Walnut Commons :: Communities Directory

Forming Formed: 2010

This page last updated:5/10/2013

Walnut Commons

Santa Cruz, California,

United States

(USA)

Urban cohousing in downtown Santa Cruz. An all-age community, to be contained in one 3-story LEED compatible building with underground parking. There will be 19 units, 800-1400 square feet, plus large common house and terrace. We commit to forming a vibrant community, sharing meals 3 times a week, living in a location where we will be far less dependent on cars. We will have a small garden space.

Status: Actively building

Website: http://www.walnutcommons.org

Contact:

Walnut Commons
P.O. Box 7162
Santa Cruz, California 95061 United States
Phone: 831-750-7115

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

This page last updated:5/10/2013

Visitors Accepted

Visitor Process: Our construction has begun! Move-in expected in the spring of 2014. If you are interested, contact us, via email, and we'll arrange to meet with you.

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): 19 Open to new members: Yes	Government Decision Making: By consensus Identified Leader: No Leadership Core Group: Yes	Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt: Yes Labor Contribution: Expected (Everyone is sharing tasks needed to bring the project to completion.) Join Fee: Yes (You will buy your own condo.) Regular Fees: Yes (There will be HOA dues.)
Land and Buildings Urban (Santa Cruz is a town of approximately 62,000 people.) Area: 0.33 acres (0.1 hectares) (less than 1.) Land Owned By: The community Number of Residences: 1 (19 condominiums in a 3 story building.) Cohousing: Yes	Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 1-5% (we don't grow anything yet.) Share Community Meals: 2-5 times/week Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Omnivorous Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Prohibited	Social Factors Common Spiritual Practices: No Which Spiritual Traditions(s): (all of the above.) Educational Style(s): Other (not decided.)

Cohousing Details

Cohousing Status:

Building

Number of Units:

19 - 1 to 3 bedroom units

Square Feet in Common House:

2300

(Plus 1100 square foot terrace)

Architect:

Team includes Chuck Durrett and Barry Swenson Builder.

Developer:

Jeff Major is the project manager.

Commercial Lender:

Santa Cruz Community Bank

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Become an Editor Current editor(s): sglansdale

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Comment from nurkse on 5/9/2013 (Reader Rating: 8)

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May 9, 2013: we are two weeks into construction. Have a 1/3 acre hole on our 1/3 acre lot (real urban cohousing), with steel piles all around to shore up the sides of the hole. About a quarter of a million dollars of work right there, and just the very beginning.

Makes you think twice to see your hard earned savings disappearing into a hole. But this is downtown urban multi-story construction, you have to dig before you build.

Seems most co-housing here in the US has been semi-detached homes on large lots. Urban co-housing so far mostly converted industrial buildings. So we may be leading the way into downtown urban multi-story co-housing, where you build out to the sidewalk.

Future of co-housing may depend a lot on urban cohousing. Just because the biggest number of people in the world live in urban housing. If you're nearby, come on down to Santa Cruz and check out our urban hole. Although it won't remain a hole for long.

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