Cohousing is a collaborative living model where residents design and manage their community. Individuals or families own private homes but share common spaces, resources, and responsibilities. It fosters engagement, belonging, and mutual support through shared activities and collaborative decision-making. Cohousing creates a close-knit, sustainable, and intentional environment that balances social interaction with individual privacy.

Cohousing is designed for individuals and families seeking a collaborative community. Emphasizing inclusivity, diverse backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles are welcome. Residents value shared responsibilities and a sense of belonging, creating an inclusive environment where everyone contributes to and benefits from the collective experience of cohousing living.

Forest Glen intends to be an intergenerational cohousing community, fostering a supportive environment where people of all ages connect, collaborate, and thrive. Children will benefit from safe play spaces and built-in friendships, while parents gain support from neighbors. Adults will enjoy shared resources, social engagement, and a strong sense of belonging. Seniors will find companionship, purpose, and mutual assistance, reducing isolation and enhancing well-being.

With shared meals, activities, and Sociocratic decision-making, Forest Glen will encourage meaningful relationships across generations. Designed for connection while respecting privacy, it will offer a dynamic, inclusive environment where all ages contribute, support one another, and build a vibrant, sustainable community together.

Cohousing communities are meticulously designed to be eco-friendly, promoting environmental sustainability in various ways. Shared resources, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable construction materials minimize ecological footprints.

Community gardens, composting, and carpooling further reduce environmental impact, fostering a collective commitment to eco-conscious living within the cohousing framework.

Cohousing planning and design involve an inclusive, resident-driven process. Future occupants actively participate in shaping the community's layout, shared spaces, and overall vision.

This collaborative approach prioritizes common facilities, affordability, and energy efficiency, fostering a cohesive, community-oriented design that reflects the collective aspirations of its residents.

Unlike traditional cohousing communities that usually adopt a condominium legal structure, Forest Glen is conceived as more of a typical neighborhood but with the intentionality of our shared values built in. Single family homes or duplexes will be built on 1/2 acre lots that include common areas managed by residents through a resident-run Homeowners Association (HOA).

Individuals will purchase their own lots and have their homes built through normal home financing mechanisms as fits each buyer. Architectural guidelines will be established by the HOA, and ready-to-build house plans will be available in order to ensure compatibility. Home owners will be able to make many individual choices about their home's size (as long as it is <1700 sf), floor plan, and interior finishes.

Management of common areas and common buildings will be paid for by the HOA through monthly resident fees. All neighborhood decisions, including the HOA budget, will be made using consent-based Sociocracy. HOA CC&Rs (Conditions, Covenants, & Restrictions) will be established to ensure that our neighborhood reflects our shared values.

At Forest Glen, we use Sociocracy as our decision-making model, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. Cohousing decisions will be made collaboratively through structured, inclusive processes in which residents actively participate in discussions and contribute to community decisions on everything from design to shared responsibilities.

By embracing Sociocracy, we will foster a sense of ownership, promote community cohesion, and ensure that diverse perspectives are thoughtfully considered in shaping the collective life of our cohousing community.

Most cohousing communities offer a Common House designed to foster connection and cooperation. It is the heart of a community and centrally located, offering a kitchen, dining room for shared meals, a living room for hanging out together, children’s play area, and often guest rooms.

In the interests of keeping our development costs lower, Forest Glen has decided to forego the construction of a Common House initially. We all very much want a Common House for our community and will include space for it in our site plan with the intention of adding it once its size and amenities are decided upon by Forest Glen residents and financial feasibility is available.