This website was the first step to bring a cohousing community together in Ventura County. Launched in February, 2005, the website has prompted at least a hundred people across the country and beyond to express an interest in the idea. We made one attempt to create cohousing here but the group eventually dissolved. Now it's time to try again.

Learn more about the prospects for cohousing in Ventura, CA by attending a talk by Ventura's City Manager, Rick Cole, (a well respected New Urbanist) as he discusses the issues and opportunities for collaborative housing in Ventura. The talk is at 7 pm on January 31, 2008 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St., Ventura, CA 93003. Free-will donation to cover the use of the facility. It's a perfect opportunity to meet others interested in creating cohousing here.

What is Cohousing? As the Cohousing Association explains it, "Cohousing communities balance the traditional advantages of home ownership with the benefits of shared common facilities and ongoing connections with your neighbors.

"These cooperative neighborhoods, " it continues, "are among the most promising solutions to many of today's most challenging social and environmental concerns."

Another definition of cohousing describes it as private residences designed to foster community and cooperation while preserving independence. Perhaps a couple dozen private residences are clustered near their shared facilities. And the members design and manage all aspects of their community.

Rob Sandelin, a resident of Sharingwood Cohousing in Washington State came up with a list of 10 great reasons to live in cohousing that gets to the heart of the matter.

If you have an interest in looking into the possibility of creating a cohousing development somewhere around Ventura, please send us an email and bookmark this page for updates. You'll be kept informed about how much interest has been shown, the logical steps that other successful cohousing developments have followed, and how else we can make our dream a reality.

I am a web designer (hence this site) and am taking these steps because -- after all that I've learned about cohousing -- that's how I want to live.

The links at the left will eventually describe our own community as it evolves. In the meantime, they link to information primarily on the Cohousing.org site. Bookmark this page to easily return here.

If you are interested in learning more about this potential cohousing community, please email me at

(Click on the above address to launch an email in your default email program.)

All the best,
Donna