Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1479179
Homebuyers in 2022 are questioning whether conventional housing works for them. Weekends spent search- ing out open houses can feel unproductive. New housing develop- ments are attractive, but residents can experi- ence isolation. It is hard to predict whether a particular community will be one in which you can know your neighbors and live your values. Members of Mission Peak Village (Mission- peakcohousing.org) believe finding a home should be more than a real estate transaction — it is a lifestyle choice. Residents are their own developers with an active role in building homes on a site that meets their own rigorous criteria. Mission Peak Village hired a development consultant, bought land and selected an architect. By move in, they will already be a like-minded community of intergen- erational neighbors. Mission Peak Village didn't invent this approach. The group adopted an intentional community model called cohousing, introduced to North America in 1988 by architects Kathryn McCamant and Chuck Durrett with their semi- nal book "Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves," based upon an innova- tive model popularized in Denmark. The authors observed that cohousers in Denmark were happier and better connected to their neighbors than most Americans in tracts of compartmen- talized single-family units. In cohousing, each household maintains a personal residence, but the neighbors also share amenities to reduce the daily cost of living and create opportunities for human interaction. Today, North America can claim more than 180 cohousing communi- ties. Inspired by their predecessors, Mission Peak Village is estab- lishing Fremont's first cohousing development of 32 condominiums clustered around a sizable common house (community center). Designed for daily use, the common house will feature a large kitchen and dining area suitable for occasional shared meals and parties, as well as a craft area, coffee bar, laundry, media room, library, guest quarters and quiet space for studying or working from home. The members value environmentally sustainable design. The community will be owned and managed by residents, who will divvy up responsibilities such as child care and gardening. The land site ticks off many priority items for future residents: excellent school district, proximity to employ- ment centers, walk- ability, available public transportation, readily accessible parks, retail services and enter- tainment. Two bonus features of Mission Peak Village's neighborhood are a weekly farmers market and a soon-to- be built BART Station within a half-mile. With the creative expertise of Gunkel Architecture and devel- opment consultation from cohousing pioneer Kathryn McCamant, Mission Peak Village has just submitted plans to the city of Fremont for design review. The group has formed a develop- ment partnership with UD+P, experienced developers of cohous- ing communities, and expects to break ground in 2024. Homes — which range from one-bedroom, one-bathroom condos to three-bedroom, two- bathroom condos — are still available to reserve. The recently submitted plans were viewed by interested buyers, family and friends at a celebra- tory event called Mission Peak Village: Cohousing by Design on Saturday, September 17, at 3:30 p.m. More information is available on the Mission Peak Village website Missionpeakcohousing. org. Content provided by Mission Peak Village LLC Mission Peak Village introduces Fremont to innovative cohousing approach This rendering features Mission Peak Village's future neighborhood. Homes are clustered around the common house, also known as the community center, to bring neighbors together. 21 th 2023 March 5, June 25 & September 24 March 3, June 23 & September 22 Sunday BANG Readership (print + e-Edition) 664,100* SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 Advertising Section μ 001 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP S19