Client Update: Cohousing Houston - The Finish Line is Near!

Plus a few homes still remain - learn more below

Hello from Houston,

One of the things about cohousing is that it’s so local. A group of neighbors - what could be more specific than that? And yet, the reasons we join cohousing are so similar across the country, from coast to coast and even here in the Lone Star State. 

I have been thinking about the things that tie together our group here in Houston and why we have such a steadfast and delightful group of people who are willing to share their lives, move homes, and face the future together. I think one of those things is that cohousers build for the long term. 

I was recently reminded of this when a spring thunderstorm blew through our city. There was strong wind, pouring rain, spectacular lightening for about thirty minutes in any given area of our city. Lots of trees were blown over, people lost power, and the city streets looked like a leafy ticker tape parade had just passed. Our project is under construction and we’ve all been wishing it would move faster. New construction takes longer than you’d think - when it’s done with an eye on the long term. 

Building with values first is something cohousers do. We want our buildings to reflect connection and sustainability even if it takes time to make that happen. Our first few months as a construction site were spent drilling wells for our geothermal heat exchange system and every time there’s a deviation from the plans, our professional team evaluates it and decides if it supports the goal of a building that will stand the test of time.

Also, putting down real roots takes time! Our group has been planning and working on our cohousing for seven years if you start counting at the very first meeting. That’s a long time to develop relationship and learn about each other. Because neighbors come first in our community, the agreements and understanding that we have developed for one another is durable and gets us through tough times out to the good times. 

We’ve been working hard to extend those roots to our broader community in the historic Second Ward of Houston. The attention to local concerns and needs as well as enjoyment of celebrations and hopeful investments ties us to our neighbors outside of cohousing. They want long-term stable neighbors, not people who move in and out of the neighborhood. The recent Salsa de Mayo celebration at an urban farm a few blocks from our cohousing homes felt like a big block party with people we’ve come to know over the years. 

While we’ve been doing this long-term planning and building, the area around our cohousing similarly has exciting announcements of its own. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is building an extensive walking, hiking, biking, and recreation project all along the shores of the bayou and into downtown, making it possible for us to easily tap into our city’s 345-mile interconnected bikeway network.

As our time as a “developing” cohousing group comes to a close and we move into the living together phase, we would love to fill out our remaining homes. If our values of connection and sustainability in this vibrant and diverse large city resonate with you, we would be delighted if you reached out. VISIT US ONLINE

If you’re curious about Houston, and what's happening in our future neighborhood, check out: 

Buffalo Bayou Partnership. They’re the ones developing the East End sector of the bayou, just a few blocks from our future homes. Or if you’re just visiting Houston they have two tours that are really fun: the water cistern tour and the Waugh bridge bat tour on the already completed section west of downtown.  

The local organic farm, Finca Tres Robles, which is blocks from our cohousing site is worth checking out as they often have community events in the East End. Their focus is on keeping the produce they grow in the neighborhood and getting it to those who need it most. We are looking forward to being a part of their many planned programs, like the Perennials monthly giving program, CSA, Pick-It-Yourself and hands-on classes.

If you’re curious about cohousing in Houston (the first in the state!), come visit us. 

By: Kelli Soika, CoHousing Houston Member

Meet CS at CohoUS's National Conference!

Be sure to save the date and join CoHousing Solutions and the Cohousing Association of the U.S. for the 2024 National Cohousing Conference in Denver. The biennial conference will be a space for connection, learning and growth.

We will listen deeply, share openly and reflect on the past, present and future of the cohousing movement. While grounded in our commitment to belonging, we will explore strategies to make cohousing a more equitable and diverse space.

Cohousing communities across the United States celebrated National Cohousing Open House Days on May 4th & 5th, including many CS clients.

This annual event is an opportunity for communities to open their doors (literally for built communities, metaphorically for forming communities) to their neighbors and the "cohousing curious". It's also a time to celebrate each other and the bounty that living in community brings to our daily lives.

Shelly Parks, 500CP Affiliate, Founder, CoVision Consulting

Fri., Aug. 2: To The Finish Line: Unlocking the Secrets of Cohousing Marketing. RSVP 8/2

Andrea Budde, Marketing Mgr, CoHousing Solutions

Sat., Aug. 3: How to Analyze Marketing Success (Pre-Conference)

Celebrating National Cohousing Open House Days!

Washington Commons in West Sacramento held their first National Cohousing Open House tour in their new (nearly complete) building!

Members & friends of Mission Peak Village in Fremont, CA were all smiles as they celebrated at one of their favorite local cafes, Hops & Beans

Members of 4th Corner Commons (above), a new community forming in Bellingham, WA got to tour Skagit Commons in Anacortes, WA

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neighborhood a reality.

We provide development consulting services to help you create your sustainable neighborhood. Our team pioneered the development of cohousing in North America, and we have helped create dozens of successful communities.