RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Kathryn McCamant , president of CoHousing Solutions , lives in Nevada City Cohousing , a community she developed with her former husband , Charles Durrett . It opened in 2006 .
communities , decisions are made by consensus ( with a fallback to a majority vote if necessary ), and residents sign up to work on various committees that include gardening , maintenance and entertainment . ( Residents who can ’ t or don ’ t complete committee work are instead charged a fee .)
“ When I ’ m in my backyard , it ’ s private , but when I go out the front door , it ’ s an instant neighborhood ,” she says . “ That ’ s why it works for people — it ’ s not a commune , it ’ s a nice balance .”
Geraghty , seeking that balance , attended a seminar taught by McCamant and considered living in her own intentional community . She wanted an urban location , a place that combined green spaces with city amenities . With the help of McCamant , she approached several developers , including Fulcrum Property founder Mark Friedman , who , ultimately , helped Geraghty and her team secure the half-acre lot .
Now there are plans to break ground this year to build 35 private , single-level condominiums , which will be part of four-story structures that include first-level garages and a second-floor common dining space . The homes are expected to range in price from approximately $ 400,000 for a one-bedroom flat to $ 770,000 for a two-bedroom home . In addition to a mortgage , residents will pay monthly homeowner fees for maintenance on shared spaces and landscaping , internet , and other amenities .
One of the more notable hurdles for developing communities is getting potential buyers to opt in with a 20-percent down payment . That can be an obstacle for some , particularly younger buyers or first-time homebuyers who ’ ve yet to build up real estate equity , Geraghty says .
Still , Geraghty says Washington Commons should be attractive to potential buyers . With its proximity to the
Sacramento River and downtown Sacramento ’ s shops , restaurants and nightlife , Geraghty says Washington Commons offers environmentally friendly highdensity living . Think of it as city life without the congestion and the added bonus of electric energy , solar panels and a smaller carbon footprint . After all , why drive when you can just as easily walk ?
Washington Common ’ s location and design work in partnership with nature , not against it . That concept is particularly important , Geraghty says , in pandemic times . “ The condos open up to an ( outside ) veranda or hallway ,” Geraghty says . “ People sit outside and convene as a group in the courtyard .”
McCamant says such eco-friendly design also helps draw in those who worry about the impact of climate change . Part of the cohousing attraction , she says , is creating a more sustainable lifestyle . Cohousing gives people that option without sacrificing convenience . With
52 comstocksmag . com | January 2021