A group struggled for two years to launch a community, but eventually the effort failed because of disorganization and lack of financial resources. A second effort succeeded, despite procedural misunderstandings over the roles of residents and the development company that built the community. Utility lines are underground. To build the Common House, a construction loan pool was formed with funds provided by initial residents and friends. The 43 residents can cook and eat dinner together at the Common House twice a week.
Residents tend to be middle class, environmentalists, and come from social-activist backgrounds.
Principles of cohousing Participatory process - residents decide on community's design, including private residences and common areas. Resident management - participants do most maintenance work, help prepare common meals, and meet regularly to develop policies. Nonhierarchical structure - decisions are made by consensus. The Cohousing Network Westwood continues to evolve and grapple with issues that all cohousing communities face, such as defining exactly what a community is, and what to do when some residents don't pull their weight. People volunteered to get together, to talk, and get things out in the open.