Yulupa Cohousing
Santa Rosa, California, United States
- Updated on: May 23, 2023 (over 1 years ago)
- Created on: Dec 31, 1999 (about 25 years ago)
Mission Statement
Our community's spirit grows out of a profound respect for the natural world, our human connection to it, and to each other.
Community Description
<div> Yulupa Cohousing is a 29-unit cohousing community set on 1.7 acres in Santa Rosa, California, located an hour north of San Francisco in beautiful Sonoma County. We moved in during July 2005. We frequently have turnover, so contact us if you're looking to buy or rent in this area. Units include studios, one, two and three bedrooms, and one large four-bedroom high rise unit!. We are a diverse, intergenerational community. Our values include: Diversity and Acceptance Learning, Growth and Innovation Communication Environmental and Ecological Consciousness Spirit of Place Privacy * Larger Community These values are manifested through social and work activities, shared meals, encouraging creative expression, committee participation, consensus decision-making and open hearts. We seek to provide mutual support, inspiration, warmth, and openness to each member in a way that nourishes many generations. Yulupa Cohousing was designed by architect Michael Black, who designed two other cohousing communities in northern California. This is his most colorful, playful, and innovative design. Our green features include solar panels for the Common House, bike sheds, radiant floor heating, energy efficient windows, and passive cooling from concrete flooring on ground floors. Common areas include a large common house with kitchen, dining room/multipurpose room, kids’ room, laundry room, and library/movie room. Also on the property are a guest room, exercise room and a workshop. A garden area is on site, and people sign up to garden in a plot. We have monthly garden work days and take pride in our many fruit trees, landscaping and gardens. We were honored to be part of the 2020 Eco-friendly Garden Tour in Sonoma County. Check out the video of our sustainable gardening practices on our website! Our community is a friendly place where there is always something going on - birthday celebrations, game and movie nights, readers' theatre, book group, community meals and more. Please visit our website for an introductory video and to view floor plans, read current member bios, our values statement, and more. </div>
- Status: Established (4+ adults, 2+ years)
- Started Planning: 2002
- Started Living Together: 2005
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Please read the details in Membership below before contacting this community.Send Message
- Website: http://www.yulupacoho.com/
- Contact Name: Yulupa Cohousing Membership
- Community Address:1346-A Yulupa Ave
Santa Rosa, California 95405
United States Location
About
- Type(s): Cohousing (individual homes within group property)
- Programs & Activities: Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
- Location: Suburban
Housing
- Status: We have land we have developed on
- Area: 1.7 acres
- Current Residence Types: Single-family homes
- Current Number of Residences: 29
- Housing Provided:
- Purchase
- Rental
- Land Owned By: Community Members/HOA
- Additional Comments: 1324 sf additional common space includes a guest room, exercise room and a workshop.
Membership
- Adult Members: 45
- Child Members: 5
- Non-Member Residents: 7
- Percent Women: 61-70%
- Percent Men: 31-40%
- Percent Transgender: 0%
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Visitor Process: Tours are on the first Sunday of each month, at 1:30 pm. No reservation required. Meet inside the front glass doors at 1346 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa. (Guest room is not available to non-residents).
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Membership Process: 1-take a tour 2-complete an interest questionnaire 3-attend a general meeting and/or community meal 4-be placed on the wait list for notification of openings
- Additional Comments: Diverse spirituality. Diverse Some go to Waldorf private school, most to public school.
Government
- Decision Making: Consensus + (everyone agrees, except for up to 3 people.)
- Identified Leader: No
- Leadership Core Group: Yes
- Additional Comments: Only by virtue of having a representative on the Coordinating Committee with a member from each committee. There are also Home Owner Association officers, required by law.
Economics
- Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
- Shared Income: None
- Required Weekly Labor Contribution: 2
- Additional Comments: We rotate upkeep tasks on an honor system basis. We hold monthly work days to maintain and improve our landscape and garden areas.. Homeowners association dues; amount varies by size of unit.
Sustainability Practices
- Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
- Current Renewable Energy Generation: Up to 25%
- Energy Sources: Solar
- Current Food Produced: Up to 25%
- Planned Food Produced: Up to 25%
- Food Produced Locally: From 50-75%
Lifestyle
- Common Facilities:
- Common House
- Garden(s)
- Library
- Workshop
- Large Scale Kitchen
- Gym or sports area
- Internet Available: Yes, individuals provide it
- Internet Fast?: Yes, it's fine.
- Cellphone Service: Good for most people.
- Shared Meals: 1-3 times per month
- Dietary Practices:
- Omnivorous (plants and animals)
- Local
- Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers)
- Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No - people may eat however they wish.
- Special Diets OK: Sometimes
- Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
- Tobacco Use: No, this community does not permit tobacco use.
- Additional Diet Comments: As of this writing (Dec. 2018), our shared meals agreement has become very informal and community meals are spontaneous, usually with several days to a week advance notice. We always hold a potluck following our Sunday General Meetings. We have small vegetable garden areas scattered around the property. Our 42 fruit trees include pear, apple, plum, persimmon, fig, pomegranate, guava, lemon and orange. We always have a vegetarian option for meals and post sensitive ingredients for resident choice whether to sign up or not.
- Education Style(s): Up to each family or individual
- Healthcare Options: Up to each family, household, or individual
- Additional Comments: Ours is a friendly and diverse community where people support one another in many ways. We share garden work days, movie nights, variety shows, game nights and occasional community potlucks and meals. Our members are active in the community and in their professions. We host many group meetings in our commonhouse including book club meetings, Zen meditation, Ciitzens' Climate Lobby, Southeast Greenway Campaign and many more.
Cohousing
- Building Site Status: Completed
- Year Construction Completed: 2005
- Number of Housing Units: 29
- Has a Shared Common Building: Yes
- Architect: Michael Black
- Developer: Jim Allen
- Commercial Lender: Luther Burbank Savings
Additional Comments
Our members participate in many community groups, and several of the group meetings are held in our common house. These include the Citizens' Climate Lobby, Impact 100, and the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway Campaign.
Community Network or Organization Affiliations
The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC), Coho/US
Fair Housing Laws
This community acknowledges that their listing does not include any potential violations of the Fair Housing Law, or that they do not provide housing. For any questions about this topic please see our Content Policies and contact FIC with any questions or concerns: directory@ic.org.
Keywords
Intergenerational, active, sustainable living, gardens, families, kid-friendly