Bartimaeus Community Basics

Cohousing offers a model for recreating a secure sense of family and community. By designing our own neighborhood, we have the opportunity to create a balance between private space and community space. Each household is a private residence, but also shares extensive common facilities with the whole community. On our seven acres, we share in four acres of meadow, garden, orchard and forestlands bordered by a creek with a walking path, a community garage and workshop, library, hard-surface play area, a ball field, and a large building, called the “common house.” While each house has its own kitchen, this building has facilities for having voluntary community dinners together as well as other types of gatherings that are important aspects of our community life for both social and practical reasons.

Early in America’s history, church, school and political assemblies all took place in a hall the community had built together for that purpose. There was a sense of living among one's neighbors and being an important part of the larger community.

In a typical modern subdivision all you can see from the street is the garage and the driveway. You drive right up to your front door. You don’t know your neighbors because you never see them as you traverse the three yards from your car door to your house entrance.

Imagine a neighborhood where your next-door neighbors are your friends; they live in the cluster of individually owned homes on property you mutually own. A couple of nights a week you eat a meal together prepared by community members, who take turns volunteering. The common house has a community library, dining hall, solarium, game room, kids room, and more. The opportunity for casual conversation is never more than a two minute walk away.

Your children play in a safe neighborhood where everyone knows and looks out for them. They learn conflict resolution skills they see practiced by neighborhood adults. Ride-sharing, recycling, gardening, coordinated social outreach, and community celebrations are simple and natural norms. Racial and ethnic diversity is cherished, and marital status and age differences add to the fun.

This is not a dream; this is a reality in special communities already built all over the world. This is the vision of Bartimaeus Community. If you find this exciting, then welcome (back) home!

A safe and supportive environment – In a world of increasing crime it’s nice to know there are people around who will look out for each other. Since all residents know each other, strangers are recognized immediately.

Resident participation – Consensus decision-making empowers all residents at Bartimaeus Cohousing Community. Everyone’s point of view is heard and considered in planning and managing the community.

Opportunities for social interaction – Many people are tired of being isolated. The Bartimaeus Cohousing Community approach provides many opportunities for social interaction – without sacrificing privacy.

Contribution – Cohousers will have many opportunities to share (and many people willing to appreciate) their skills and talents. This includes music, hobbies, cooking, gardening, car mechanics, computers and much more.

Sharing resources – By sharing resources, people living in cohousing have access to many more facilities than they would on their own. Gardens, play areas, a workshop, a library etc. will be part of our community and available to all.

Raising children – Given the stresses on modern parents, cohousing is an ideal way to raise children with support from others--especially for single parents. Children have safe places and appropriate facilities in which to play outside of their homes. Children have playmates within their community. Parents have other parents nearby for sharing child-minding duties.

Environment-friendly – Sharing resources with others puts less strain on the environment. Working as a group creates more opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Preserve green space – By clustering the homes and leaving much of the property open, we are preserving more of the green space on the site than is usually the case with traditional development.

Diverse, intergenerational community – Living with people of all ages provides a diversity of experience for both young and old.