Puget Ridge Cohousing SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

WHERE we live

Our homes, which range in size from 650 to 2,200 square-feet, sit on 2.4 acres in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle. We are all connected by a pedestrian walkway. There are twenty-three units — mostly duplexes and triplexes — with porches that open onto courtyards and common areas. This makes it easy to visit neighbors, watch children, and share our lives. Parking is on the perimeter of the property.

The shared spaces in which we live, share, and create make our community special. Here are some of the highlights…

THE COMMON HOUSE

Our 4,000 square-foot common house is central to the community’s life. It provides a shared “third place” — a place to visit with neighbors, share meals, have meetings, celebrate with private or community events, pick up our mail, and more. Its wonderful features include:

• a gas fire place and comfortable living and dining spaces

• a pool table and ping-pong table

• laundry facilities

• a guest room

• an commercial-sized kitchen that makes community meals possible (with the help of actual people, of course!)

• meeting spaces

THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND NATURAL GROUNDS

When we built the project in 1994 we saved as many trees and native shrubs as possible, and now the grounds are lush and natural. We’ve heard tree frogs sing in our pond, and sometimes we hear screech owls and eagles nearby. 

Our property is landscaped with native species and includes many fruit trees. In addition, we have a dedicated organic garden where we grow vegetables, flowers, and berries. The garden is maintained by the garden committee and regular work parties and its bounty is available to all residents, including for use in community meals.

PATHWAYS, COURTYARDS, AND PLAYSPACES

As is the cohousing way, parking is provided on the perimeter of the site to allow a village-like feeling among our homes. Pathways connect three courtyards, including a central area that features a play structure and a small court in which to ride bikes and play ball. Other areas onsite include a playfield, a pond, a patio off the common house, and a wooded area with a tree house. The pathways provide opportunities to connect and catch up with neighbors, watch the kids play, help a neighbor with a project, or simply a quick way home if that is what is needed.

SUSTAINABILITY

An important reason for choosing to live in cohousing is to share resources and lessen our overall impact on the environment. Our environmental features include:

• compact site design that preserves open space and includes a natural area to buffer the site from adjacent streets

• preservation, as much as possible, of the site's existing topography, vegetation, and mature trees

• storm water collection pond which collects drainage off all site areas and an adjacent street

• energy conservation with attached duplex/triplex units that minimize exterior walls and include high insulation levels

• dual-function forced-air gas heating systems which use the hot water heater as the space  heating source

• energy-efficient fluorescent lighting in all common areas

• an active composting and recycling effort by all members

COMMUNITY

We value living in community with one another, and our community attitude extends to individual involvement with our local neighborhood, city, state, and beyond. We live in a diverse community of Seattle, near a grade school and community college. Our common house is occasionally used for community meetings and gatherings.