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Sustainable Community Design

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Community Development

There are a variety of models for community development that are reasonably accessible. Renovating large houses for cooperative housing with a combination of private suites and shared common space is one model that has growing potential. Another model is developing small pieces of land with small houses and a shared common building. The key is to do small manageable projects and to incorporate tools to facilitate relational harmony.

We have lived in both models and are currently developing new projects – you can find more info here. I also love working with others that are exploring community development. The following outline indicates the components and process that we use in our own projects and in working with others. Contact me for more information.

A. Nurturing a Collaborative Culture

  1. Establish clear personal and collaborative awareness and intention at the foundation of community building
  2.  Incorporate conscious communication practices for nurturing relational connection
  3. Use a collaborative process for designing collective alignment  of values, needs, and expectations
  4. Implement processes and tools for participatory decision making and conflict management

B. Designing Collaborative Legal & Governance Structures

  1. Choose and combine legal structures that support relational intention
  2. Design organizational structures & agreements that support a collaborative culture

C. Strategic Planning for Collaborative Community Design

  1. Establish a foundational vision and mission
  2. Use collaborative tools for designing objectives & strategy

D. Real Estate Development 

  1. Clarify your development goals
  2. Understand the design/build process
  3. Establish due diligence requirements
  4. Form a collaborative team
  5. Consider green building and permaculture principles
  6. Establish design parameters
  7. Explore financing alternatives
  8. Plan the project thoroughly
  9. Select appropriate materials and suppliers
  10. Establish a project management system

News & Updates

Categories

Resources

  • A Co-Creative Path
  • ALA Health House
  • Blueprint of We
  • Center for Sociocratic Governance
  • Cohousing Association
  • Compassionate Communication
  • DIY Home Building
  • EcoVillage Network
  • Essence of Permaculture
  • Green Building Primer
  • Institute of HeartMath
  • Owner Builder Guide
  • Transition Initiatives
  • WNC Green Building Info

Recent

Shared Housing at Echo Hills Cottages

We're moving along nicely with development of our "intentional" neighborhood. Three homes are completed and occupied. Another home is just about done and will be occupied by mid July. Our fifth is well on it's way and we hope to have the owner in this fall. Another … [Read More...]

The Glenway House

Before Echo Hills Cottages, there was "The Glenway House." We were given the opportunity to transform a 3500 sq.ft  house, in a great North Asheville neighborhood, into a shared home for up to five adults. This wonderful house was a near perfect canvas to co-create this … [Read More...]

Intentional Community in Asheville

The exploration of intentional community in Asheville has many expressions. With the creative and progressive energy that fuels so much of Asheville's charm, community building is a central theme and has many applications. Intentional community means different things to … [Read More...]

What’s New at Echo Hills Cottages.

There's been great progress here at Echo Hills Cottages since our last update in January of this year. Connie and Bob moved into their new home in May. The octagonal shaped, green built house features an open floor plan, custom cabinets, a porch with a beautiful view, and … [Read More...]

An Echo Hills Story

Several years before my retirement, I found myself investigating intentional communities in North Carolina. When my partner, Bob, read about Echo Hills and then visited in October of 2013, we began to consider what it would mean to move into a developing community. Despite … [Read More...]

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