Habitat Re•Imagined

Sustainable Community

Shared Housing at Echo Hills Cottages

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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 current project is transforming our community house into a shared housing model, providing three individuals the opportunity to rent in our community. With the lower level self-contained studio suite occupied, we’re turning our attention to the main floor. By the first of August, 2017, the two bedrooms will be filled and we will continue the process of developing our relationships based on the principles and tools that we have been working on and putting into place as the foundation for this “intentional” neighborhood.

 EHC Community House

We will begin with each renter completing their own Blueprint of We. This will give us the foundation for creating the relationships we each are comfortable with, and assist us in navigating our shared space by aligning our values, needs and expectations. For me, there are three “tools” I’m very excited to begin using with our group. Those are Mindfulness, Conscious Communication and Heart Coherence. Of course, whenever we gather to discuss and work on decisions that need to be made, we’ll use the consent process of sociocracy.

Watch for future posts on our shared housing journey at Echo Hills.

Kathleen

The Glenway House

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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 win / win solution. It was easily transformed into three independent suites of 450 to 650 square feet, each with a full bath, along with a bedroom with shared bath. It also had a large amount of common space, including a kitchen/dining/living area with fireplace, a great screened in porch, and potential studio / shop space. At the time, the house had an owner that was excited about the opportunity to relieve the stress of a deflated real estate market while meeting the needs of a great group of people.

The Glenway House

To insure the best possible experience for everyone, we established this household on a foundation that encourages healthy communication. We began with the Blueprint of We – for our relationship with the owner as well as the relationships between the residents. We facilitated monthly meetings with the residents, using the consent based decision making of Dynamic Governance (sociocracy) and the principles of compassionate communication. Laurie and I participated in this household until our cottage community project was up and running.

Ron 

What’s New at Echo Hills Cottages.

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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 oak flooring milled from trees around the property.

the-model-house-2The model home, built in 2014, is now occupied by – me, Kathleen! My housemate Shealy and I share the kitchen and I have transformed the lower level into a cozy suite with everything I need. Shealy has the rest of the top floor including a porch overlooking a wooded area of the property.

ron-lauriesThe next house under construction in our West Asheville community is Ron and Laurie’s. It’s more than halfway done and looks different every day. Once the stucco is finished it will blend in quite nicely with the trees. I think it already does. A great example of thoughtful and professional land-use planning.

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My favorite part of the process so far was the delivery of the insulated concrete forms. Sitting there waiting to be installed, they reminded me of Lego bricks. Well they’re much more than that of course. They are light, easy to work with, and provide an insulating factor of R 25. The houses being built at Echo Hills Cottages are super energy efficient as well as beautiful.

johns-framing-going-upThe fourth house is well underway with the foundation complete and the framing just begun. This awesome team of framers will have this phase done in no time!

It’s been inspiring to watch Echo Hills Cottages grow. As a community we are all engaged and committed to a level of relational connection that gives us a sense of belonging, and safety. For me, living here is providing opportunities for personal growth and development that I have desired for a long time.

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