Oak Park Commons Cohousing

ABOUT US | Oak Park Cohousing | United States

Oak Park Commons cohousing seeks to build an intergenerational co-housing community within a 24 unit-family building in Oak Park, Illinois that features shared common spaces that fosters social interaction among residents, a development strategy that enables moderate, middle and upper income households to become members, and a building that promotes energy conservation practices and environmental sustainability. 

Here are Susan and Charlie to give you an overview of the project  2018:

Four households met in January 2018 and began organizing the first cohousing project for Oak Park. Committed to intergenerational diversity they began hosting information meetings for interested prospects. Arbor West Neighbors, a local non profit group https://www.arborwestneighbors.org/ sponsored the first meeting at LIVE! cafe in February 2018. 30 folks attended and more have followed at subsequent meetings held at the Oak Park Public Library.  We created a membership structure and how have four teams organizing our effort: financial-legal, membership,-marketing, development-design and the Coordinating team. 

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Check out big idea proposal

EQUITY MEMBERS

Sunny and Tom

Sanjeev, Priti, & Anna

Charlie and Susan

Heather and Jonathan

 Sean and Sheila

Marian and Keith

Susan

 

Allen and Alex 

Our committed members come from a variety of social and geographic backgrounds and bring a host of professional experience in the fields of architecture, real estate development, urban planning, insurance, business and sociology.

I.  The physical design of shared common spaces (e.g., mail room, fireplace, dining area) will foster social interaction among residents.

• Preparing and sharing meals on a regular basis in a common dining area (voluntary, periodic)

• Coordinating social interaction, barter and labor exchange for services among residents

• Common space will include space for gardening, child play and guest rooms

II.  Pursue a building design, development strategy and organizational structure that enables moderate, middle and upper income households to become members

• Members may pay less for smaller dwelling units with fewer amenities and more for larger units  

• Members with means purchase units for rental or rent to own for moderate income households

III.  The residential buildings will be developed on a location near public transportation and pedestrian accessible shops and services.

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IV.  Promote and adopt energy conservation practices in the physical construction, maintenance and use of the building and facilities.