Working with
East Liberty Development, Inc., a group of prospective owners has formed the East Liberty Cohousing Group, hoping to transform a former 20-unit apartment building on Rippey Street, into a green cohousing structure with 12 to 14 condo units.
Cohousing is a type of intentional housing where residents actively participate in the design and management of their community. Residents work with architects to design shared common areas, which they manage themselves through consensus-decision making. In the United States, there are around 90 established co-housing neighborhoods in 38 states, with another 100 currently forming.
At Rippey Street Cohousing, each unit will have its own kitchen, but the building will also feature a shared kitchen and dining area, where residents can eat meals together. Other common areas may be converted into parking, gardens, a play area, or something else entirely, depending on the needs of the residents. The group and their design partner,
Lab 8 Designs, Inc., are committed to sustainable building techniques, and are exploring green features like rainwater and gray water recycling, bamboo flooring, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and a rooftop garden.
“I never saw myself living in an apartment,” says Ken Pruszynski of the East Liberty Cohousing Group. “I like to be outside and have a lot of projects. This was a way to have things that I enjoy doing that I could never have in an apartment.”
Currently there are eight potential residents who have been involved in planning for Rippey Street Cohousing, and they are searching for several more members. On March 26 the group will hold an information session about the project and cohousing in general at the
East End Food Co-op at 7 p.m.
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Rob Cullen
Source: Ken Pruszynski, East Liberty Cohousing Group
Image Courtesy East Liberty Cohousing Group