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The Next Wave in Housing
February 2023 Newsletter
Greetings,
Greetings,
I want to spend some time on Building Ohana for this newsletter, as it is a model that I would like to suggest to adopt.
I want to spend some time on Building Ohana for this newsletter, as it is a model that I would like to suggest to adopt.
First off I created a google DOC in my google drive so we can type in questions or comments to each other on this project. If you are not familiar with this, google docs allows anybody to access this document if they have the link. Please feel free to ask questions. If it becomes fruitful I will post it on the website. Questions??
First off I created a google DOC in my google drive so we can type in questions or comments to each other on this project. If you are not familiar with this, google docs allows anybody to access this document if they have the link. Please feel free to ask questions. If it becomes fruitful I will post it on the website. Questions??
So I want to talk about Building Ohana, as it is in the building phase when they get land, and it mirrors so much like our project. So why invent the wheel when you don't have to. I interviewed the founder of Building Ohana this month.
So I want to talk about Building Ohana, as it is in the building phase when they get land, and it mirrors so much like our project. So why invent the wheel when you don't have to. I interviewed the founder of Building Ohana this month.
Building Ohana is a non-profit started in 2013 in Spokane. They have 5 board members and a host of other people that help, from lawyers to real estate people. They are focused on Intentional Neighboring and using Cooperative Housing Model.
Building Ohana is a non-profit started in 2013 in Spokane. They have 5 board members and a host of other people that help, from lawyers to real estate people. They are focused on Intentional Neighboring and using Cooperative Housing Model.
The Cooperative housing model is one where everybody comes together and finances the project as a group. You can own your own home, but it is the cooperative that finances it and the owner pays into this cooperative. Kind of like if it was a HOA for an apartment building, instead of owners getting their own finances and paying for their apartment, the HOA would get the finances for the whole apartment building and then charge the appropriate fees for each unit. This is a great idea and one that I think we should adopt.
The Cooperative housing model is one where everybody comes together and finances the project as a group. You can own your own home, but it is the cooperative that finances it and the owner pays into this cooperative. Kind of like if it was a HOA for an apartment building, instead of owners getting their own finances and paying for their apartment, the HOA would get the finances for the whole apartment building and then charge the appropriate fees for each unit. This is a great idea and one that I think we should adopt.
Cooperative Housing allows the residents to give a focus to a group of people such as people with disabilities, which cohousing does not. This is not an easy model.
Cooperative Housing allows the residents to give a focus to a group of people such as people with disabilities, which cohousing does not. This is not an easy model.
The Intentional Neighboring idea is one in which you design the community to accommodate everybody to give them the opportunity to interact with everybody and not be isolated. The core intention of OHANA Village is to bring neighbors together to support one another, most intentionally those of us who often experience barriers to full participation in community life. As such, social infrastructure will be designed into all aspects of the neighborhood, bringing neighbors together both formally and informally, encouraging daily interactions both intentional and unintentional, in ways that encourage the formation of long-lasting relationships of mutual care and friendship.
The Intentional Neighboring idea is one in which you design the community to accommodate everybody to give them the opportunity to interact with everybody and not be isolated. The core intention of OHANA Village is to bring neighbors together to support one another, most intentionally those of us who often experience barriers to full participation in community life. As such, social infrastructure will be designed into all aspects of the neighborhood, bringing neighbors together both formally and informally, encouraging daily interactions both intentional and unintentional, in ways that encourage the formation of long-lasting relationships of mutual care and friendship.
Houses will be sold at market rate to 80% AMI, and as low as 40% AMI. They will be means tested for income, depending on your ability to pay. There will be 4 homes of 3 residents each with 24 hour care, 60 homes total of 100-165 residents. About 22% -25% of people with disabilities. Some rentals, but the rest will be cooperative ownership. People are allowed to resell their homes or put it in their wills, but there is a cap to offset market increases to make the house affordable to new homeowners. New homeowners will need to accept the principles of the community of cooperative living. They are planning on the total cost to be around 24 million. Before moving into the community you have to come before the board of the community and you must agree to the cooperative living lifestyle. You need to participate in the community and offer time and energy in the community.
