Welcome to Fireside Manor, a community house in West Philly. The house consists of Klaudia, her partner Matt, 3 community members, our (barky) little terrier mix Duncan, and cat Meera. We’re looking for 1-2 additional housemates/community members with whom we can build a genuine connection over the long term.
We look for those who are:
Open-minded, creative, and OK with unconventionality
Value communication, emotional intelligence, boundaries, and have a desire to connect on a deeper level and share space/time/themselves with us, and vice versa
Clean, responsible, dependable, able & willing to help out with house cleaning regularly
Good with animals
Looking to be present & engaged in the house community (interested in hanging out + maintaining connection regularly, present to house events/meetings, etc.)
Social, as we have one Airbnb suite we rent out to visiting students coming for 1-3 months
Interested in cooking together, spending time together, sharing grocery items, and potentially doing house projects/seasonal house work together (there is a wood shop in the basement, a garden that needs tending to, etc.)
OK with both quiet/chill nights as well as an occasional party (think Burning Man style)
Want to live with us long-term (1 year and ideally longer), potentially through life transitions like having kids
The house is entirely furnished, including the bedrooms. If you have your own furniture, we can remove our furniture for you. Matt & Klaudia have the entire second floor as personal space; the first floor is all shared spaces: kitchen, plant room, dining room, living room, half bath. The house has a large covered front porch with chairs and a swing. We also have a nice backyard with a back deck, fire-pit, garden and a communal compost collection spot. Utilities are included in rent; water, gas, electric, internet. A wireless FIOSmesh network is available throughout the house. There is a washer and dryer on the 3rd floor.
PETS:
Must love dogs! We have a cat and a barky dog, Duncan, a 17 lb terrier mix who’s half guard dog, half cuddler. The cat, Meera, is a very friendly indoor/outdoor cat. We’re sure you’ll love them and they will love you as you get to know each other :) At this time we cannot acmmodate other pets.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Enjoy all the benefits of living on the best block in West Philly– we are situated 2 blocks away from Clark Park, close to many coffee shops, grocery stores, and restaurants. Our block is a happy blend of families and renters, so it stays pretty quiet except when we are throwing a block party, Porchfest or the like. There is a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays at the park and many events around the neighborhood. We are a block away from the 42 bus route, and 2 blocks from the 34 & 13 trolleys with transfer to the MFL line.
House Values:
Communication & Relational Intelligence: We strive for open, honest communication. We make an effort to be respectful and considerate of others, and, when conflict arises, we do repair work with those involved. We openly and directly discuss boundaries, desires, and needs.
Authenticity & Individuality: We want everyone we live with to be themselves and show up to our community as fully as they feel comfortable. We do not discriminate against any gender, sex, ethnicity, nationality, relationship style, religion, or social group. We encourage and help each other live in an environment that supports our individual growth.
Community & Connection: We share our lives with each other and make an effort to build community with those we live with. We respect each other. We schedule intentional time together and regularly check in with each other to make sure we are meeting basic needs and desires of our community. We encourage and help each other live in an environment that supports our collective growth.
Fun: We like to have fun! We make sure that we do this in a way that is safe and respectful of our community.
Safety & Responsibility: We are adults. We honor ourselves and take responsibility for our actions and the impact we may have on our community. We are proactive when it comes to addressing conflicts. We take care of the house. We take care of each other. We strive to create a safe environment for everyone.
Those who are interested should send us an email with your name, a description of who you are (what you like to do in life, what you do for work, what are you looking for in a house, any prior experience with community living) and what your short + long term plans are. We will respond to all emails to either schedule calls or visits and go from there.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
House meetings happen 1x/month and are scheduled during the evening. We generally cook dinner together & discuss anything important decisions for the house.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Labor: Yes (1 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Common House, Garden(s), Library, Workshop, Fire pit, Internet
Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Cooperative housing primarily for students, often with shared chores,
meals, and democratic decision-making.
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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