Jim Leach, Stew Mayer
Why does developing a cohousing community sometimes take 10 years or more to complete? Would groups have an easier time if they partnered with developers? Would it be more expensive? Would the group have to give up control? How can decision-making be handled fairly between cohousers and developers? This workshop explains in detail how a group and a development firm can successfully work together as partners. Questions that will be touched upon in detail include: a) What is the difference between a contractor and a developer? b) Who is taking how much risk and what is the cost of that risk? c) Where does the money come from? d) Budgeting and transparency.
Jim Leach is president of Wonderland Hill Development Company of Boulder, Colorado, the largest developer of cohousing communities in the United States. Jim is a professional engineer with over 40 years of experience in the design, construction and development of sustainable, planned neighborhoods and communities. He has led the industry in implementing energy-efficient strategies combined with community participation of the future residents. His award-winning neighborhoods have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Association of Home Builders, National Council of the Housing Industry, Urban Land Institute and The Congress of New Urbanism.
Stew Mayer is an Ecodevelopments principal and co-founder of Nexum Development Corp.