Houses will be sold at market rate to 80% AMI, and as low as 40% AMI. They will be means tested for income, depending on your ability to pay. There will be 4 homes of 3 residents each with 24 hour care, 60 homes total of 100-165 residents. About 22% -25% of people with disabilities. Some rentals, but the rest will be cooperative ownership. People are allowed to resell their homes or put it in their wills, but there is a cap to offset market increases to make the house affordable to new homeowners. New homeowners will need to accept the principles of the community of cooperative living. They are planning on the total cost to be around 24 million. Before moving into the community you have to come before the board of the community and you must agree to the cooperative living lifestyle. You need to participate in the community and offer time and energy in the community.
Services of care or supervision will be provided like in a regular community. Ohana will not provide services, just the housing.
Services of care or supervision will be provided like in a regular community. Ohana will not provide services, just the housing.
They have had 3 attempts at building in the past, but for various reasons the developer backed out due to financing. One attempt they worked on for 12-18 months then the deal fell through. A 100 year community land lease is also an option they are looking at. They are presently offering to buy land (financing) from the school district as pre surplus land. It is a lot of 7.7 acres. Surplus school property needs to be sold at 90% market rate. They have been looking for around 10 acres. They have about 1 million dollars in their account and plan on using part for a down payment, then finance the rest. If this land goes through, they will do the same for building the houses. They are ready to build with finance and designs all ready to go. To get funds from a Housing Trust fund they first need to have property secured. They have all the pieces in order to go ahead and start building, they will use State and Federal funding to get low interest construction loans. They will be building houses of various types from supportive to independent living. They want to build a lot of outdoor spaces to provide for a interaction with the outdoor environment;
They have had 3 attempts at building in the past, but for various reasons the developer backed out due to financing. One attempt they worked on for 12-18 months then the deal fell through. A 100 year community land lease is also an option they are looking at. They are presently offering to buy land (financing) from the school district as pre surplus land. It is a lot of 7.7 acres. Surplus school property needs to be sold at 90% market rate. They have been looking for around 10 acres. They have about 1 million dollars in their account and plan on using part for a down payment, then finance the rest. If this land goes through, they will do the same for building the houses. They are ready to build with finance and designs all ready to go. To get funds from a Housing Trust fund they first need to have property secured. They have all the pieces in order to go ahead and start building, they will use State and Federal funding to get low interest construction loans. They will be building houses of various types from supportive to independent living. They want to build a lot of outdoor spaces to provide for a interaction with the outdoor environment;
They developed relationships with local municipalities, city, county, planning directors, and housing trust funds. She said No one will fund the whole project. If you are thinking about moving to Spokane this would be a great place to land.
They developed relationships with local municipalities, city, county, planning directors, and housing trust funds. She said No one will fund the whole project. If you are thinking about moving to Spokane this would be a great place to land.
My only critique of Ohana is the restriction of access to the community center. It will be built on a 7 acre land. Even though the houses will be built around the community house, I can see barriers to independently access in the weather. I know that it can get quite nasty weather in the summer and the winter in Spokane. I am curious how this community will turn out when there is 2 feet of snow. If they had a connected causeway so people in wheelchairs, elderly and people with difficulties can go to the community center in a safe manner and independently could be a benefit. Creating a safe space to exercise by walking to the community center is a positive thing. The rest of the Ohana model is perfect for us and I give them a lot of hope to fulfill their project.
My only critique of Ohana is the restriction of access to the community center. It will be built on a 7 acre land. Even though the houses will be built around the community house, I can see barriers to independently access in the weather. I know that it can get quite nasty weather in the summer and the winter in Spokane. I am curious how this community will turn out when there is 2 feet of snow. If they had a connected causeway so people in wheelchairs, elderly and people with difficulties can go to the community center in a safe manner and independently could be a benefit. Creating a safe space to exercise by walking to the community center is a positive thing. The rest of the Ohana model is perfect for us and I give them a lot of hope to fulfill their project.
Ohana is the closest to the model I could see us using. I would like to use the cooperative housing model and the Intentional Community models in our community as well if the community agrees. They are already established models so it should be easy to adopt them in whatever we decide to build. This would start with an LLC to govern the community by going after the financing, then each household would pay a mortgage to the LLC. No individual financing, just one big one. This would allow for whatever model we use to build to make sure that even low income people can own their own room or apartment.
Ohana is the closest to the model I could see us using. I would like to use the cooperative housing model and the Intentional Community models in our community as well if the community agrees. They are already established models so it should be easy to adopt them in whatever we decide to build. This would start with an LLC to govern the community by going after the financing, then each household would pay a mortgage to the LLC. No individual financing, just one big one. This would allow for whatever model we use to build to make sure that even low income people can own their own room or apartment.
