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Cohousing complex reaches out to the gay community
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OTHER SERVICES AVAILABL e T
CHIROPRACTIC • PHYSICAL THERAPY
SPORTS MEDICINE • REHABILITATION
by David Jessup
hey say it takes
a village to raise
a child.
This well-
known saying
is being put to the test at
Cascadia Commons, a
utopian alternative to the
inefficiency and isolation of
modem living. The three-
acre site is located near
Beaverton-Hillsdale High­
way at Southwest 94th
Avenue and Meadow Lane.
It promotes cohousing,
a concept of neighbor­
hood living in which pre­
viously unacquainted peo­
ple create a safe, mutually
beneficial village. Unlike
traditional urban or subur­
Cascadia Commons promises a place where people can live
ban neighborhoods where
openly
without fear of ridicule or persecution
anonymity is the rule,
Cascadia Commons not only allows for but “The Missing Link Between Utopia and the
strongly encourages social interaction, inter­ Dated One-Family House,” which was pub­
dependence and cooperation among all com ­ lished in a national newspaper and elicited
munity inhabitants.
responses from more than 100 interested fam­
Each household owns a private residence
ilies. In 1967, Bodil Graae wrote the article
with its own entrance, fully equipped kitchen
“Children Should Have 100 Parents,” which
and all the other features of a single-family generated even more interest in a housing
dwelling. The 26 units include 13 newly collective.
remodeled townhouses and 13 new homes
They formed a network in 1968, found build­
clustered in two groups, each built around
ing sites and completed construction of two
landscaped green areas.
Danish communities by the end of 1973. These
The community supports two wetlands, one communities still are flourishing today.
of them for songbirds. Two creeks run through
Cascadia Commons co-founder Mary
the complex, and a bridge joins the new con-
Lawrence visited other developments in the
struction to the existing buildings.
United States and Europe to ensure her mis­
A “common house,” owned by all members sion statement coincided with the original
of the community, will be completed next year.
intent of cohousing.
Centrally located, the social center will be
“People need space and privacy, hut there are
equipped with a large cooking and dining area,
many parts of living comfortably that can he
guest rooms, a library, a laundry room, recre­ shared,” she said. “One of the principles of the
ation rooms and a playroom for children.
community is to get the cars on the periphery of
Also in the planning stages are a garden
the property so that the internal space is safe
patch and a playground, both of which will he and secure for children. People will he able to
easily accessible and a safe distance from traffic. see into the open and communal parts of the
property.”
The entire community is pedestrian-oriented.
Only a few units remain to he sold. Howev­
Cascadia Commons resident Erica Sedore-
er, a listing of interested people will he kept for Mallin, a mother of two small children, already
is convinced cohousing can and does work.
future reference.
In existence since 1992, Cascadia Commons
“I especially look forward to the availabil­
seeks to create a living environment based on an
ity of the common house,” she said. “While
open commitment to diversity that transcends my husband watches the kids, I can head over
there to participate in a hobby of mine with
age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, culture,
sexual orientation, interest, skill or perspective. other adults.
Cohousing is based on the belief that housing,
“Right now it’s just too hard to get in the car
education and health can be assisted by pooling and drive somewhere after the kids are in bed.
resources and needs toward a common goal.
With the common house only three doors away,
Cascadia Commons, which staffed an infor­ all kinds of possibilities open up.”
mation booth during Pride 2000 in an effort to
The group already has formed strong com­
reach out to the gay community, promises a munity feelings.
“When I broke my ankle last year, I was
place where people can live openly without
touched by how many members of the group ral­
fear of ridicule or persecution. The close-knit
lied to help me out even though we still live
environment supports interaction with all,
scattered
around the metro area,” said Judy
young or old.
Although the term “cohousing” was devel­ McNally, another member of Cascadia Com­
mons. “It’s gratifying to see the commitment of
oped by U.S. architects Kathryn McCamant
and Charles Durrett, the idea emerged in Den­ members to each other and to fulfilling the
mark more than 30 years ago. Jan Gudmand- promise of cohousing.’ • j n
Hoyer of Copenhagen envisioned 12 houses set
For more information or to attend a CASCADIA
around a common house and swimming pool.
His idea was supported by the city but COMMONS information session visit the Internet
thwarted by neighbors. The site was sold, and site w iitu.cascadiacom m ons.com .
the community was not completed.
D avid J e ssu p is a Portland free-lance writer.
Gudmand-Hoyer then wrote the article
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— CELIA J. LYON—
Sales Associate
(503) 287-8989 x5774
(503) 786-4959
Pager: 920-8403
Mobile: 260-6231
Fax: 284-1618