September 6, 2009

Blue Ridge Cohousing has not been built yet, but several families are anxious to move in. The future site is located off of 240 in Crozet, Va. They say it will be affordable, sustainable and the perfect way to know your neighbors.

Picturesque views and charming landscaping makes the future site of the cohousing neighborhood an idyllic place to live.

"I find that I've already developed a sense of community and grown close to the people that will be my neighbors, even though we haven't built any houses yet," said Elizabeth Hoover, who is an equity member. Hoover adds it "is really amazing."

One of the ideas behind cohousing is establishing strong neighborhood ties while maintaining your privacy.

"You just keep looking for ways to draw the community together, not by force, not out of obligation, but just because it's so attractive," said Jay Perry, another equity member.

In BRC, there will be 26 private homes that will be connected by pedestrian pathways, rather than streets. People will park their cars around the home. There will also be a neighborhood pool, a common house for group dinners a few times a week and barns on the property will be converted into an exercise facility.

"We've got as many as 17 or 18 people that are ready to buy houses," explained Perry. "We've got final site plan approval from the county. We're just about ready stick a shovel in the ground."

The prices will range from the high-$100,000s to the high-$300,000s. There will also be four affordable housing units.

"We have made a commitment to have four of our units be affordable housing, so that a young person who has never owned a house before will be able to buy a house and live here," said Susan Perry, an equity member.

"Even with the economic downturn, we've had so much interest," said Hoover. "I think one of the reasons is because cohousing is really a way to share resources and actually live more efficiently and live more economically."

People moving in said they are hoping to break ground on the homes before the end of the year. They are having trouble getting a construction loan with the current troubles in the economy. They say they are exploring all types of options.