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Formed: 1995 Established: 2000
Swan's Market Cohousing
Oakland, California,
United States
(Old Oakland neighborhood, downtown)
New interior lighting and paint at Swan's Market Cohousing in Oakland, CA Photo by Jeff Pyle, appearing in Cohousing Magazine
 North America’s 50th Cohousing Community is preserved in the 1917 Swan's Market building in historic Old Oakland neighborhood. We are the most urban cohousing community in North America; a block from a major subway hub; 12 minutes from downtown San Francisco.
Swan's Market is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an award-winning innovative mixed-used historic-preservation project, restoring an abandoned old market building. In addition to our a cohousing community, Swan's Market includes affordable rental apartments, retail stores, restaurants, professional offices, and the Museum of Children’s Art.
The building is restored with the original glazed brick/ceramic tile exterior preserved and steel beams exposed.
 
Website: http://www.swansway.com/
Contact:
Swan's Market Cohousing
Oakland, California United States
Phone: Joani Blank (510.834.7399)
Email This Community!
Former/Other Names: Old Oakland Cohousing.
Last Updated:12/1/2008
 
Visitors Accepted
 (by prearrangement)
Visitor Process: Please email us well in advance. Common dinners are alternate Sundays/Mondays and every Tuesday and Thursday. Fees for guestroom use.
Network Affiliations:
Coho/US
Population
Adult Members:
29
Child Members:
3
Open to new adults:
Yes
(through resale and rental)
Open to new children:
Yes
(we'd love to have more kids, through resale and rental and other means)
Gender Balance:
35% M 65% F
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
(backup voting available but never used)
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(common meal preparation, regular work days and committee meetings.)
Join Fee:
No
(unit purchase prices $300k and up; rarely available)
Regular Fees:
Yes
(Homeowners dues $240-$370/mo.)
Land and Buildings
Urban
(the most urban cohousing community in America; a block from major subway hub; 12 minutes from downtown SF)
Area:
0.3 acres (0.1 hectares)
(mostly air rights in historic market)
Land Owned By:
The community
(condo structure)
Number of Residences:
20
(units and common house within existing historic structure)
Cohousing:
Yes
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
none
Share Community Meals:
2-5 times/week
(3x/week)
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
(All meals include vegetarian option.)
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used
(No smoking in public areas of property, including outdoors, because of proximity to unit windows.)
Social Factors
Shared Spiritual Path:
No
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
Year Completed:
2000
Number of Units:
20
Square Feet in Common House:
3458
(includes guestroom, bathrooms, workshop, yoga/kid's room, laundry room, exercise room)
Architect:
Michael Pyatok & Assoc., Peter Waller
Developer:
East Bay Asian Local Development Co. (EBALDC) (nonprofit)
Commercial Lender:
Wells Fargo among six lenders on the overall project
 
 
New interior lighting and paint at Swan's Market Cohousing in Oakland, CA Photo by Jeff Pyle, appearing in Cohousing Magazine
Walkway
Click an image to see it full size.


Become an Editor Current editor(s): cohousing, neil
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