Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage :: Communities Directory

Formed: 2007 Established: 2012

This page last updated:1/21/2013

Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage

Belfast, Maine,

United States

(Midcoast Maine)

Belfast is a city of 7,000 people located in midcoast Maine between Camden and Bar Harbor. The city features an active waterfront and lively arts community, and is the center of business, services, and government for the surrounding county. Traditional housing in the Belfast area falls into two main categories: in-town residential neighborhoods and rural, large-lot homesteads. Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage are building a community that combines the best elements of both types: located in a rural area with tightly clustered housing and shared infrastructure, but working to preserve neighboring open land for its beauty, recreation, and farming, while fostering a close-knit, cooperative, and intentionally ecological way of life.

We are 32 Equity Member households and 20 Exploring Member households. We are business owners, educators, naturalists, gardeners, an architect, a fine homebuilder, farmers, doctors, nonprofit directors, poets, musicians, IT professionals, and children of all ages. (See bios on our website). Our 42 acre community (part of a larger 180-acre farm we plan to help preserve) is located just two miles from Belfast's downtown and harbor. We are within 1.5 miles of elementary and middle schools, Cornerspring Montessori Elementary School, the University of Maine Hutchinson Center, a YMCA, grocery and other retail stores, and Belfast's Municipal Airport.

Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage is creating an environmentally sustainable, affordable cohousing community that includes land reserved for agriculture and open space and is an innovative housing development model for rural Maine. Since we broke ground in early November, 2011, we’ve completed seven buildings (fifteen units) with more currently under construction. Eleven families are living on-site now, with more soon to join them. We hope to break ground on our 4,000 SF common house this spring.

We are currently open to Exploring and Equity Members, and are most eager for families with young children to join. Our vision is that we will very soon have a sustainable, harmonious, functional cohousing community where residents love to live and others are waiting in line to join!

Status: Now building, seeking additional members

Website: http://mainecohousing.org

Contact:

Lindsey Piper
Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage
PO Box 100
Belfast, Maine 04915 United States
Phone: 207-338-9200

Links:

Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage: Cohousing/Ecovillage information for Belfast, Maine

Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage Facebook Page

Community location is placed at the center of the zip/postal code, city/state, or city/country (not based on street addresses)

Welcome to Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage!

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Former/Other Names: Belfast Cohousing & Ecovillage

This page last updated:1/21/2013

Visitors Accepted

(Call ahead for a tour!)

Visitor Process: Please contact Lindsey Piper at info@mainecohousing.org. We have an Open House on the second Sunday of every month that features activities for families, a presentation about the community, land tours, and tours of the completed prototype home. See our website (www.mainecohousing.org) for details.

Statement of Housing Non-discrimination:

Our community does not discriminate in regards to housing based on race/color, national origin, religion, sex/gender, family status (i.e. having children, not having children, or being pregnant), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, source of income, age, creed, personal appearance, political affiliation, HIV infection, military/veteran status, unfavorable military discharge, gender identity or expression, receiving public assistance, or being the victim of domestic abuse.

Population Members(adults and children): 23 (project 75 total, give or take) Non-member Residents: 6 (We have some renters.) Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: By consensus (modified consensus) Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: Yes	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected (Currently 5 hours per week) Join Fee: Yes (Varies by membership category. See website for details.) Regular Fees: No
Land and Buildings Rural Area: 42 acres (17.0 hectares) (Parcel sits in the center of a 180 acre agricultural property.) Land Owned By: The community Number of Residences: 36 (36 units: 13 duplexes, 2 triplexes and 1 quad, ranging in size from 440 to 1,500 sq ft.) Cohousing: Yes	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: none (We anticipate growing/raising much of our own food.) Share Community Meals: 2-5 times/week (Our goal) Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (A focus on eating locally raised/grown) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: (No one smokes among present membership)	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Educational Style(s): Home schooling :: Private school off the property :: Public schooled

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Building

(Building started in November 2011.)

Year Completed:

2014

(Anticipated completion date)

Number of Units:

Projected 36 units

Square Feet in Common House:

4000

(Plans being finalized now)

Architect:

G•O Logic is the design/build team

Developer:

We are self-developing

Commercial Lender:

We are financed internally

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Become an Editor Current editor(s): Belfast, SannaMcKim, pendlelight

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