Cohousing has come to Texas. Communal-living hopefuls from CoHousing Houston signed a contract to build the first cohousing condo development in Houston’s East End. Though the concept in its current form originated in Denmark in the 1960s, sharing spaces such as a kitchen, guest house, and gardens with community-building as a focus is a relatively new concept to Americans. The new development has not broken ground yet, but when it does it will be ushering in an experimental period for communal living in Texas as even more companies wait in the wings for the start of their projects. Only time will tell if the trend makes it in the Lone Star State.
A group of people looking to build a cohousing condo development -- a type of housing with a focus on communal living -- has land in the East End under contract. If developed, the project would likely be the first cohousing community in the state.
Cohousing is a collection of private homes grouped around shared spaces that usually include a communal kitchen and dining area, a guest house and a garden. While shared spaces are nothing new — condominiums and neighborhood associations typically offer communal rooftop decks or clubhouses — shared spaces in cohousing developments are not designed to serve as amenities, but as keystones to community. Common dining areas are home to regularly-scheduled communal meals that aim to bring neighbors closer together.
Cohousing began in Denmark in the 1960s, and communities have formed in states including California and Colorado.