Project website - http://fernwoodurbanvillage.ca/
A cohousing community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes supplemented by shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and managed by the residents – who also share activities which may include cooking, dining, child care, gardening, and governance of the community. Common facilities may include a kitchen, dining room, laundry, child care facilities, offices, internet access, guest rooms, and recreational features.
Cohousing facilitates interaction among neighbors for social and practical benefits, economic and environmental benefits.
Aerial view of the site (same orientation) - https://maps.google....11&t=k°=90&z=20
[Fernwood] Fernwood Urban Village | Residential | 3 storeys | Canceled
#1
Posted 21 October 2013 - 01:54 PM
#2
Posted 21 October 2013 - 02:10 PM
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#3
Posted 21 October 2013 - 03:08 PM
Would this be the first such development in Victoria? And I guess it differs from a co-op in that people own their units.
There was something down in Fairfield like this, 15 years ago.
#4
Posted 22 October 2013 - 06:39 AM
A couple of problems with this proposal are:
First the massing of the building on the south side right up to the edge property and will make a portion of North Park Street very dark
Second, the proposal calls for only 13 parking spaces for 31 units. While it is great to have a goal of fewer cars, it is unrealistic to think that each unit will not have a car. If the intent is to have families here, they will own cars. As someone that tried to live in this city with kids and no car, I lasted six months. More dedicated friends made it a couple of years. This development will cause the streets around it to be filled with a lot of parked cars
#5
Posted 22 October 2013 - 06:58 AM
#6
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:00 AM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#7
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:16 AM
What was the outcome of that Fairfield experiment?
It didn't work and it converted to standard strata housing.
#8
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:19 AM
Cardiff Place on Fairfield Rd just West of Moss St. It started as a cohousing community but was apparently not sustainable.There was something down in Fairfield like this, 15 years ago.
Lake Side Buoy - LEGO Nut - History Nerd - James Bay resident
#9
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:21 AM
#10
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:34 AM
What's our divorce rate? Somewhere around 40% for first marriages.
Now look at 30 families trying to live together, that's gotta be way worse odds than a rock band staying together.
Yup, from time to time you might get a Rolling Stones, but more often than not, you're looking at Nirvana.
Co-housing only works when it's more or less the only option, or forced. The military, work camps in the far north or oil-patch, Western compounds in Saudi Arabia, places like Our Place, prison. 99.9% of the population would never buy into one of these situations, and that's what co-housing is asking you to do.
#11
Posted 22 October 2013 - 08:04 AM
Here's the problem with co-housing...
What's our divorce rate? Somewhere around 40% for first marriages.
Now look at 30 families trying to live together, that's gotta be way worse odds than a rock band staying together.
Yup, from time to time you might get a Rolling Stones, but more often than not, you're looking at Nirvana.
Co-housing only works when it's more or less the only option, or forced. The military, work camps in the far north or oil-patch, Western compounds in Saudi Arabia, places like Our Place, prison. 99.9% of the population would never buy into one of these situations, and that's what co-housing is asking you to do.
Why let the real world influence your thinking? Good for them that they can dream. Not so good for them when it comes to actually living with those dreams. Not too many "communes" actually exist for the most basic reason of all - human nature.
On a practical note - who the heck would finance the construction and ultimate pruchases of something like this?
#12
Posted 22 October 2013 - 09:48 AM
#13
Posted 22 October 2013 - 09:58 AM
If people want to do co-housing, go for it, but this specific development does not seem like the best design for this site.
As to to the parking, the work done to determine that 13 spaces would be enough was spurious at best. It made assumptions about the area with little evidence to back them up.
#14
Posted 22 October 2013 - 10:06 AM
Not too many "communes" actually exist for the most basic reason of all - human nature.
And I think that's right. I don't see see all the upside here. Is this much more inexpensive than regular housing? Probably not.
So if you desire this type of community, you can still buy your own home, and get involved in your local community garden, rec centre, clubs etc., AND when you want privacy or a time-out, that's easy.
#15
Posted 22 October 2013 - 07:01 PM
It is not automatically open for anyone to move in.
Do prospective residents need approval? I didn't see mention of that on the Fernwood Village web site.
#16
Posted 22 October 2013 - 08:14 PM
Do prospective residents need approval? I didn't see mention of that on the Fernwood Village web site.
Possibly. New York City's exclusive co-ops are famous for brutal reviews by the board to determine a prospective owner's suitability. The Dakota board over the years has rejected Melanie Griffith, Antonio Banderas, Gene Simmons, Billy Joel, and Carly Simon.
This will take a lot of work to sustain. While lots of people dream of living in the Dakota, this will be a tougher sell. In some ways, it's the worst of both worlds, the worst of living with roommates combined with the expense and hassle of owning a home or condo.
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#17
Posted 23 October 2013 - 10:04 AM
Do prospective residents need approval? I didn't see mention of that on the Fernwood Village web site.
With co-housing the goal is a community of people that fit with each other. Normally the people that want to live in co-housing tend to self select, but ultimately it is up the the community who lives there and who does not.
#18
Posted 23 October 2013 - 11:37 AM
#19
Posted 20 May 2015 - 01:31 PM
I recently spent some time meeting with the people involved in this project. It's well-run and I'm confident that it will get built.
I ended up deciding not to buy in because the prices are simply too high: average $586 per square foot up to $611 per square foot for family-sized units (some of which have been bought by well-off retirees, unfortunately). Those are the estimates without the interior plans even being finalized, never mind construction overruns.
If you're sure that you're going to spend half your time in the communal space, those prices are reasonable. But my concern was that if it ended up being used as regular condos like Cardiff Place, I would have a mortgage larger than the market value of my unit.
#20
Posted 20 May 2015 - 04:38 PM
Thanks for your feedback. At nearly $600 per square foot, what makes you confident that this will get built?
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