Cohousing Directory - Community View
Berkeley Cohousing
Berkeley
, California
, United States
(West Berkeley)
Contact:
Berkeley Cohousing
Berkeley, California 94702 United States
Address Status:
Good as of 11/3/2007
Email:
berkeleycoho-info [at] ebcoho [dot] org
Links:
East Bay Cohousing: most recent members came from this group
We are Berkeley's first and (so far) only cohousing community. We are located four blocks from North Berkeley BART station, on the bus line to San Francisco, and two blocks from the bus to downtown Oakland.
We are within walking distance to the farmer's market, Andronico's, the library, YMCA, stores, parks--you name it.
It is in a beautiful park-like setting.
Former/Other Names:
Sacramento Street, East Bay Cohousing
Last Updated:
10/17/2009
Visitors Accepted
(by prearrangement and regularly scheduled tours only)
Visitor Process:
Contact us well in advance to make arrangements; guestroom available only to people hosted by a member.
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
Year Completed:
1997
(group lived onsite during construction)
Area:
0.8 acres (0.3 hectares)
Number of Units:
14 (plus sometimes an associate member nextdoor)
Square Feet in Common House:
2000
(converted 1900-ish farmhouse; units above, adjacent)
Architect:
The Cohousing Co. and earlier individual-structure designers
Developer:
self-developed
Commercial Lender:
Evergreen Bank
Population
Members:
24 (plus some regular visitors, extended family)
Non-Member Residents:
1 (occasional housemate renters choose not to participate)
Open to new members:
No (purchase/rental opportunities rare; low turnover)
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus (backup voting available in bylaws but almost never necessary)
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
Yes (Agenda Committee = Meeting planners plus rotating facilitator)
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Labor Contribution:
Expected (Committee work, workdays, plus cooking/cleaning in meal rotation)
Join Fee:
Yes (purchase of a unit or rental in community)
Regular Fees:
Yes ($250-300/mo. in HOA dues per unit)
Land and Buildings
Community:
Urban (feels spread-out and less urban than it is)
Land Owners:
The community (condominium ownership structure; owners own units dfrom wallpaper in)
No. of Residences:
14 (14 units in 9 buildings, plus sometimes nextdoor associate member)
Food, Etc.
% Food Grown:
1-5% (community garden supplements common meals)
Shared Meals:
2-5 times/week (3x/week. We assume everybody's coming to every common meal unless they sign out.)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual (We try to honor needs of all in shopping/cooking)
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous (some vegetarians)
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally (some bring wine to meals)
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used (no smoking in public areas on the property)
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