Today (Sept. 2, 2015) Boston.com had an interesting article on pocket neighborhoods.
The headline speaks volumes:
Pocket neighborhoods try to craft the friendly feeling many areas have lost
The article claims there is a sizable demand for homes in clustered developments that encourage people to be more neighborly.
The featured project is located in West Newbury, MA (near the NH border). It has trails meandering thru an open space that envelopes the homes. A few homes are clustered around a small green. A community garden is tucked away off in back. (see site plan below).
To me, this is cohousing without a common house. It is a neighborhood without a real soul –without the spaces and activities that create a real spirit of community. Other analogies come to mind, but in the spirit of PC, let’s bite our tongues :–).
What counts though is the good intention. The take-away lesson is that real estate developers are starting to recognize that home buyers want the life-style that cohousing aims to provide.
Below are quotes from the article and a link to the website for the development. The photos come from the firm’s website.
======================================
“If you like having neighbors, “pocket neighborhoods” may be your thing. A small but growing number of new housing developments across the state are embracing the pocket neighborhood approach, in which homes are clustered together, often around a cul-de-sac, and surrounded by woods or other open space.
The latest example can be found in West Newbury, where developer Cottage Advisors is halfway through rolling out 30 homes in a new pocket neighborhood called The Cottages at River Hill
…
Prices range from $480,000 to $590,000…
…
Arrayed around a specially designed park, the River Hill homes also come with front porches designed to encourage neighborliness. The 40-foot-by-40-foot park comes with an outdoor fireplace and patio for family and neighborhood gatherings. Of the 30 acre site, just over 6 acres will be made up of homes and yards, with the remaining 24 acres reserved for communal gardens and other green space….”
————————————-
Other links:
http://cottagesatriverhill.com
“River Hill is…Vibrant — A group of friends and neighbors who realize the importance of being connected and active while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with a quality new home.
What is a pocket neighborhood — A pocket neighborhood is a collection of homes which are nested together and centered on a shared open space. According to Ross Chapin, one of the first architects to realize the need for this type of community and a pioneer in pocket neighborhoods, “It’s about design that cultivates healthy neighborly connections, while preserving personal privacy”. This principle is central to all of Cottage Advisors communities.
Why River Hill — The Cottages at River Hill fosters the fundamental design principles of a pocket neighborhood with its common park, walk to downtown, and nested homes. Furthermore, it also incorporates the surrounding landscape to take center stage in the design — which most pocket neighborhoods can’t offer.”
Providence Cohousing 