Seeing an unfilled niche in the housing marketplace, developers in suburban Seattle are trying to build a communal housing development.
Their idea is to build 32 small houses on a six-acre plot, and orienting each of the houses on either side of a single road, with porches facing in.
"A community house will offer shared meeting and social spaces for things like birthday parties. It could also include shared guest rooms and office space on a second floor (the first few buyers will decide the details). A central garden and a car-sharing program would give neighbors further reasons to interact.
Lead developer Ben Kaufman of GreenWorks Realty says the inspiration came almost 20 years ago, while meditating at an ancient temple site in Hawaii. 'I had a big shift at a young age in discovering that the good life isn't about money and fancy cars,' he told me. 'It's about relationships with people and with nature.'"
FULL STORY: Co-Housing the Suburbs

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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