REGINA – Co-housing is a growing concept in Canada and now a group of community-minded residents are bringing it to Regina.
When it opens in the fall of 2016, Prairie Spruce Commons will be our city’s very first co-housing unit, accommodating around 50 people.
Residents have already begun buying their own individual units, but will also benefit from common living spaces.
Located on Badham Boulevard, Prairie Spruce will include an underground parking garage, a garden, and a three-story condo-like complex.
Inside, community members will share a communal kitchen, workshop, media room, children’s play area, office, fitness space and guest rooms. However the building will also have private units, each with its own bathroom and kitchen.
“It’s kind of like all the good aspects of small town living, but in the big city,” said member Dave Lareau, who is looking forward to a stronger sense of community.
“We’re all going to know each other before we move in. Versus a typical condo where you move in and start, hopeful to meet people, and maybe connect with some of them.”
14 of the 27 units in the building have already been spoken for and those people are now designing the building themselves.
Lois Adams will be moving in, as well as her mother and brother. Adams currently lives in her own home, but is looking to downsize as she moves closer to retirement.
“I’ll be losing the community that I work in, so I’m kind of looking forward to having this community,” she said.
Decisions in Prairie Spruce will be made by consensus.
“Everybody has to agree to whatever decision it is. They have to be able to live with it and sometimes that takes a little bit longer,” said another member, Henning Mortensen.
A local condo lawyer said in his experience, getting everyone on the same page can be difficult.
“It’s a great concept, sometimes it’s the execution that creates a lot of problems,” said Marc Kelly with Kanuka Thuringer LLP. “Not everyone is going to agree on the minute details.”
However, the families said won’t let the possibility of conflict deter them. They already have designated moderators in place to help overcome the hurdle of differing opinions.
For now, they’re focused on using blueprints to get permits and begin construction on the building this summer.
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