East Lake Commons is a cohousing community located five miles (eight minutes) from downtown Atlanta, and several miles southeast of the Little Five Points neighborhood. Completed in 2001, it includes 67 townhomes with 12 rental apartments attached, a 4500-sq-ft common house with a classroom, office, playroom, media room, woodworking room, workout room, and guest rooms. A playing field and children’s playground surround the common house. About half of the 20-acre site is dedicated to housing and parking on the perimeter; the remainder includes natural woodlands, wildlife corridor, and an organic garden with beehives, blueberry groves, and a spring-fed pond. Homes are clustered around pedestrian courtyards and walkways.
Children can run and play with their friends in a safe and nurturing environment; teenagers have supportive role models; and seniors are actively integrated into the community. We are an intergenerational community with diverse religious, ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds, and differently-abled. What binds us together is knowing and caring about our neighbors.
We manage the community ourselves using a consensus-like decision-making process. A backup voting procedure is also in place. Core community values include sustainability, visitability, diversity, affordability, and community. (“Visitability” means each townhome has a zero-step entrance and includes a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor to accommodate those with mobility challenges.)
Organic Garden of just under 5 acres with 1.3 acres of crop space. The farm includes tractor, 2 walk-in coolers, irrigation, implements, 2-wheel walk-behind BCS, greenhouse, 2 high tunnels, wash station and tractor barn. All is leased to a farmer for $1 per year in order to provide a new farmer with experience without the huge capital investment it typically takes to get into farming.
For purchase or rental opportunities see http://www.eastlakecommons.org then click the Sales/Rentals tab. We highly encourage people who are interested in living here to get to know us in advance as every co-ho community is different. Please tour, attend a business meeting and a committee meeting, attend a common meal, and read our Book of Commons. You are invited to spend time here wandering and introducing yourself to whoever walks by.
We love visitors. Please contact us at https://www.eastlakecommons.org/contact-us and explain your interest and when you would like to visit. Volunteers are often available to answer questions, assist with tours, and to make contacts as needed. Advance notice is appreciated, especially if guest rooms are needed as rooms are reserved on a first come, first served basis. Tours are typically offered the first Saturday of each month; make a reservation through Co*******@*************ns.org. We’d love to show you what we’ve developed over the past several decades and share our experiences with co-housing.
The whole membership decides collectively.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
Our structure is committee-driven with Board approvals. We use a modified consensus process that includes a back-up vote if consensus cannot be reached after two meetings. We expect all adults to contribute 4 hours of work every month as we are a self-run community.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Regular fees: $300.00
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (1 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
We share some common space, occasional meals, some tools, etc.
Each adult is asked to contribute 4 hours per month to community work.
Owners pay monthly HOA dues (currently ranging from $270 to $320/month, depending on unit size) for maintaining common areas, etc.
Common House, Garden(s), Greenhouse(s), Workshop, Outbuilding(s), Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area, Internet
Residential areas outside city centers but within metropolitan regions.
Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
interaction while maintaining independence.
Integrated communities designed around ecological principles with sustainable living practices.
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
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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