Now available to download!
Cohousing Tools are worksheets and design & planning aids created by Design Coalition in the early '90's, in the course of working with newly-formed cohousing core groups in the south-central Wisconsin area. The groups have found them helpful.
In working with groups, our goal is to make the process of development as understandable and "transparent" as possible. We intend to continue to add to the "toolbox" as our projects progress.
Cohousing Tools are PDF's (Portable Document Format) for easy downloading and printing. You'll need the free Acrobat Reader if it's not already installed on your computer.
Click here to download it from the Adobe website
Today there are many resources available to groups attempting to develop a project (the Cohousing Network is a great one). We are curious to hear if these tools are still useful. If you download any of these Cohousing Tools , please send us an email with feedback. Let us know what's useful and what's not, and what improvements we can make. Also, please give us an idea of how far along you or your group is in the process.
The Village cohousing community recently moved into their new homes in Madison, Wisconsin ~~ check out the pictures and articles !
pages |
Title |
Description |
General |
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| 1 | Cohousing Participant Information | First household questionnaire to gauge interest |
| 1 | Critical Path Chart | Overview of the process, from idea to move-in |
| 2 | Skills Assessment Questionnaire | Helps groups self-evaluate their skills |
| 3 | Organizing a Core Group | Some notes on getting started |
| 4 | Ownership Options for Affordable Cohousing | Explains choices and implications |
Site Stuff |
||
| 1 | Site Costs | List of site-related costs to keep in mind |
| 3 | Site Search Check List | All the elements that go into evaluating a site |
| 2 | Site Info | A form to record info for each site considered |
| 1 | Preliminary Site Evaluation | List of tasks for a first-look site evaluation |
| 1 | Site Analysis | Describes the tasks necessary for a site analysis |
Design 'Programming' |
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| 2 | Notes on Predesign & Programming | Describes what predesign programming is for |
| 2 | Predesign Programming Techniques | List of techniques and their uses |
| 2 | Predesign Program Outline | Checklist of spaces and info to be collected |
| 1 | Program Criteria -preliminary | Minimum info needed for feasibility budgeting |
| 2 | Household Worksheet | Detailed form to record household's space needs |
| 1 | Common House Preliminary Program | Sample from one group |
Budgeting |
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| 2 | Development & Operating Budgets | Description / overview of creating these budgets |
| 2 | Model Development Budget | Blank sample format |
| 3 | Notes on Development Budget | Explanatory notes oon creating this budget |
| 3 | Model Operating Budget | Blank sample format |
| 2 | Notes on Operating Budget | Explanatory notes on creating this budget |
| 1 | Sad, but True | Examples of how costs could escalate |