Wolf Creek Lodge Newsletter
Adult Cohousing in Grass Valley, CA since 2012
February 2022
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Wolf Creek Lodge makes an annual donation to the association to encourage the growth of the movement.
This newsletter describes seven cohousing communities near to Wolf Creek Lodge - from Sacramento in the west to Truckee in the east. In many cases the description was provided by a resident of the individual community.
Each has different characteristics but shares a common approach to community living.
Bob Miller, editor
Susan Pollard, staff photographer
Suzanne Marriott, columnist
Some pictures from online sources, including Wikipedia.
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Three homes being sold at Wolf Creek Lodge
Three homes are in different stages of the sales process. Check out the status on our website:
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Evolution of a Cohousing Community
A cohousing community is usually started by an enthusiastic visionary. This person establishes a core team of members. They seek the help of professionals such as a cohousing consultant and an architect. They find and procure land, enter a construction phase, sell the homes, move in, and then work to become a real community of neighbors. This is not an easy process, and some projects fail.
To finance land acquisition and construction requires an increasing level of financial investment by the founders. The community will take out a bank loan. Banks require a significant investment by the prospective homeowners and others before they will make the loan.
If you are interested in cohousing, you are well advised to join an existing community rather than try and create a new one. However, if you choose the latter course, we congratulate you for your initiative and thank you for growing the cohousing movement.
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Regional Cohousing Communities
We define our region from Sacramento to the west to Truckee in the east. In this region there are seven cohousing communities in various stages of evolution. Southside Park has been in existence the longest. They moved in in 1993 while Truckee is still in the planning stage.
Wolf Creek Lodge has had an involvement with all these communities. Nevada City Cohousing was our example and home of our Project Manager, Katie McCamant and out Architect Chuck Durrett. Members of Fair Oaks Ecohousing and Washington Commons visited Wolf Creek Lodge and asked us many questions during their formation stage. We have had little involvement with Truckee though we monitor their progress with interest.
Surprisingly we have only limited social interaction with these other communities. We should strive to explore this in the future. There is an opportunity for some fun events and mutual learning. Perhaps we are a little too involved with our own community and need to take time to explore others.
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Here are our local cohousing communities from west to east:
- Washington Commons - broke ground, November 2021
- Southside Park - moved in 1993
- Fair Oaks EcoHousing - moved in Summer 2020
- Auburn Cohousing - forming
- Wolf Creek Lodge - moved in October 2012
- Nevada City Cohousing - moved in 2006
- Truckee Cohousing - reforming
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Southside Park Cohousing is a multigenerational, mixed income, vibrant, urban cohousing community in the midst of downtown Sacramento.
Our 25 1-5 bedroom homes are within walking distance of the California State Capitol, Old Sacramento, the Sacramento River, and multiple restaurants and cultural facilities. We value community, shared dining and work, children, special events, celebrations and much more. We are proud to be one of the first Cohousing communities in the United States - 30 years old in 2023!
Laurisa.
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Fair Oaks EcoHousing is a pedestrian-friendly village for people of all ages, where neighbors know and care about each other. Young folks have mentors, and older folks have support. |
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We live in an excellent location in lovely Fair Oaks, California. It is part of the bustling Sacramento Metropolitan area in Northern California, home of the State Capitol, and centered in the state. Travel just two hours west to reach the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco, and 2 hours east to visit the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Lake Tahoe.
We are close to the American River Parkway, Fair Oaks Village, Bannister Park, Sacramento Waldorf School, and Rudolf Steiner College.
We are an environmentally-friendly neighborhood with energy-efficient homes, generous open space, fruit trees, organic gardens, and a centrally-located clubhouse.
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Washington Commons is located in a highly walkable and bikable neighborhood in West Sacramento, just a short walk from the infamous Tower Bridge.
Construction of 35 private homes in a beautiful and energy efficient building will be beginning soon, and the current members are thrilled about the beautiful and energy efficient design of their new community.
Most importantly, Washington Commoners are excited to be creating a community of people with diverse backgrounds and a commitment to strong neighborly connections.
There are still a few homes available to reserve and the community is offering online information meetings if you’d like to learn more. Here is a link to their website: washington-commons.org
Shelly.
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Auburn CoHousing is moving forward! We are currently in the process of obtaining our LLC, negotiating with Placer County for our land parcel in North Auburn so we can begin with the 'hard' stuff.
We have been meeting in small work groups occasionally, but mainly on ZOOM once a week, getting to know each other as much as possible from a distance.
Some of us have done a few road trips to visit neighboring cohousing communities. So far we have visited Nevada City, Wolf Creek Lodge, Fair Oaks EcoHousing, and Muir Commons. We are planning a visit to Cotati next, and possibly the Berkeley area.
