The design of ecovillages in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is happening now. Speak out about what you want. Share your ideas about an ecovillage here.

Directory for Ecovillages, Cohousing

Ecovillage/Cohousing Meetings in DFW  
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Joint Venture with Land Owners

Ecovillages in Dallas-Fort Worth

• What Is an Ecovillage?
• Locate an Ecovillage in Dallas-Fort Worth
• The Ecovillage Network
• Developer-Driven Ecovillages

DFW Locations
Adjacent DFW Airport  

Future DFW Locations
Fort Worth East 
Fort Worth West
Dallas Oak Cliff
Dallas North  

Cohousing in Dallas-Fort Worth

• What Is Cohousing?
• Benefits of Cohousing
• Universal Concepts in Cohousing
• Features of Cohousing 
• Designed by Residents

What is Ecohousing?

Green Building and Energy-Efficiency in DFW 

Community in Dallas-Fort Worth

• What Is Community?
• Why Does DFW Need Sustainability and Community?
• The Movement Back to Community

The Benefits of Cohousing/Ecovillage Combined

The Diminished Role of the Automobile in Ecovillages

Safety of Children in an Ecovillage or Cohousing

Common Areas of Cohousing & Ecovillages:

• The Common House
• Attributes/Features of Common House
• Other Common Areas
• Community Gardens
• Outdoor Common Areas

Developer 

• Role of Developer 
• Why Hire a Developer?
• Choosing a Developer 
• Define Developer Driven 
• Do Developers Help or Hinder Community-Building? 

What Affects Affordability?

• General Affordability
• Alternative & New Building Materials
• Land Costs
• What Is Enough?

Senior Cohousing/Ecovillages

• Unique Features 
• Benefits Unique to Seniors 
• Active Lifestyles 
• Retirement Housing

Lack of Loneliness

Confusion Between Cohousing and Ecovillages

Conceptual Site-Plan for Cohousing

Combat Rising Utility Bills in DFW

Mortgages for Energy-Efficient Homes

Origins Cohousing, Ecohousing, How Did It Start?

          Cohousing Is Fun!

Home

Hiring a developer or joining a developer-driven cohousing or ecovillage community shifts much of the financial risk from the members to their developer. 

Developing property is risky. It has a high learning curve with the possibility (probability) of more than a few expensive mistakes. Although it is true the developer makes a profit, his/her expertise probably saves the group money that would be lost as the result of members' errors. The group has a good possibility of saving more money in the long run than it spends on the developer.

The Benefits

The developer handles some or all of the following:

• Purchase of land.
• Zoning changes if needed.
• Other contacts and/or problems with the city/county.
• Site design with member input.
• Financial details.
• Site work.
• Construction 

This leaves the cohousing or ecovillage members free to concentrate on other items. Members can socialize, build community, discuss strategies, and reach consensus on the policies and procedures  that not only make move-in day smooth, but also make day-to-day living in that community work. 

Hiring a developer or moving into a developer-driven community certainly saves time, it almost always  saves money, and it frees the members to build community and assemble policies/procedures.

Summary

In summary, then, the developer works for a certain amount of profit.  The developer's profit not only buys a shorter time frame for construction, it also buys fewer risks for the cohousing community.

And because the developer is a professional with a professional team, the community will often save more money than the developer and his/her team cost the members.

Hiring a developer, then, makes good financial sense.

Does this interest you? 

Please give us your ideas by filling out a quick form here. 

Thanks for your help.

Read more about the common house.

Read more about common areas.

Questions? Please come to our next introductory meeting. In the meantime, call metro 972 251-1532 for answers. 

Ecovillage  
Energy Audits   
Green Building 
Green Remodeling 
Green Consulting  
Rainwater Harvesting  
Renewable Energy in DFW