
3400
(Common house includes a large kitchen, pantry and two dishwashers, a large dining area, children's play room and library with the community's sole fireplace. The swimming pool is north of the common house. There is also a laundry room with two washers, a drier and outdoor drying yard.)
Architect:
Morton and Mackey, Austin Texas green architectural firm
Developer:
CEL, LLC We formed this limited liability corporation and served as our own developers.
Commercial Lender:
National Bank of Arizona Tucson, Arizona
Population
Members:
58
Non-Member Residents:
8 (We have a formal rental policy which makes members responsible for the actions of their renters, especially as they might affect the environment.)
Open to new members:
Yes (go to website, www.milagrocohousing.org for information on what is for sale)
Government
Decision Making:
Other (When a decision is needed, the appropriate committee brings a proposal to the monthly community meeting for clarification and possible amendment. It is discussed until all members present can, at a minimum, live with the decision and not block it. At least half the households must be represented to make a quorum. If consensus is impossible, a vote of 90% is needed to pass the proposal.)
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances (Income isn't shared, but some members have made substantial loans to other members which have allowed them to purchase their Milagro home when our house prices grew higher than expected.)
Labor Contribution:
Expected (We have no hour/month figure, but we expect and our literature states that all members will contribute in their own way. For some this is doing landscaping, for others preparing a meal for the landscape crew or making phone calls to remind others of the work schedule. Members clean the common house, maintain or arrange for maintenance of the common facilities and serve on committees which keep the community running.)
Join Fee:
No (Individuals join by attending three meetings/events and paying the purchase price of a home set by the seller. By attending a community or committee meeting, future members are able to assess if they are compatible with our communication styles and ways of relating.)
Regular Fees:
Yes (Under Arizona law, we are required to form a Home Owners' Association. Our HOA dues range from $200 to $240 depending on the square footage, per month per household.)
Land and Buildings
Community:
Rural (Sitting on 43 acres and surrounded by 3 acre lots on three sides, we have a sense of the rural. However, we are only 15 minutes from downtown Tucson by local road.)
Land Owners:
Individual community member(s) (Homes sit on small lots owned by individual members; common areas such as parking area, pathways, common house are owned by the community.)
No. of Residences:
28 (Homes share common walls to conserve energy. Each of eleven buildings contain 2, 3, or 4 homes. Seven of the homes have guest houses in the rear of their lots.)
Food, Etc.
% Food Grown:
1-5% (Planted in 2003, our fruit trees starting to produce. We have a very small community garden, but some members' yards are bountiful.)
Shared Meals:
1 time/week (Common meals are usually held on Saturday evenings.)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual (Common meal cooks strive to cook organic foods with both a meat and vegan option.)
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
Alcohol Use:
Used Often (If members want alcohol, they bring their own to common meal. We recently started a happy hour on Sunday.)
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used (Use of tobacco is prohibited in the common areas and in and around the common house; members may use it in their private spaces (indoors or patios).)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
No (We share a common reverence for the environment and create ceremonial experiences for those interested. We offer a reflective opening prior to each community meeting.)
Which Spiritual Traditions:
Eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions)
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled (or private)
Milagro
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