Communal Living Alternatives: Today's Co-Housing



There were communes in the 60s, usually associated with religious cults and free-loving/free-drugging environments. They got a reputation. But, today's communal living has a purpose that is to share an environment, whether it's artistic or agricultural, in which everyone feels a part of keeping things running and carrying the load. Here's just some options if you dreamed of being close to your neighbors in a true community, maybe you're on your own at this time and want a different way to live than in a rental box in an apartment complex.



Denver/Boulder
Tiny homes in a community based around permculture and artists. 

Los Angeles Brewery
That’s the intention behind the Los Angeles Brewery, which, despite its name, doesn’t actually brew any beer. The Brewery describes itself as “one of the oldest and largest artist colonies in the world.” Founded 30 years ago, it includes over a dozen buildings in a 23-acre complex that once housed a Pabst Blue Ribbon factory. Now, over 500 artists use the facilities as live-work spaces and galleries.

The Brewery got its start after Los Angeles passed an artist-in-residence ordinance that allowed artists to live in the studios they rented in industrial buildings. Since that time, the Brewery’s policy has been to rent only to working artists. Even now, it’s website declares, “No dogs or musical instruments. Artists only!”

Arcosanti 
Marrying agriculture and architecture. This site was an experimental one designed by an artist/architect who had a vision of sustainability and functional architecture. Arcology recognizes the necessity of the radical reorganization of the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three-dimensional cities in order to support the diversified activities that sustain human culture and environmental balance.

Betterfields Community Development



Through being a member of a privately owned Community, designed to provide ourselves with nearly all our needs. A Community of people pulling together our talent's to provide our own Homes, Utilities, Jobs, Food, Income, Health Care Insurance, Friendships, Security & Peace of mind. Principles of Environmental Sustainability touch everything from your home’s methods of construction to the organic meat and produce on your table that was raised or grown by you and your fellow community members.
With the attraction to small home communities, eco-villages, places like Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett, and Co-Housing artist colonies,  there are so many possibilities for coming together in latter years instead of being isolated and tucked away in retirement communities.


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