Intentional Communities - A Project of the FIC
Register or Login
UsernamePassword
Directory Home | Community List: by State/Country, Type, Newest | Maps | Add Your Community | Order the Book | Find a Community:
 
Forming Formed: 2008
Buffalo Commons Cohousing
Northfield, Minnesota,
United States
(40 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul)
 Buffalo Commons Cohousing is envisioned as a cohousing community of about 30 to 35 households on 21 acres adjacent to the city limits of Northfield, Minnesota (about 40 miles south of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul). Northfield is a vibrant college community with a strong local economy, an engaged populace, highly regarded public, charter and private schools, an historic downtown, an active local arts community, a large arboretum with hiking and cross country ski trails, endless miles of quiet country roads for bike-riding, and wonderful canoeing on the Cannon River.
The land includes five acres of wetland and nine acres of oak woodland which will be protected by permanent conservation easement. The site also has room for a large open green (play) space and a community garden (one to several acres). The community will be developed according to the following guiding principles:
*Consensus decision-making in design and operation
*Intergenerational, mixed income and ethnically diverse community structure
*Mixed use: residential, food production, and possible commercial space
*Minimum environmental impact
*Maximum protection of natural and agricultural land
The following sustainable design elements are envisioned:
*Carbon-neutral/zero net energy cohousing clustered on ~ 3 acres of land
*Modest square footage in private homes
*Maximum use of reused, recycled, local and non-toxic materials in construction
*Highly water-efficient design (with gray water and rain water use for toilets and landscape/garden watering)
*Bicycle and pedestrian-friendly design (site is 1.25 miles from downtown, St. Olaf College, and Carleton College; about half a mile from an elementary school
*Pervious road and walkway surfaces
*Community garden space (~1 to 2 acres), compost site, greenhouse, chicken house and community root cellar
*Permaculture landscaping
*Common house utilizing reassembled barn timber frame
*Commercial greenhouse for 12-month production of hydroponic vegetables for the community and local market
About fifteen households comprise our current forming group. We vary in age from 20-somethings to 70-somethings,
with households comprised of singles, couples, and families with children (newborns to adult). Most are from the Northfield area, but several are from farther afield. All of us are interested in creating a supportive, sustainable community in a beautiful semi-rural setting right on the edge of a wonderful community. We welcome you to join us!
 
Website: http://sustainablecommunitysolutions.com/buffalocommons/
Contact:
Bruce Anderson
501 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, Minnesota 55057 United States
Phone: 507.210.4012
Email This Community!
Last Updated:10/7/2008
 
Visitors Accepted
Visitor Process: Please contact us to either tour the site or learn about upcoming meetings.
Population
Open to new adults:
Yes
Open to new children:
Yes
Open to which gender(s):
All genders welcome
Age Focus:
No Focus
Age Restrictions:
No
Government
Decision Making:
By consensus
Identified Leader:
No
Leadership Core Group:
No
Labor and Money
Financial Style:
Members have independent finances
Land and Buildings
Small Town
(21 acres, to be annexed into Northfield)
Area:
21 acres (8.5 hectares)
Number of Residences:
30
(30 to 35 units are anticipated)
Cohousing:
Yes
Social Factors
Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members:
Yes
Shared Spiritual Path:
No
Cohousing Details
Cohousing Status:
Site Optioned
 
 


Become an Editor Current editor(s): BruceAnderson
Comments from Directory Readers This community selects which reader comments to display (more info). You can add yours below.
There are no Reader Comments on this community.

Add Your Comment on Buffalo Commons Cohousing

We encourage comments from those who have first hand experience with a community so that others may benefit from your experience. Please share information you think will be useful to other users of this site, in a clear, concise, and polite manner. Each community can choose to display all comments, display selected comments, or not to display comments (more info). Communities will be shown email addresses of those who comment so that they might communicate with you if they choose.

We reserve the right to edit or delete any comment.

You must be logged in to add a comment. Login here or if you have not yet registered on our site Register here.

More Info on Display Options
Communities can choose one of three options for how reader comments are displayed.
  1. Display all reader comments.
  2. Do not display any reader comments.
  3. Display only comments selected by the community (this is the default value).
Communities may have a variety of reasons for choosing these options so we encourage you to not be quick to judge.