Mission Peak Village creates new Bay Area housing and intergenerational connections – The Mercury News

Homebuyers in 2023 are questioning whether conventional neighborhoods work well for them. Many are now more sensitive to isolation from neighbors – the possibility of living among people you rarely see or interact with. It’s hard to know whether a potential community will be friendly.

Mission Peak Village members believe that finding a home should be more than a real estate transaction; it’s a lifestyle choice. Residents are their own developers taking an active role in building homes in a location that meets their own stringent criteria. Mission Peak Village hired an experienced development consultant, purchased land and selected an architect. By the time of the shift, they will already be a connected community of intergenerational neighbors.

Mission Peak Village didn’t invent this approach. The group adopted an intentional community model called cohousing, introduced to North America in 1988 by architects Kathryn McCamant and Chuck Durrett with their seminal book “Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves”, based on an innovative model popularized in Denmark.

The authors noted that cohabitants in Denmark were happier and better connected with their neighbors than most Americans in compartmentalized single-family unit areas. In cohabitation, each family maintains a personal residence, but neighbors also share amenities to reduce the daily cost of living and create opportunities for human interaction.

Today, North America can claim over 180 cohabiting communities. Inspired by its predecessors, Mission Peak Village is establishing Fremont’s first cohousing development with 32 condominiums clustered around a sizable common house (community center). Designed for everyday use, the common house will feature a large kitchen and dining area suitable for occasional shared meals and parties, as well as a craft area, cafeteria, laundry room, media room, library, guest quarters and quiet space to study or work. From home. Members value environmentally sustainable design. The community will be owned and operated by the residents, who will share responsibilities such as childcare and gardening.

The land features many priority items for future residents: excellent school district, proximity to employment centers, ease of movement, available public transportation, easily accessible parks, retail and entertainment services. Two bonus features of the Mission Peak Village neighborhood are a weekly farmers market and a soon to be built BART station less than half a mile away.

With the creative expertise of Gunkel Architecture and development advice from cohousing pioneer Kathryn McCamant, Mission Peak Village has submitted plans to the City of Fremont for design review. The group has formed a development partnership with UD+P, experienced cohabitation community developers, and expects to start in early 2024. The homes are still available for booking. More information is available during online information sessions and neighborhood walking tours. Registration and more information are available on the Mission Peak Village website.

Content provided by Mission Peak Village LLC