Durham Central Park Co-housing Community

Durham Central Park Co-housing Community

The Durham Central Park Co-housing Community is a group of individuals, couples and families creating an urban, green, intentional cooperative housing community in downtown Durham, North Carolina. 

This community has built a 4-story building of 24 urban condominiums, designed for aging in place. Its 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units have access to the common dining room, kitchen, great room, meeting rooms, guest bedrooms, gardens, and rooftop patio. The physical design encourages a strong sense of community in the emerging urban surrounding area of Durham. Community members are active and engaged.

In order to foster sustainable living and energy-conscious design, the project will “think small,” “think green,” and “think conservation.” The design will de-emphasize cars and emphasize living outdoors. Here are the strategies to achieve the goals:

1. limit the size of units from 800 sq ft to 1,500 sq ft

2. seek maximum use of solar energy and conservation measures in physical spaces including but not limited to the use of CF lighting and star energy appliances, and conservation of water

3. seek to utilize solar opportunities for heating and cooling of units and common space and for the heating of water

4. seek opportunities for resource sharing, e.g. community-owned vehicles, shared tools (garden and other), shared laundry facilities

5. encourage behaviors that reduce the need to use cars , e.g. carpooling, creation of a local grocery, DCPCC owned vehicles 

6. advocate with the developer/builders to have access to the roof and an option for a balcony space for each unit

7. advocate for a DCPCC community ground(s) with gardening and composting opportunities.

Older members seek an opportunity to grow old with grace and to age in place. In order to achieve the goals:

1. Both private and common spaces will foster friendships and companionship for elders. In later life, we will live “not home alone.”

2. The building will be built with universal design features throughout to promote aging-in-place.

3. Community members will encourage mental stimulation, sharing, learning new skills and physical exercise for its members.

4. The community will encourage connection with neighbors who will notice “if one hasn’t opened her blinds in the morning.”

5. It will help us learn about how to care for one another in our later years.

The Durham Central Park Co-housing Community has provide opportunities for the site to maintain sustainable landscape development, moreover, the co-housing has encouraged people to learn how to respect elders and how to live in a Eco-life. Different form the Co-housing in suburban area, this project make use of the surrounding elements to achieve the goals of co-housing community.