Who
are the RareBirds?
We are a group
of adults (singles and couples) who are in the process of developing a shared
co-operative home in downtown Kamloops. We describe our project as an
‘intentional community’ (we will share expenses and live co-dependently with a
common kitchen, eating and living space); we are structured as a housing
co-operative.
When
did you get started, and where are you in the process?
We had our
initial conversation about the project in March, 2011. We came together due to an initial call from
a small group of friends who wanted to explore how we might live more
sustainably and ‘lessen our footprint’; the initial meeting drew enough people
to begin a serious consideration of moving forward. After several months of research, retreats
together, and some transitions in membership, we completed our incorporation
with the BC Corporate Registry as an ‘equity housing co-operative’ in January,
2012. We have been meeting bi-weekly and
several times for longer planning retreats.
In July, 2013, we purchased a ½ acre lot at 772 West Battle Street with
beautiful west views over Guerin Creek. It is a great location: walking
distance to downtown, TRU and on a bus route.
We have five committed members/owners (three couples and two singles)
which provides us with sufficient investment to construct our home. We are
seeking one additional member, as we had envisioned six members/owners (either
singles or couples) to be our ideal size.
What
motivated you to join the co-operative, and what do you hope to create?
We drafted a “Living on Purpose” summary: here is
what we feel expresses our motivation, intention and purpose.
0ur purpose is three-fold:
1.
To create more financial freedom and emotional enrichment by living
interdependently, mindful of environmental responsibilities and sustainable
practices in our community living.
2.
To create an inclusive environment that embraces our extended families
and welcomes our friends.
3.
To create sustainable practices which embody our values.
Our mandate is
provide co-operative housing designed to lessen our environmental footprint,
share resources and living costs, provide social enrichment and community
support and to showcase a new model for interdependent living and greater urban
densification.
Our governance
functions according to the Co-operative Act and includes consensus decision
making, communication based on modified circles practices, conflict resolution
and respectful listening. We have a total number of six equal memberships in
the co-operative.
The RareBirds
members are aware that our co-op housing model is innovative.
Our research
indicates that we differ from the majority of housing co-op developments in
that we are building a single family home with design features to allow both
private and common living spaces for adult oriented, multigenerational
community living.
Our goal is to
document the path of this project from inception to completion with the
objective of developing awareness and education in our own community, and the
larger population, in more viable and sustainable alternatives to housing
ourselves.
In our society,
people are typically ‘empty nesters’ in their mid to late 50’s. Many in this demographic are tied to large
family homes and long for more freedom and flexibility in their lifestyle as
they wind down careers and plan for their early retirement years. It is not uncommon for people to talk among
friends of the idea of shared living that would reduce their real estate
investment and provide a supportive community as they age.
What
are you plans for the home?
We are
designing private spaces for each member/member couple; these private spaces
would include a bedroom, private full bathroom, large closet, and small sitting
area.
There will be a
large common space which includes kitchen, living room, pantry, laundry,
storage, bathroom, exercise room, and a shared guest room/additional
reading/media room. Our plans are to
build a two-storey home; it will function as a single family home as we share
cooking and groceries together, along with daily household chores.
How
are you going to finance the property and construction?
We have decided
to finance the project directly with our own investments, rather than seek
financing/mortgages. We are all owners and have sufficient equity to invest.
Each member
provides a $200,000/membership investment, in the form of membership shares in
the Co-operative.
What
happens if a member wants to sell and move somewhere else or a member becomes
seriously ill or dies?
The
Co-operative Act of British Columbia and our registered co-operative rules
describe the process and contingencies involved with the purchase, release,
transfer and re-sale of membership shares in the co-operative by a member (or
issues in regards to a member’s estate).
The price of membership shares is set for the initial buy-in at this
stage of the project. Once the house is
completed, the value of membership shares (for purchase and sale) will be
determined by the equity of the co-operative: the value will be dependent on
market appraisal of cash, the property, and house divided by the number of
members.
How
do you communicate and make decisions?
There are two
levels involved in the answer to this question.
On a day-to-day
basis, we have developed together a modified ‘circles practice’ for
communication, conflict resolution, and listening. We make decisions by consensus (we have described our consensus decision
making process on our blog).
On an official
basis as a registered co-operative, we meet together as needed as a board of
directors and also for general membership meetings; we follow the practices
described in our co-operative rules and in the Co-operative Act of British
Columbia.
What
other documents and practices/policies have you developed?
We have our set
of rules and memorandum as a registered equity housing co-operative in BC. We have also drafted our ‘RareBirds Flight
Manual’- our guiding policy and procedures manual- that contains the following sections:
decision making, conflict resolution,
house meetings, household chores/work schedules, environmental
living/sustainable practices, food, cooking, meal planning, food purchasing,
household pets, finances, budgeting and fees, vehicle sharing, community outreach,
house guests, community social life, and estate planning. This is an evolving and emerging set of
policies.
Where
can I find more information about the RareBirds?
Our website is
being completed this month (Feb. 2013)
Email us at : rarebirdshousing@gmail.com
View our
regularly updated blog at http://rarebirdshousing.blogspot.ca/
Or find us on
FaceBook
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