What is Cohousing?

Cohousing, which began in Denmark, arrived in the U.S. in the 1980s. Today there are cohousing communities throughout the world, with more than 100 in the U.S alone.

Cohousing offers individuals and families the opportunity to live in their own private, fully-equipped homes, with extensive common facilities. The presence of these shared amenities allows residents to live in a more compact space, with resulting lower construction and heating costs.

The shared facilities – Common House, central green and the like – create more opportunities for interaction than a typical neighborhood. Knowing your neighbors creates opportunities for sharing, mutual support, and community fun.

The houses have porches and gardens that face the common green.

The houses have porches and gardens that face the common green.

Some advantages of living in Bristol Cohousing

Sense of neighborhood

  • Community design promotes opportunities for casual interaction, since each home is oriented toward the common green.

  • Community activities – some shared meals, planned group activities, outdoor projects – help build a close knit neighborhood

  • Residents are involved in the development and management of the community so that the neighborhood reflects their priorities.

Shared facilities

Individual homes can be smaller because shared space can accommodate necessary but only occasionally used spaces  BVCH has substantial shared facilities. These include:

  • A common house with a large dining room and kitchen, 3 guest rooms, 3 multi-purpose rooms, and a rumpus room in the basement

  • A common green for outdoor play and relaxation

  • Two historic barns for workshop space, tool and bike storage, trash and recycling, and a pottery studio

  • Community gardens

  • Storage space for individual households

Energy efficiency

  • Units are built to Efficiency Vermont’s High Performance standard and are Net Zero ready

  • Rooftop solar reduces energy costs for the entire community

Convenience

  • Centrally located in Bristol, a very walkable town

  • Public transportation, the town green and town hall are adjacent to the property

  • Nearby town amenities means we don’t have to duplicate these on site

Safety, support and shared fun for families

  • Safe places for children to play, indoors and out

  • Safe and convenient opportunities to walk to friends’ homes in all weather

  • Potential carpooling to children’s activities

  • Help with pet care when needed