Intentional Communities - A Project of the FIC
Register or Login
UsernamePassword
Directory Home | Community List: by State/Country, Type, Newest | Maps | Add Your Community | Order the Book | Find a Community:
 
Formed: 1992 Established: 1998
Eno Commons
Durham, North Carolina,
United States
Original site concept design
 Ours is a community of 22 households of folks who have chosen to live here because they want to know their neighbors and be involved. We have clustered our homes to free up more common spaces for play and mutual enjoyment. We have a commons house that is the focus of shared meals and activities. We have an organic vegetable garden that we share as well. We care deeply about our children and want them to grow up in a friendly and stimulating environment. We have designed our community to facilitate spontaneous interactions. For example, cars are located near the edges of the property; the space inside is reserved for people. We believe in learning through the diversity of each other.
We believe we are connected to the larger communities of our adjacent neighborhoods, our city, our county, and our world. Hopefully we will make a difference in each other's lives and the life of our planet through work and play freely given.
 
Website: http://www.enocommons.org/
Contact:
Eno Commons
Durham, North Carolina 27712 United States
Last Updated:10/17/2009
 
Visitors Not Accepted
Visitor Process: We are not doing tours at this time.
Network Affiliations:
Coho/US
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):
60
Non-member Residents:
0
(renters are encouraged to be active in the community)
Open to new members:
Yes
(membership comes with ownership of house. However, we do have an opportunity for a rental in 2010. See http://enocommons.org/04.rental.html for details.)
Government
Decision Making:
Other
(a collaborative approach based on communicating openly)
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Open to Members with Pre-existing Debt:
Yes
(We do not review finances. If you need a mortgage to buy a house, the bank will determine if you are credit worthy.)
Labor Contribution:
Expected
(Members are expected to contribute to the work of maintaining and building the community. There is a committee to help match your skills/desires/availability to the needs of the community.)
Join Fee:
No
Regular Fees:
Yes
(Members pay $100/mo HOA dues which are used for maintenance of common property and other items that the group decides upon.)
Land and Buildings
Other
(We are within city limits so we have city water/sewer/garbage but we have rural feel. We are walking distance from the Eno River State Park.)
Area:
11.2 acres (4.5 hectares)
(Includes a Common House and barn(workshop))
Land Owned By:
Other
(The homeowner's association (HOA) owns the common land with private ownership for lots and houses. Common land is about 9 of our 11.24 acres. The HOA also owns the Common House and a workshop.)
Number of Residences:
22
(There are two house types: 11 House A/1483 sq ft and 11 House B/1974 sq ft.)
Cohousing:
Yes
Food, etc.
Percentage of Food Grown:
1-5%
(organic community garden supplements community and individual meals)
Share Community Meals:
2-5 times/week
(Almost every Tuesday and after bimonthly Sunday meetings and occasional other meals as well')
Dietary Choice or Restrictions:
Diet is up to each individual
Dietary Practice:
Omnivorous
(vegetarian option at all community meals)
Alcohol Use:
Used occasionally
Tobacco Use:
Seldom used
(prohibited in Common House)
Social Factors
Common Spiritual Practices:
No
Educational Style(s):
Public schooled
:: Private school off the property
(The school buses for Easley Elementary, Carrington Middle School, Durham School of the Arts and Riverside High School stop in front of the Common House. The biodiesel van transports the kids we have going to Central Park School for Children.)
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Completed
Year Completed:
2000
Number of Units:
22
Square Feet in Common House:
2390
(Downstairs: 1875 sq ft, Upstairs: 515 sq ft; Upstairs has one guest bedroom)
Architect:
Homes and Commons House designs: Cline Davis / Jeffrey Davis Raleigh, NC http://www.jdavisarchitects.com/portfolio/special_projects.html; Landscape and site design: Coulter Hart Jewell Thames / Ken Coulter Durham, NC
Developer:
Sherri Zann Rosenthal
Commercial Lender:
BB&T
 
 
Original site concept design
Aerial View (2002Mar28) (The 'bulls-eye' is the plaza which is just south of the Common House. Today adults can watch from the deck of the Common House the kids play in the plaza.)
Current site plan with the City of Durham. (The city required that we submit a new site plan in order for the city to approve the workshop.)
Click an image to see it full size.


Become an Editor Current editor(s): cohousing, robertheinich
Comments from Directory Readers This community selects which reader comments to display (more info). You can add yours below.
There are no Reader Comments on this community.

Add Your Comment on Eno Commons

We encourage comments from those who have first hand experience with a community so that others may benefit from your experience. Please share information you think will be useful to other users of this site, in a clear, concise, and polite manner. Each community can choose to display all comments, display selected comments, or not to display comments (more info). Communities will be shown email addresses of those who comment so that they might communicate with you if they choose.

We reserve the right to edit or delete any comment.

You must be logged in to add a comment. Login here or if you have not yet registered on our site Register here.

More Info on Display Options
Communities can choose one of three options for how reader comments are displayed.
  1. Display all reader comments.
  2. Do not display any reader comments.
  3. Display only comments selected by the community (this is the default value).
Communities may have a variety of reasons for choosing these options so we encourage you to not be quick to judge.
 
eNewsletter
Sign up now! (more info)
Name:
Email:
Communities Magazine
Current Issue
Current Issue - Community in Hard Times

About these ads