What's senior cohousing? Plus an invitation from Milwaukee's DCD

On a day like today, when the weather is rude and the streets and sidewalks treacherous, you don't have to be "55 or better"to want an easier way to live your life.

By the way, "55 or better" is the new way we talk about those of us who are past the speed limit age. I wonder if they keep raising the speed limit to make us feel younger!

Co-housing is about creating intentional communities, which are like neighborhoods the way we think they used to be. The movement started in Denmark around 1985. A group of people who shared some common goals and are committed to living and working together would buy a piece of land, cluster individual housing densely and hold the rest of the land for common use.

The housing is built around a narrow walkway or commons area instead of a dividing street to encourage people to walk, meet and interact. While each unit is a private, a common building serves as a place to share meals, movies, woodworking tools, whatever suits the people who live there. Generally you own your own place plus a non-dividable chunk of the common property, and the community makes decisions cooperatively.

I've been following cohousing for more than a decade because I want to live in such a community. For many of us, from the first moment we learn about co-housing, we know it's for us. And it's readily apparent why people "55 and better" would find co-housing a great way to age in community. It's a time to develop and use social capital, not just money. No one wants to be Howard Hughes, isolated with his fortune and cared for only by those who never knew him.

If you want to read more about senior co-housing, there's a rather random but intriguing list of links on our resources page and more to come!

There's not much cohousing around this area, but there will be. The Milwaukee Aging Consortium will be facilitating exploratory meetings for this and other housing-related needs around Milwaukee. We invite you to join in! Call me at 414-289-0890.

Finally, an invitation from Vanessa Koster, Assistant Planning Director, City of MilwaukeeDepartment of City Development:

Thanks so much for contacting me last week and your eagerness to participate in the planning process. We're very excited about the Citywide comprehensive policy plan that is underway. We will be asking the Milwaukee Aging Consortium to join our technical advisory group for the housing chapter. . .

In the mean time, (you and your members) could get involved in the neighborhood plans that are currently underway (Northeast, Southeast, Near North and Near South) and consider serving on the housing focus group to help identify where housing should be developed: http://www.mkedcd.org/planning/plans/CompPlan/Area/index.html.

Or, members could join the Plan Advisory Groups (PAG) for the area plans. The PAG comprises approximately 50-100 individuals with first-hand knowledge of the area and representing various interests. The Plan Advisory Group meets approximately 4-6 times over the planning process to review the work of the hired consultants at all major milestones. The Plan Advisory Group is instrumental in making recommendations for public participation, plan development and plan implementation. Most importantly, members will help inform the general public of opportunities for input.

Vanessa's e-mail: vkoste@mkedcd.org