CoDwell

We aim to build a 100+ person live/work intentional community with houses, dorms, classrooms, shops, gyms, theaters, orchards, vineyards, gardens, etc.

[Sparr @sparr0]

A friend of a friend is aiming for this small boarding school property near Siler NC with intentional community goals somewhat similar to mine. It's too early and not quite right for me, but if this seems appealing to you then get in touch and I'll connect you.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

Although our project is on pause right now, we're still keeping an eye out for interesting properties. Here's a mansion and dorm with conference rooms, offices, garages, 60+ bedrooms, 3 miles from downtown Syracuse NY for $1.5M.
https://t.co/O4DVgWLnFE

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

For the 3rd time in 30 years, a residential developer aims to turn the Laurelwood school's farmland into a subdivision. We're assisting the locals and their attorney with research and insight in opposition. We share the vision of that land's use remaining primarily agricultural.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

More interesting properties not quite right for us:
https://t.co/FDOIdpgGjq RV park and marina in OR with horse facilities for $900k.
https://t.co/lvTmVAuJLB 32 bedroom "cottage" for $3.1M in the MA.
https://t.co/XnJD4Px1vt tiny college in RI going to auction next month.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

Interesting properties that didn't make our top 10 candidates list:
https://t.co/kAlZxhwqrt Office zoned for residential conversion, 178k sqft on 73 acres. $2.1M in central PA.
https://t.co/35eZIWuTUz Military base of 89 homes and many amenities. $5M in rural WV.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@LTDGlobal03 We're hoping to find lenders who recognize our sustainability and community efforts as worth investing in, based on our triple bottom line impact.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@dezeen "Communal areas include a dining room that can seat up to 100 people, a community pantry, workspaces, and outdoor terraces and gardens. There also are spaces for yoga, media and music." <-- Now you're speaking our language!

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@kymeriandawn Every third conversation about a new large intentional community project starts with "Is this a cult?". More often in places with recent past cult problems like Oregon. You get used to it.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@prasann_pandya @henloitsjoyce We love your idea of visiting a different place each month. Does the project have a social media presence other than Instagram where we can follow along? Or some other way to get notified of new locations being planned?

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@BerelFarkas Unfortunately the term is being co-opted by commercial landlords who are just renting out bedrooms in apartments. It's becoming a much less useful filter for finding small scale intentional community.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@0xAdish This is a big blank spot on our map of communities to potentially visit and collaborate with. If you learn of any, we'd love to know about them!

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@BLUVNBU @SmilaZParadis If you don't need to be close to a city, you can get hundreds of acres for far less than a million dollars. We're mostly considering improved properties closer to cities, but big homestead-able properties 6 hours from the nearest airport cross our radar frequently.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

@silvopasturist @HorstvdHarm @Dusty42402999 @BigAgRuinsAg @Droughtland2023 You're in Ontario? What sort of laws (federal, provincial, local) are preventing your idea? Is the problem building multiple houses on one parcel, or subdividing it before building, or something else? We have some similar plans elsewhere, and are considering Canada as well.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

We intend for the residents to own the property.
This could happen early, if we form a co-op with smaller buy-in, then secure a loan. It could happen later if early investors/co-owners are bought out by residents over time after the initial debt is repaid.
What else might work?

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

Based on past and current interest, we will likely launch with at least these 3 pods:
Maker / Builder
Garden / Permaculture
Homeschool / Family

What other pod would you want to live with, a group of 10-20 people who share some specific goals and passion and lifestyle?

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

The Laurelwood property includes a small vineyard. It was productive a decade ago but has been left to grow wild since. We expect to restore and expand it.

Located in the Chehalem Mountains Laurelwood District AVA, we could join some existing winery tours open to the public.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

The Laurelwood property includes an orchard with about 300 productive fruit trees. Most are apples, with fewer pears and plums as well. The region should also be good for figs, and we'll try some other less common fruit trees.

What orchard fruit would you help us cultivate?

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

We have a long list of priorities to balance when choosing a property, including...
Price
Financing options
Existing improvements
Zoning
Natural features
City/Airport distance
Transit options
Natural disaster risk
Local politics

What else should we be considering?

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

A successful intentional community aligns on various norms and policies. @sparr0 wants to allow legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco in at least some private spaces, and not allow heroin or meth at all. Founding members will decide where to draw the lines between those extremes.

[CoDwell @co_dwell]

Mia, one of our founding members, plans to join the Garden / Permaculture pod and also contribute to the Homeschooling pod. Mia joins us from New England with a background in early childhood education as well as experience with cannabis cultivation and businesses.