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A few of us on our foggy day visit to Davis to enjoy the fabulous Farmer's Market and tour Muir Commons. |
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Wolf Creek Lodge is a 30 home adult Cohousing Community in Grass Valley, California.
We enjoy exceptional walkability to nature trails along Wolf Creek on one side and two shopping areas on the other.
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We are a community of 34 private, energy-efficient homes that share a “common house,” which includes a dining/meeting room with gourmet kitchen, lounge with pool table, kids’ play room, music room, two guest rooms, and a teen room. Outside we share our pool, hot tub, gardens, and six wooded acres of open space: good for quiet meditation and building forts. When we are not in a pandemic, we share community meals up to 5 times a week when you want to join in. We are especially lucky in our location, where we can walk to downtown Nevada City and to many trails. |
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Construction was completed in 2006. Architects Katie McCamant and Chuck Durrett initiated the community when they organized a group of buyers around this Nevada City property.
Chuck and Katie still live here, although in separate homes now. We range in age from 4 months to mid-80’s, a truly multi-generational community, and are particularly happy to have welcomed three new families with young kids in the last year.
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Since our initial move in, we’ve continued to add solar panels and develop our fabulous gardens, the most ambitious being Manzanita Hill Garden, our acre of production garden. Our newest challenge is trying to figure out how to retrofit for more EV charging for the ever growing number of Electric Vehicles.
I think I can speak for most of my neighbors in that we feel particular lucky to have found this little piece of paradise. Living in community is ever more important in this crazy world.
Katie.
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Truckee River Cohousing is restarting their project.
Their site, nestled on the banks of the beautiful Truckee River, is a rare gem. A 2.5-acre parcel located just minutes by foot or bicycle to the shopping, cultural, and dining opportunities in Historic Downtown Truckee, the site offers unparalleled access to both outdoor recreation and small-town life. The location is at the heart of the West River Village, a new Truckee neighborhood now under development.
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Getting the Work Done at Wolf Creek Lodge |
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Patricia trims the ornamental grasses. |
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We have a fine new floor in our sitting room. Jo, a member of the Common House management Team, removes the tape designed to discourage visitors while the new bamboo floor settled. New furniture and artwork are also part of the redesign. |
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Flower of the Month
This month's collection of flower pictures included chard and broccoli, but the winner was Gazania. Chard can always try again next year.
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Quote of the month:
"Be accepting. Of everything. People's differences, their similarities, their choices, their personalities. Sometimes it takes a variety to make a good collection. The same goes for people. Choose your battles, but don't choose very many."
Excerpt from the book "Slammed" by Colleen Hoover.
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Letter from #104
Which is Right for You?
Multigenerational or senior cohousing, which is right for you? Both are designed to foster connection, and each has its own unique focus.
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According to an article in cohousing.org: “Multigenerational cohousing is by far the most common approach.” Here members benefit from interacting with people of all ages as they learn from and support one another. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family, as many design features and activities are geared toward children, including indoor playrooms, a safe outdoor environment, and family-style dining.
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The number of senior cohousing developments is increasing as more people choose to live in communities focused on the needs and desires of people fifty and older. Here members enjoy meal experiences with mature tastes and conversation in mind. As active adults, senior cohousers engage in a variety of activities, such as yoga, hiking, and kayaking, and guestrooms provide friendly places for visiting children, grandchildren, and friends. With an eye to the future, single-level homes, with their wide doorways and other accessible features, can accommodate changing mobility needs. The goal is aging-in-place with the support of a caring community.
As cohousing architect Chuck Durrett writes in his recent book, The Cohousing Handbook: “The movement back to community is the key to sustainability in Western culture. Knowing our neighbors, feeling like we belong, being a part of something that we care about and that cares for us—these are the elements of rebuilding sustainability in the world around us. This is acting locally.” Chuck’s words ring true for both multigenerational and senior cohousing. It will take time and research to decide which is right for you.
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Want to know more about cohousing? See the products offered by our architect, Chuck Durrett. These include "Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach To Independent Living – The Handbook" and especially the video "The Best of Both Worlds - Cohousing's Promise." This features members of Wolf Creek Lodge.
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When you are ready, you will want to consult Katie McCamant, our former Project Manager at:
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Grass Valley and Nevada City |
Want to know more about
Grass Valley and Nevada City?
Here are some links we have found useful:
Down Town Grass Valley -
Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce -
Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District
Sierra Food Wine Art
Bear Yuba Land Trust
GIS Receational Viewer -
Go Nevada County -
YubaNet Calendar -
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