What is Chattanooga Collaborative Senior Housing?
A planned co-housing community for people age 55 an older, located on Washington Street in the Southside of Chattanooga. It's expected to house up to 16 people. To learn more about the project, check seniors-together.com or email cseniorhousing@gmail.com.
A co-housing plan that several senior-age Chattanooga residents drummed up about four years ago now has a conceptual layout and more members.
Ten people have partnered in Chattanooga Collaborative Senior Housing, but the interdependent community they want to build will need 13 to 16 people, members estimate. Plans call for it to house 16 people.
"I think it's ridiculous, people living in their own little homes and owning all this stuff," said Sue Reynolds, 69, a longtime yoga teacher and former school teacher. "Why does everybody have to own their own lawnmower, chainsaw and Vitamix?"
The proposed condominium-style project, in Chattanooga's SouthSide, also is meant to keep older people from aging alone or ending up in a nursing home, members said. It's open to people age 55 and up.
"We don't want to go into these big institutions that are owned and run by somebody else," said Bill Reynolds, 74, husband of Sue Reynolds. "Your life is in their control. This design is for a small group, like a small neighborhood, where neighbors know and see each other regularly. This prevents people from being in their houses by themselves day after day."
The co-housing movement began in Denmark and spread to the U.S. as early as the 1970s, in a multi-generational format. About two decades ago, several CCSH members tried to launch just such a project on Chattanooga's Northshore, but it fell through.
Co-op members discuss plans during a meeting at the home of Jay Ku and Dr. Charles Hughes in Chattanooga.Group members say they are aware of other senior co-housing communities in the nation, but those comprise single-family homes, not condo-style layouts.
The group, which has formed CCSH Development Company LLC for its pursuit, purchased almost an acre at 1511 Washington St. last fall for its project. Including land fees of about $272,500 according to the Hamilton County Assessor of Property, it's expected to cost $2.5 million to build. The group is looking for investors, in addition to members.
Units would be about 800-1,000 square feet for a couple, and 400-500 square feet for a single person. Each unit would have a small kitchenette and bathroom and is projected to cost $175,000 to $300,000.
"They are not large rooms, but then we connect to the large open common space, so we wouldn't feel all cramped in," Bill Reynolds said. The common space is expected to be about 4,000 square feet and could be used for whatever the members choose: book clubs and musical evenings, for example, and wouldn't be restricted to community members.
"The point of that design is so that there will be natural daily contact," Reynolds said. That means if someone gets sick or injured their absence will be obvious. "It's not like they are going to be lying on the floor, fading away a few days before anybody discovers them."
Still, "we're not going to become a commune. We're all very active and travel a lot," he said. The group's website, seniors-together.com describes several of the current members, all retirees: neurologist, lawyer, family and marriage counselor.
Co-op members discuss plans during a meeting at the home of Jay Ku and Dr. Charles Hughes in Chattanooga.A monthly maintenance fee will be required, though the amount has not yet been determined.
CCSH hired Hefferlin & Kronenberg Architects in February to create a conceptual plan for the site. The company plans to work with CCSH until the project is completed, said Wilson Kessel, a designer with the Chattanooga firm.
The building is planned to be environmentally friendly, with features like natural lighting and low-flush toilets to name a few simple ones.
"We want to build it sustainably ... do all the things we could to cut down on energy," said Sandy Kurtz, 72. "Just because we will have smaller spaces means we will be using less energy."
The group also hopes to share some vehicles, and it chose a downtown site so residents can walk and bike for many of their activities.
CCSH members are confident they can get by for several years without outside help. But as residents age, they will likely need assistance, including a manager.
Contact staff writer Mitra Malek at mmalek@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6406. Follow her on Twitter @MitraMalek.