Here are our recommendations for evaluating whether you'd like to join us.
Learn about Emerson Commons
Reading the About Our Community page is a good place to start. Here are some highlights:
We Value Privacy and Community. We're a multi-generational neighborhood of privately-owned homes clustered around group-owned property. We have independent incomes and private lives. And we chose to live here because we want to know and interact with our neighbors. Residents choose their own level of social engagement.
We Have Fun Together and Work Together, often at the same time. We collaboratively maintain shared property and organize community operations and activities, which keeps the community vibrant, connected, and the condo fees low. All adults (and some kids) volunteer for jobs that take about 10 hours per month; participate in quarterly workdays; and attend monthly plenary meetings where we make major decisions and agreements using consensus.
We Love Seeing Each Other (and Many of Us are Introverts). The design of the neighborhood makes spontaneous socializing easy, which is ideal for people who enjoy low-key (always optional) gatherings without having to make plans all the time. We also organize (again, always optional) events like common meals, outdoor movie nights, game nights, knitting circles, Nonviolent Communication practice groups, and more. You can also sit in the peace of your home or backyard, or take a walk in the woods, and enjoy your alone time.
Get to Know Us
Take a Tour. Get in Touch to schedule an in-person or virtual tour of Emerson Commons so you can get a feel for how the community is laid out, see our common house, grounds, available homes, and get answers to your initial questions about what it's like to live here. All in-person tours are masked and distanced.
Meet the Neighbors. We encourage all who are interested in purchasing or renting to attend a social event like a common meal, open house, virtual hangout, or workday to meet multiple community members.
Observe Our Meetings. After an initial social visit, we'd love for you to come back and observe our plenary meetings so you can see our system of governance and decision-making in action. We strive for consensus, listening to and discussing each other's concerns until we find creative solutions to the challenges we face.
Learn About Cohousing in General
Understand the elements of most cohousing communities and the benefits of this way of life. Read this intro to cohousing and explore other resources at cohousing.org. We also recommend reading Creating Cohousing by McCamant and Durrett.
Reading the About Our Community page is a good place to start. Here are some highlights:
We Value Privacy and Community. We're a multi-generational neighborhood of privately-owned homes clustered around group-owned property. We have independent incomes and private lives. And we chose to live here because we want to know and interact with our neighbors. Residents choose their own level of social engagement.
We Have Fun Together and Work Together, often at the same time. We collaboratively maintain shared property and organize community operations and activities, which keeps the community vibrant, connected, and the condo fees low. All adults (and some kids) volunteer for jobs that take about 10 hours per month; participate in quarterly workdays; and attend monthly plenary meetings where we make major decisions and agreements using consensus.
We Love Seeing Each Other (and Many of Us are Introverts). The design of the neighborhood makes spontaneous socializing easy, which is ideal for people who enjoy low-key (always optional) gatherings without having to make plans all the time. We also organize (again, always optional) events like common meals, outdoor movie nights, game nights, knitting circles, Nonviolent Communication practice groups, and more. You can also sit in the peace of your home or backyard, or take a walk in the woods, and enjoy your alone time.
Get to Know Us
Take a Tour. Get in Touch to schedule an in-person or virtual tour of Emerson Commons so you can get a feel for how the community is laid out, see our common house, grounds, available homes, and get answers to your initial questions about what it's like to live here. All in-person tours are masked and distanced.
Meet the Neighbors. We encourage all who are interested in purchasing or renting to attend a social event like a common meal, open house, virtual hangout, or workday to meet multiple community members.
Observe Our Meetings. After an initial social visit, we'd love for you to come back and observe our plenary meetings so you can see our system of governance and decision-making in action. We strive for consensus, listening to and discussing each other's concerns until we find creative solutions to the challenges we face.
Learn About Cohousing in General
Understand the elements of most cohousing communities and the benefits of this way of life. Read this intro to cohousing and explore other resources at cohousing.org. We also recommend reading Creating Cohousing by McCamant and Durrett.
Email us or fill out this form to speak with a member of the community and schedule a tour. Tours are masked and distanced or virtual. We'll also add you to our sale/rental notification list.
