CHICAGO AREA COHOUSING
CHICAGO COHOUSING NETWORK
Umbrella Organization
The network has been in operation since the early 1990's to spread the word about Cohousing in the Chicago area. It sponsors events and publishes a small bi-monthly newsletter and maintains this web site to keep area residents aware of local, regional and national Cohousing activities.
Newsletter subscription for 1 year is $10
Contact: Hal Mead, Secretary and newsletter editor
Chicago Cohousing Network
2205 Maple C-1
Evanston,IL 60201
847- 869- 8493, halmead@comcast.net
PRAIRIE ONION COHOUSING
WWW.PRAIRIEONIONCOHOUSING.ORG FORMED DECEMBER 2003
ONION : COMES FROM A WORD THAT MEANS UNITY OR ONENESS
BRONZEVILLE BIKE TOUR
June 2010
- Hal Mead
On Saturday, June 26, 2010 Val and Hal from Prairie Onion Cohousing went on a 16 mile bike tour of the Bronzeville area sponsored by the Bronsville Area Residents and Community Council. This was the 8th annual tour of the area. Around 30 people went on the 4 hour tour.
We visited over 50 sites of note in the area. The tour started at 51st and Martin Luther King Drive by Washington Park. The area visited centered between Cottage Grove and State street all the way up to Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven and Chess Records 2120 S. Michigan.
Along the way we were serenaded by old tunes of the past (created in Bronzeville) on a bike powered wagon. Sherry Amour on the wagon also gave the group a treat with her own modern creations. (www.SherryAmourMusic.com).
Along the way we were given samples of food from local restaurants. Ain't She Sweet Café 4532 S. Cottage Grove, Chicken and Waffles 3900 S. MLK, Bronzeville Coffee House 528 E. 43rd st.
- One of the pieces that impressed me the most was the Monument to the Great Northern Migration. A 15 foot Bronze statue installed in 1996 at MLK and 26 Pl .
This bronze figure is a testament to the thousands of African Americans who migrated to Chicago in the early 20th century in search of greater freedom and opportunity. The traveler's hand is raised in salutation to his new home. his other hand carries a worn suitcase symbolic of his journey, dreams and talents. The figure is oriented to the north symbolizing the traveler's destination.
This bronze monument depicts a man wearing a suit made of shoe soles rising from many of soles. The soles worn and full of holes symbolize the often difficult journey from the south to the north. It commemorates all the African-American men and women who migrated to Chicago after the Civil War. Alison Saar, Sculptor
Signs of new life
Bronezville Cookin' Cusine - At 51st and Prairie within the next year a new Vegan Dish restaurant, fresh food, and grocery market. will be created.
Near by - now being constructed on the south side of 51st and Calumet a community garden.
The tour moved along smoothly with the help of bike tour committee leaders, Alderman Pat Dowell and Willie Cochran, and Chicago police that blocked the streets as the tour progressed.
Over all I was surprised and grateful to have this good introduction to Bronzeville - a place with a rich history and potentially great future.
PRAIRIE ONION 2009 REVIEW
January 5- Meeting with Alderman
There was an initial meeting with the Alderman Pat Dowell with several members of Prairie Onion and our developer Benjamin Van Horne of Greenline Development.
February 4 Meeting with Alderman and Block club
Members of Prairie Onion met with a local block club in the area of our site.
April - Development of a Vision statement for Prairie Onion
On May 9 - Block Clean up
Members of Prairie Onion and a local block club met to get better acquainted and participate in a block clean up and around our proposed site.
On July 25 - Workshop: Six Thinking Hats
Prairie Onion gave a workshop at the Blackstone Library by Linda Poss of Prairie Onion. The workshop provides tools to help come to consensus in meetings.
On August 29-30 - workshop on site and green design
Provided the Prairie Onion Project with some basic ideas for and overall design and was led by Laura Fitch of Kraus-Fitch an architectural firm from Boston in that has been involved in the cohousing movement for many years. (Laura lives at Pioneer Valley Cohousing in North Amherst, Massachusetts).
