5 years ago
Do you ever think back to the good old days?
When you not only knew your neighbor's name, but where they went to church and whether Cronkite or Brinkley was their favorite anchor man?
Well, now there's a place in Silver Spring reminiscent of those times and as Stacey Cohan reports, its part of neighborhood moving into the future.
Stacey Cohan's Report
Drop by drop, water can mold things around us. In the middle of Silver Spring, the gathered rain water on a rooftop symbolizes a wave of change for this urban suburb.
For 9 years this building on Eastern Avenue remained an abandoned eyesore. But then developer Don Tucker took a look at this horse shoe shaped structure and envisioned a new type of community here. It's called 'Co-Housing'.
Randi Nordeen's place is one of 56 units in what's called the second largest co-housing community in the country. Basically folks here run the building themselves and everyone knows everyone else.
Raymond Van Houtte is a newlywed, and one who eschewed privacy in favor of community. Of course you can lock your door and shut out your neighbors here, but that doesn't seem to be the idea.
There are meetings about everything, like the building's roof. Residents and the builder worked on lining it with rocks and plants to stem storm water runoff.
The heating and air conditioning systems are environment-friendly as are all appliances in the unit.
If you like the co-housing idea, you'll have to move quickly to get a spot in this building.
It's nearly sold-out and units cost between $250,000 and $450,000.
Click on video to see Stacey Cohan's report.
Written By Stacey Cohan
