2 cohousing neighborhoods bringing community to Bay Area, West Sacramento 

Humans have never been more connected, but we still find ourselves lonelier than ever. In a sea of single-family homes and disconnected neighborhoods, two new cohousing communities — Washington Commons in West Sacramento and Mission Peak Village in Fremont — are showing that there’s a better way to live synergistically.

Cohousing clusters private homes around shared facilities to create intentionally collaborative neighborhoods. Designed for both privacy and community, each home provides traditional amenities, including a private kitchen, while also having access to common amenities such as a great room with kitchen and dining, sitting lounge, guest rooms, exercise room, workshop, and gardens. Unlike co-living, eco-living or a commune, cohousing offers a homeownership model where people can buy with traditional mortgages.

One of the attractions of cohousing is the ability to live more sustainably. The Washington Commons and Mission Peak Village properties were chosen for their walkability and access to many resources without needing a car. Additionally, through collaboration, both communities can incorporate more solar panels and EV chargers than they would have in single-family homes. These communities are unique to anything currently available on the market in the Bay Area and West Sacramento regions.

“Cohousing is about living the good life while using less of the Earth’s resources, and having a good time doing it,” says Kathryn McCamant of CoHousing Solutions, professional partner to Mission Peak and Washington Commons, and development consultant for dozens of communities across North America.

Cohousing creates an environment where yard work, cooking and even child care become less of an individual burden. Work is divided among members based on each person’s strengths and skills. Gardens and green spaces are collaboratively tended. It’s easy to find someone in the spur of the moment when you need a ride to the doctor or want to go on a hike. Together, everyone’s share of the work is lessened while the happiness and balance of the entire community increases. By creating a culture that supports health, sustainability and connection, cohousing communities make it easy to live a more fulfilling life.

“As families get smaller and more spread out, our traditional support systems have broken down. We need to rebuild contemporary housing in a way that meets the needs of today’s families, not some past fantasy,” McCamant says.

Nearly 200 cohousing communities have been built in the United States, with many more in the planning stages.

Members of Mission Peak Village are creating an inclusive, intergenerational community in the Irvington District of Fremont, featuring 32 sustainable, private condos located around common amenities and a large courtyard and garden area. Having just received unanimous Planning Commission approval, construction will begin in 2024. Visit missionpeakcohousing.org.

Washington Commons is preparing for people to move in either in late 2023 or early 2024. Featuring 35 condos in a fully accessible and contemporary four-story building, residents will be just a short walk to the Sacramento River, Crocker Art Museum, the Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station and more. Visit www.washington-commons.org.

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Content provided by Mission Peak Village and Washington Commons