Durham central park cohousing Community

"Coho made our move to Durham the easiest of many moves. We had friends to call on for any question about the community or to share dinner with from Day 1 — and more suggestions than we could hope to follow of things to do and see."

"One of the greatest things for me about living here is the balance that exists between the privacy I can feel at times and the intimacy and sharing I can feel at others. Participating in our committees — hubs and task circles, as we call them — puts me in position to be involved in decision-making and to investigate and express my feelings as I attempt to influence my life and living environment."

"As a painter, it has been a great joy to live among other artists and folks who appreciate art at our Coho.  We have three groups in our community that make art an important practice. And, art here at Coho is in good company — the downtown Durham Arts Council, Durham Art Guild and loads of local art studios add to the vibrancy of life here."

"Durham Coho offers a richness in our daily interactions because we know each other. I might encounter a neighbor in the laundry room and ask about her kid's home-buying efforts or greet a neighbor while they're landscaping the grounds and hear a marvelous story about one of their grandchildren. As a self-managed community, we work together, too. I enjoy the collaboration of meetings just as much as I enjoy mopping behind my vacuuming buddy. I am grateful every day for my Coho family — for the caring spirit that comes with living together."

"Our common spaces have been the setting for so much. The Dining room has heard many house concerts where we were standing room only after 80 chairs. We use it for plenary meetings, exercise groups, and for watching elections. The writers and artists gather to share work there. Saturday movie nights bring about a dozen people together in the Media room. In the Project room, people have made political protest signs on the table. More recently, visiting grandchildren have established a beachhead there of a play kitchen, trucks, books and art supplies. These spaces have hosted many more activities than we imagined years ago."

"The most enjoyable part of living in this community is the ease of social interactions whether planned or spontaneous. I also appreciate the collaborative sharing of our knowledge and experience to create such a vital community. It’s clear that the common use spaces have been well thought out to serve residents and visitors in the best possible way. Our convenient location makes it an easy walk to many of the things that we like doing on a weekly basis."