August 15, 2019
Next Introductory Meeting: Saturday, August 25
Just Two Homes Left!
Did you know Cohousing has Superpowers?
Reprinted with permission of CoHousing Solutions
Maybe you're a cohousing resident, or maybe you're dreaming of the day that you and a couple of your best friends will build your own cohousing community.

No matter your situation, I am willing to bet that if you are reading this newsletter you are already aware that cohousing possesses superpowers, superpowers that have the potential to make the world a better place. Superpowers like the ability to combat social isolation, to reduce excess consumerism, and to bring sustainable living standards within reach. But did you know that cohousing also has the ability to change city structures and fight urban sprawl?

The word we like to use for this superpower is  infill. ..
It is becoming increasingly evident that the patterns of suburban growth that have shaped America for decades are no longer sustainable. The American dream of single family homes surrounded by their own white picket fence has led to rapid expansion of our cities and urban areas. We continue building outwards, taking up more natural space and farmlands. Besides the loss of natural habitats, urban sprawl creates long commutes, increases infrastructure costs, and decreases our physical activity and community interaction (to name just a few).

This outward pattern of development is not sustainable, and if we want to change the earth we need to look at filling in the cracks instead of furthering expansion.
Infill projects develop vacant and under-utilized properties within already existing urban areas, giving us the opportunity to bolster our cities from the inside-out. When we use the existing lots and structures within cities, the infill superpower manifests in many forms:
  • Reinvestment in local neighborhood
  • Lowering our environmental impact
  • Strengthening of the local economy
  • Providing more housing opportunities
  • Instilling new life and vitality into a neighborhood
  • The repurposing of old/historic structures, and repurposing existing infrastructures

Cohousing communities are the perfect candidates for infill projects. Besides the benefits listed above, cohousers tend to bring their own set of uplifting attributes to their neighborhoods:
  • they get involved with the local school districts
  • they become members of the neighborhood association
  • they are voters
  • they are invested homeowners
  • they offer up their shared amenities for local meeting spots and events

Katie McCamant, President of CoHousing Solutions, has worked on countless infill projects, some of which she herself has called home. These include:

Katie sees infill as having the power to transform an area, bringing life and community back into spaces that have been ignored or exiled.
Welcoming Paula:
New Member Spotlight
Paula Cunningham grew up on an apple farm, forty miles from Cape Town, South Africa. She has wonderful memories of gatherings with family and friends in the close-knit farming community. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA in English. It was there she first joined in political protests against apartheid. After graduation, she worked as a legal secretary, then traveled in England, Europe, and the United States for eighteen months, staying with family and friends and visiting as many art museums and galleries she could. Whenever she ran out of money, she walked into a temporary secretarial agency and found enough work to carry on.

Paula moved to Seattle, married, and had two wonderful children. The family moved to Port Angeles, another close-knit community in the Pacific Northwest, where she volunteered in local schools, joined friends to start the Juan de Fuca Festival, and raised money for South African children affected by AIDS. After owning a graphic design firm, she became activities director at an assisted living community, which she loved.
Paula’s son and family live in Sacramento and her daughter and partner live in Seattle. Two years ago, she moved to Sacramento to help take care of her two grandchildren. Her parents actually met at UC Davis, so she feels she has come full circle. Paula enjoys getting together with family and friends, being in nature, reading, and the arts, and cares deeply about the environment and social justice. She is currently writing her memoirs on growing up in South Africa.

Paula is excited to be a member of the Fair Oaks EcoHousing neighborhood, and return to the sense of community she treasured as a child.
Introduction to Fair Oaks EcoHousing
Saturday, August 25, at 10:30am

Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a neighborhood of 30 homes on 3.7 acres in Fair Oaks, CA, 18 miles east of downtown Sacramento. Come see the site and our architectural plans, and meet members at an upcoming cohousing informational meeting. Kids are welcome.

Act now! Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only two homes left but we are taking names for our waiting list for all other floor plans. If you are interested, please come to the informational meeting and site overlook. Other h omes do become available on occasion. If you like what you hear at the meeting, please join our interest list to be notified of new availability.

To attend the Introduction to Fair Oaks EcoHousing, meet at 10:30 am at the Fair Oaks Coffeehouse in Fair Oaks Village, at 10223 Fair Oaks Blvd , at the intersection with Park Drive. Look for us on the side of the Coffeehouse, in the patio area or in the building at the back. We will introduce you to the project and then we can carpool to the site, where we will be able to overlook the construction of our new community.

The event will last about an hour and a half, with an optional lunch afterwards at the Siam Patio Restaurant or the Smokey Oaks Tavern. If you can't make it on the 25th, the next meeting is Sunday, September 14. Please RSVP below. Thanks!
Be Part of Our Community:
Just Two Homes Left!
As construction progresses on our project, Fair Oaks EcoHousing has only two homes left. Call now to learn about cohousing, observe the site and reserve a spacious 2-story 4 bedroom townhome. Note: I f you are interested in a different floor plan, please contact us so we can add you to the Waitlist and call you when your preferred size home is available.    We recommend that you come to an Introductory Meeting, if you haven’t done that already.

The 2 bedroom flat includes:

• Wide doors and open space in the home
• Spacious bedrooms with large windows
• Easy access to the porch, pool and Common House

The 4 bedroom townhome includes:

• Spacious upstairs master bedroom with a full master bath and walk-through closet
• First-floor bedroom, perfect for a home office, an aging family member, or single-floor downstairs living
• Large windows, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home and make rooms feel light and spacious
• Open design for living and dining areas, providing flexibility in use
• Modern kitchen with ample storage and counter space
• Large wrap-around porch providing roomy outdoor living space

All homes in Fair Oaks EcoHousing are designed for energy efficient living, with eco-friendly construction and high-quality fixtures and finishes.

Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a pedestrian-friendly village for residents of all ages, with a centrally-located clubhouse, pool and spa, and garden. 

The location is close to Fair Oaks Village and the American River Parkway, with many nearby dining and entertainment options, plus easy access to the freeway.
Want to Learn More About Fair Oaks & Sacramento?