RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
at home , I feel like it ’ s OK that I ’ m there by myself because there ’ s activity right outside my door ,” says Maskall , who lives with her partner of 30 years . “ It ’ s a balance of privacy in your home and community at your doorstep .”
Fair Oaks EcoHousing , which promises smart growth , green design and quality of life for its residents , is one of the region ’ s newest cohousing developments and one of more than 160 such communities throughout the United States . With at least 10 such communities in the Capital Region , it ’ s a noteworthy trend as homebuyers seek options that invest in sustainability and personal connections .
From the ground up
Maskall thought she ’ d want a dog once she settled into her new home , but many Fair Oaks EcoHousing residents already have dogs . So far , she ’ s happy just playing with the ones she encounters on her daily walks . “ They ’ re all so friendly ,” she says as she watches a neighbor ’ s dog amble by .
As she walks the grounds , Maskall stops to greet neighbors . Her path winds through a layout that puts the focus on shared spaces . There ’ s a central garden , and the clubhouse , which , in addition to its pool , has a kitchen , communal laundry room , children ’ s playroom and upstairs guest quarters . Two colorful rows of single-car garages are stationed near the neighborhood ’ s entrance at a considerable distance from the homes , as if to emphasize that the point here is staying , not leaving .
The development bustles with friendliness , even during a pandemic . The condominium-styled homes , which range in size from 934 square feet to 1,726 square feet , share exterior walls and roofs and boast wide , sweeping porches that face toward a common grassy area , buzzing with honeybees that dart between drought-tolerant flowering plants such as lavender .
In 2003 , Maskall fell in love with the idea of cohousing after she visited a friend at Southside Park Cohousing in downtown Sacramento . “ I said , ‘ You know , the world needs more of this ,’” Maskall says . “ I had no idea what I was getting into and just forged ahead , but it ’ s been a tough road .”
Fifteen years passed between Maskall finding and purchasing the Fair Oaks property . During that time , she contacted Durrett and McCamant , and with Durrett ’ s architectural skills and guidance from McCamant , whom Maskall hired as a development consultant , Maskall scouted properties . During that time , she also recruited buyers and investors to buy into the future development . The process was slow , however , as Maskall compiled a spreadsheet with more than 100 possible options , including the Fair Oaks location , which she thought of as her dream spot . She approached its owner about selling , but a deal eventually fizzled over money .
50 comstocksmag . com | January 2021