On September 29 - Preliminary Drawings
Prairie Onion members met with Hanna Architects (who will be working with Greenline Development) for a presentation of preliminary drawings of site and possible unit configuration of our possible site at 46th and Vincennes that incorporated ideas from our August workshop.
The L shaped 3 story building along Vincennes and 46 th includes a common house area on the first floor (overall design to be determined). five-3 bedroom, eight-2 bedroom, seven-I bedroom. (20 units over all). (This design can change with possibility of studios). An elevator makes all units handicapped accessible. Parking spaces are along the alley with some garage space available. There will be a large courtyard south of the building for a play area and gardening.
Size and prices
1 bedroom 1 bath - 850 Sq ft $155,000
2 bedroom 2 bath -1,075 sq ft $195,000
3 bedroom 2 bath -1,350 sq ft $244,900
Qualifying households may also be eligible for subsidies:
available for purchase of units priced at $195,000 or less.
WHAT IS NEXT FOR PRAIRIE ONION
NEW MEMBERS NEEDED
Current plans for our proposed site at 46th and Vincennes will be for a community of around 20 households and a commonhouse. We currently have 6 full members. So We need to recruit 14 additional full members.
Can you afford to Join US
In addition to living in community there is a problem of affordability. Here is an additional selling point for new people.
New Homes for Chicago-Our developer Benjamin is involved with this program that provides upfront subsidies to the buyer but comes with restrictions:
- 80% of homes have to be sold to people under 120% of the area median income (AMI). The other 20% can be sold to persons with higher income.
The land that we hope to build on is owned by the City of Chicago so that price is very low.
Breaking Ground
After permits are approved by the City of Chicago, the earliest possible date to break ground for the Prairie Onion project on 46th and Vincennes would be in the spring of 2010. (Construction should take 10 to 12 months).
Prairie Onion Vision Statement
April 2009
Prairie Onion Cohousing will create and sustain an intergenerational cohousing community within the city of Chicago designed to minimize environmental impact, encourage strong ties among residents and foster interaction with the larger neighborhood.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will build strong ties among its members.
These ties will be fostered by sharing meals several times a week, creating traditions, and sharing our talent and knowledge with each other. We will be involved with one another naturally through work projects and recreational activities while also respecting the varying desires for private and public time.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will be intergenerational and diverse.
We will be supportive and welcoming of individuals and families of all ages, from differing races, economic classes, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. Residents will benefit from the rich array of resources and cultural opportunities found in neighborhood and city life.
Our community will minimize its environmental impact.
We will use “green” design principles and construction practices, especially those which emphasize energy efficiency and water conservation. Our location in the heart of Chicago near rapid transit, and bike parking on-site, will encourage non-car transport. Residents’ day-to-day activities such as recycling, carpooling, using organic foods, co-operative meal preparation, community gardening, and other choices will enhance sustainability.
Our site and buildings will be designed to foster casual interaction and maximize green space. Parking will be on the perimeter of the site. Individual apartments and townhouses will be fully independent, but connected to extensive common space shared by all residents.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will make decisions as a group using a consensus model.
We will all have equal responsibility for making our community work, both physically and interpersonally. We will build our community by working together willingly for common purposes, meeting regularly, and governing ourselves through consensus-based decision-making and mediation.
We will become an integral part of the surrounding neighborhood.
We will provide space for local groups to hold meetings, and sponsor educational programs related to cohousing, the environment, and other issues.
Both as individuals and as a group, we will support existing neighborhood groups and local businesses.
As individuals, members will become involved in volunteer work, civic activities and community issues.
Units will be as affordable as possible to members with differing incomes.
Our community's legal structure will be a condominium development.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRAIRIE ONION OR COHOUSING
CALL - JOLYNN DOERR , jldoerr@core.com,773-854-6879
OR MARTY BECKLENBURG, mbecklen@earthlink.net, 773-764-5065