British Columbia Cohousing Communities

Do you find it frustrating to have to watch a baby while you’re trying to clean your house, car or wash your dog? Don’t you wish you have somebody to watch your baby while you’re trying to perform one of these tasks? Don’t you wish you could visit the gym without having to drive your gas guzzling vehicle? Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to go to the gym with you? Don’t you wish that you could build a book shelf without having to buy a bunch of expensive tools? Wouldn’t it be good to have someone bring you dinner when you’re sick in bed? If so then you cohousing might be for you.

Pacific Gardens is a cohousing community located in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The owners of Pacific Gardens work together to create a safe and friendly environmental community in which neighbors become friends and friends become neighbors. The Pacific Gardens Intentional Housing Community is the first in the British Columbia cohousing project. The Pacific Garden purchased over four acres of land at 347 7th Street in Nanaimo British Columbia Canada. The area in British Columbia is adjacent to the salmon filled Chase River and provides an excellent view of Mount Benson. Part of the area is filled with natural flora and fauna as well as apple trees and a seasonal pond.

The British Columbia cohousing community offers twenty five strata units. Some communities offer a very of different ownership methods. The Pacific Gardens Intentional Housing Community uses a fee simple strata title ownership structure which means that the household own the house that they live in together with a share of the common facilities. The strata title units offered by the Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community include one, two and three bedroom units. The intentional housing community also offers a three bedroom unit that includes den units which are capable of accommodating families as well as singles and seniors of all ages.

It is often believed that many intentional housing groups have religious or political affiliations however this is usually not the case. The goal of most cohousing communities is to build a community that is filled with people of diverse ages, backgrounds and family types that are capable of sustaining socially and environmentally. The Pacific Gardens Intentional Housing Community places a strong emphasis on quality of life. There is really no social agenda besides creating a friendly community where all different types of people will be able to feel accepted and welcomed.

The Pacific Gardens Cohousing Community provides a number of common facilities. In the center of this particular British Columbia intentional housing community there is an atrium and pedestrian walkway that leads to each unit. The space and these facilities are provided for residents to enjoy. There is also a large kitchen located across from the dining and activity hall. Residents may attend community meals at the dining hall. There are also plans to build a woodworking shop, craft rooms and teen and children’s playrooms. There will also been guest rooms for visitors. The community will place a strong emphasis on organic gardening.