Co-living/Co-housing in Montana: Dorms for Adults or Wave of the Future?
Is the co-living and co-housing trend making its way to Montana? Is it more than just a trend?
For most people, the dorms were the last time they experienced the highs (and lows) of communal living. But in some metropolitan areas, shared spaces and communal amenities are making a resurgence for people far from the college experience.
First, we need to define some terms that are often confused:
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Co-living: Likely closest to a classic dorm room, a co-living space might have an ensuite bathroom – or it might have a shared kitchen and bathroom. Your bedroom is private, but all other living spaces might not be. Some of these units come furnished, while others are a blank canvas. Vox called co-living “having roommates – with an app.”
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Co-housing: Housing is the keyword here. These are traditional private housing units that exist around a communal space. That space might include a park, a common house, storage sheds, or garden. Usually, though the houses are private, the shared spaces feature cooperative child care, meals, and fellowship with neighbors in the co-housing space.
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Commune: We’re not going here today, simply because a commune falls outside the commercial real estate realm. A commune might be one house or ten, a single shared farm or a larger cooperative sense among neighbors. Co-living and co-housing, on the other hand, have clear(ish) CRE definitions.
Montana Co-Living and Co-Housing Projects
In Missoula, the co-living trend made waves when In2itive Architecture proposed the Ponderosa Village in late 2020. Notably, project managers referred to the style as “co-housing” and “pod-style living.”
With 46 units, Ponderosa Village is centered around a shared kitchen and living space, said planners. Private bedroom spaces are 250-square feet.
Bozeman forged ahead on co-housing, with www.BozemanCohousing.com promoting “an authentic neighborhood for a sustainable future.” The website lists a 2022 move-in date. It’s an intentional neighborhood, with an eye toward maximizing a sense of community and shared spaces.
BozemanCohousing also has goats on the website, so we assume there will be shared chores. And at that, we’re out on this particular development.
Upshot
Will co-living and co-housing make a dent in Montana’s strong sense of independence and love of space? With population outpacing housing inventory, it might have to be.
Stay tuned for more on co-living, co-housing, and other housing solutions making headway in Montana. Contact Matt Mellott for more info.