There are a few models out there that are either currently working or going to be built. At first I thought that a large apartment building would be the best solution. But now I am not sure. I think it would be wise to cover all the bases and design plans for a housing project, like Ohana or turn it into a townhome complex or an apartment building. Our main goal will be guided by what is the most affordable.
There are a few models out there that are either currently working or going to be built. At first I thought that a large apartment building would be the best solution. But now I am not sure. I think it would be wise to cover all the bases and design plans for a housing project, like Ohana or turn it into a townhome complex or an apartment building. Our main goal will be guided by what is the most affordable.
After thinking about Ohana, Luna Azul or Thrift Seattle/Bode 123 I would like to make the suggestion that we need to have a community center for activities and food. This will force some of us to interact with each other and to get exercise by going there. No worries about what to fix for dinner. Ohana and Azul both have central hubs, but it is not their design to have food everyday. Thrift Seattle does, but it is more like an apartment activity area. But if we had a commercial grade kitchen that could produce nutritious food for everybody at an affordable cost, it would be a win-win solution for eating. Plus there could be work available in the kitchen, cafeteria area and producing extra food for the community.
After thinking about Ohana, Luna Azul or Thrift Seattle/Bode 123 I would like to make the suggestion that we need to have a community center for activities and food. This will force some of us to interact with each other and to get exercise by going there. No worries about what to fix for dinner. Ohana and Azul both have central hubs, but it is not their design to have food everyday. Thrift Seattle does, but it is more like an apartment activity area. But if we had a commercial grade kitchen that could produce nutritious food for everybody at an affordable cost, it would be a win-win solution for eating. Plus there could be work available in the kitchen, cafeteria area and producing extra food for the community.
The other goal I would like to interject would be access. Living in a house in the middle of winter or the heat of AZ would restrict some people from getting out. I would like to know how Luna Azul deals with the heat (hint: Nicole M.) So my suggestion would be to find a way to connect all the homes or townhomes by a covered walkway to shield us from the weather. Now that might not be feasible if you are building homes on a 7 acres plot, but you could connect townhomes easily from a central hub.
The other goal I would like to interject would be access. Living in a house in the middle of winter or the heat of AZ would restrict some people from getting out. I would like to know how Luna Azul deals with the heat (hint: Nicole M.) So my suggestion would be to find a way to connect all the homes or townhomes by a covered walkway to shield us from the weather. Now that might not be feasible if you are building homes on a 7 acres plot, but you could connect townhomes easily from a central hub.
The apartment building will have that built in.
The apartment building will have that built in.
My analysis so far is to design a community of either an apartment building or townhomes.with connected walkways around the central community center. Townhomes may be a better solution as we may not have to worry about an assisted living license, instead we could set up AFH’s.
My analysis so far is to design a community of either an apartment building or townhomes.with connected walkways around the central community center. Townhomes may be a better solution as we may not have to worry about an assisted living license, instead we could set up AFH’s.
On another note: Partners4Housing has been awarded grant funds to provide free Residential Assessments to families in Washington State with Loved Ones 18 years or older.Completing a Residential Assessment can help your family explore housing possibilities and make a resilient plan for the future.
On another note: Partners4Housing has been awarded grant funds to provide free Residential Assessments to families in Washington State with Loved Ones 18 years or older.Completing a Residential Assessment can help your family explore housing possibilities and make a resilient plan for the future.
I am so excited to announce that, thanks to a generous grant from the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council’s Dan Thompson Memorial Fund, we can now provide free Residential Assessments to 6,688 families in Washington State ... at absolutely no cost to the families
I am so excited to announce that, thanks to a generous grant from the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council’s Dan Thompson Memorial Fund, we can now provide free Residential Assessments to 6,688 families in Washington State ... at absolutely no cost to the families
And lastly I am still looking for board members and anybody else that wants to contribute!!
And lastly I am still looking for board members and anybody else that wants to contribute!!
I realize that the website has a lot of info in them. This is intentional because I think it best to post all of my research in one place.
I realize that the website has a lot of info in them. This is intentional because I think it best to post all of my research in one place.
Have a great month!
Have a great month!
Denis McFadden 425-772-2561 The Next Wave in Housing
Founder and Board Member
As of August 25, 2022, “The Next Wave in Housing” is a registered WA NONPROFIT
CORPORATION.
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