Strong Community in a Weak Economy

When the going gets tough, the tough get together. That seems to be the mantra behind a rising trend in intentional communities ... cooperative housing situations where groups of people band together to create a group domestic scenario that allows them each to save some money and live a more realized, conscious lifestyle.

There's a great directory for this new movement here. No matter where you live, ICs are popping up, and you can find many of them through this site.

One IC, called Brooklyn Cohousing, is "a green, sustainable community forming in Brooklyn, NY." The folks behind Brooklyn Cohousing will be renovating and retrofitting an old factory building which features high ceilings and original wood beams and columns throughout. The design orients the building around an interior courtyard and set of cascading terraces leading to a roof deck with Manhattan skyline views.

Those joining are very explicit about what community means to them. They describe themselves as a "group of people who want the option for greater community life where we live. We are creating a more cooperative co-op apartment building; we include families with children, single people, couples and retirees. We expect to share resources and interested (for example share child care, offer some weekly common means (optional), share tools, skills and interests, etc.) while each owning our own fully equipped private apartments."

If done right, cohousing can be a nice blend of public and private, with community that enriches one's life and dwellings that are full of character, energy efficient, well constructed, and designed through participation. So if you're looking for a little more intention and community in your life, try joining up with those who feel the same, and you might not only find a great way to economize, but you'll make some close friends in the meantime.

Photo via Brooklyn Cohousing.