Common Ground

COHOUSING AND COTTAGE developments are designed to create strong social ties among residents while preserving natural areas and reducing the use of natural resources. Small, clustered units with shared kitchens, eating areas, playrooms, and sleeping facilities for guests encourage residents to dine together or socialize while doing the laundry. Competition for cohousing can be stiff: Units tend to fill up fast and stay off the market for long stretches. The 13-unit Songaia Community in Bothell boasts an unheard of 1 percent turnover rate, and West Seattle’s 23-unit Puget Ridge has put only 10 homes up for sale in 14 years. And while communal amenities and utilities may sound like a bargain, cohousing units on average mirror the price per square foot of a traditional single-family home in the same neighborhood. Instead, people buy into the lifestyle.

Ed Fischburg and his wife left their longtime Chicago-area home and purchased the last unit in Puget Ridge when it opened in 1994. Their son, who helped develop and now lives in the community, convinced them that the atmosphere would be perfect for them. “I hit the ground running because I am a coach, and there was a built-in audience for me here. I’ve coached every kid here in some sport, which is incredibly wonderful because it keeps me young and active,” says Fischburg, now 80. “And because I am the oldest person in my community, I became a mentor by default. If I was still in Chicago, I would be more or less isolated.”

The social perks drive the hundred-names-deep waiting lists of people willing to pay a premium to join Seattle’s growing cohousing projects. Currently there are 250 total cohousing units in the area, but high demand has led to several new developments, including Bothell’s 16-unit Clearwater Commons and New Earth Song Cohousing slated to adjoin Songaia.

Buying Power

Treed Yards

As lots shrink and infill housing takes hold, big yards filled with large blooming trees are increasingly rare. Older homes that don’t feature one (or more) add-ons and sit on lots that have not been divided into tiny parcels still offer buyers the chance to embrace nature in their own yard without leaving the city.
 

Leschi $650,000
Details 277 Lake Dell Ave; 2,127 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, built 1907.
Selling points Two blocks from Lake Washington, features several large pines, multiple decks and patios, wine cellar, and new Brazilian cherry wood floors.
Listed by Sharon Berry, Windermere Real Estate.

 

 

Meadowbrook $797,750
Details 3025 NE 98th St; 3,078 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 2¾ baths, built 1936.
Selling points Near Meadowbrook Playfield and Sand Point Country Club, with mother-in-law suite and landscaped yards shaded by large western red cedars and apple and pear trees. 
Listed by MLS4Owners.com.

 

Seward Park $775,000 
Details 5900 Wilson Ave S; 3,300 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths, built 1953.
Selling points Views of Lake Washington, covered patio and mature alder trees, kitchen includes new appliances, tiled floor, and counters.
Listed by Linda Wagner, Windermere Real Estate.

Second Home

Bend, Oregon, $624,900

Bend is known as the Boulder, Colorado, of the Pacific Northwest, and with good reason. The town, nestled on the banks of the Deschutes River, is a haven for skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, and kayaking. When the sun goes down (and everyone’s showered) Bend’s restaurant and brewpubs come to life. This three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home sits on a half acre of lush landscaping in one of the city’s few gated communities, which includes a nine-hole golf course, pool, and tennis courts. The house features large bedrooms, two decks, and an outdoor entertaining area that includes a prep sink and surround sound.

Listed by Kelly Neuman, John L. Scott Real Estate.

Published in the 95 Neighborhood Profiles issue of Seattle Met.