*As of May, ’26, we have 2 units available for sale. Specifics are on our web site, www.woodardlanecoho.org and facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/share/192YrgpwwX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Our loving and vibrant community has been living together since 2010. We share meals, conversations, helping hands, babysitting, song circles and the joy of connection. We are tucked into the edge of a ravine, within walking distance of downtown Olympia, but in a lovely older neighborhood.
In 2016, we completed the 2nd and final phase of our construction project, which expanded us from 11 to 18 units. The approximately 50 members currently range in age from 5 to 83.
Our site is on Olympia’s West Side, just 1.6 miles from downtown, and 6 blocks from the beloved Westside Olympia food coop. Part of our land is a green belt provided by a deep ravine sculpted by a year-round stream that enters Puget Sound several blocks away. We currently have a large vegetable garden and play areas for the kids. All of our homes surround a Center Green where we gather to talk, walk our dogs, ride bikes and scooters, and enjoy the sunshine.
Our legal structure is a condominium with a Steering Board made up of two members from each of the working committees – Building Maintenance, Grounds, Administration, and Community Life.
Living Our Values in Community
When we have openings, It’s best to start the process by coming to a community meal to get a sense of our community and we can get to know you. From there, we ask prospective members to fill out a membership application and come to at least one community meeting as well as more social gatherings to get to know us.
Call Liv at (360) 357-4503, email David at dl**@****ud.com, or fill out the Contact Us form on our web page. Interested folks can join us at a community meal.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Decisions proceed unless someone has a reasoned objection.
Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.
We value effective and inclusive decision making. Although traditionally we have governed using Consensus, we are moving towards Sociocracy, also known as Dynamic Governance. We use the tools of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and are blessed with having many skilled mediators in our community.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested (3 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
All members must be able to afford to buy or rent, although we often use creative financing and rental options.
All members are expected to share in the work of the community, including Community meals, meetings, work parties and other communities chores and commitees.
Each unit pays a monthly condo fee, based on square footage and the number of adults in the household. The Community pays all utilities, reserves, insurance and maintenance, plus a portion of community activities such are garden supplies and Common House furnishings.
The new buildings each host a solar power arrays. Currently, the income generated by selling the power to the public utility repays the loan for installing the arrays, but evetually there will be small income for our community. We are proud of our small but signifigant commitment to lower our carbon usage.
Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas
Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.
Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
interaction while maintaining independence.
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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