Telling people about YoCo
Jane Hustwit spent an evening with Friends of the Earth, and here’s the story she told them…
Last month I introduced YoCo to a local group here in York. I told the story from 2018 to where we are now, explaining who we are and the concept, the challenges, our pioneering hopes and dreams – doings things “with York” and not “for”. But first I told them about Auntie Jessie…
My friend has an aunty called Jessie. Jessie left the UK and went to live in Sweden with her new husband in her 40s. They settled in an intergenerational, co- owned housing development. She is now 90 years old, not only surviving but thriving. Still pottering in the garden and riding her bicycle occasionally. Her neighours keep an eye out for her but don’t look after her. She delights in the children and grandchildren that she knew and baby sat for many years ago. And she values the reassurance of having one or two people on site from a nursing background, as well as the other glimpses of the outside world that such a community provides.
And to remind you of YoCo’s story so far:
Following much public consultation, YoCo was set up to bring together people determined to see the vision that had been created turned into action, on York Central, the enormous site on railway land in the centre of the city. Today YoCo is developing a pilot mixed use neighbourhood. Rooted in co-ownership and shaped by years of research and conversation, it proposes around 40 homes for an intergenerational community with shared facilities for use by residents and the wider public.
On reflection and provoked by Rowan Moore writing about housing with heart, I realised that I hadn’t commented on the future, and certainly not on how it could be an improvement on what we have now – what an error! Fortunately members of YoCo’s cohousing circle are focused on precisely that, being individuals who are committed, to a greater or lesser extent, to co-producing and then living in this intentional community.
Here are three gems from their current work that made me enthusiastically consider the potential of this ambition yet again:-
No.1:- A possible day in the life of a YoCo resident, living in our new city quarter, York Central…
7am – fruit from the shared garden for breakfast
7.30am – 5 min walk to station
5pm – back home and collect the electric cargo bike to cycle to supermarket, after texting Annie, a long term resident. Annie moved in when her husband died, and is now being “looked out for” by the grown up children she baby sat for many years ago.
7.30pm - the monthly community get together in the café space downstairs
9pm – back to your own home and close your front door
To reach this ideal, the cohousing group would have worked hard, together, matching practicalities and possibilities – it’s always messy, making a dream come true.
No.2 Tackling these questions for example:-
How much shared space should these homes have? And what for?
Should there be a guest room?
What makes a communal garden work?
How do you design for children and older residents? Never mind pets and bicycles
How much privacy is enough?
Should there be a shared workshop? And shared tools
What should happen on the ground floor?
How do you design for wildlife?
Phase 2 of the work on York Central offers a seriously unusual opportunity for local people and other pioneers – not just asked to admire a finished development but to shape and design it, both the buildings and the important spaces between them.
And to conclude, my favourite, No.3:-
“York but different” because
you don’t need a car.
your neighbours know your name.
your home was designed around low energy bills.
children have somewhere to play.
older and younger people live alongside each other.
your home is part of a community you help govern.