Aerial view of Emerson Commons cohousing with houses, green spaces, and parking.

Emerson Commons Cohousing

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Home-sharing
  • Town/Small City

Founding year

  • 2014

What we do

At Emerson Commons near Charlottesville Virginia, we have designed a pedestrian-oriented multi-generational neighborhood where we cross paths with each other often. We can easily take the time to stop and chat. A beautiful club house allows us to have potlucks and neighborhood events togeth¬er. Neighbors co-manage the community and meet each other that way. A beautiful pool, walking trails by a creek, and multiple playgrounds give us further excuses to connect with our neighbors.
Emerson Commons is the first cohousing community in Central Virginia and is the first all-solar community in Virginia. All homes feature solar panels and each have a private backyard facing a forest. Rooftop terraces and decks provide views of the creek below for some homes and mountain views for others.
An 1890s farm house with an attached 1840s cabin has been renovated as the community club house. This extra space includes guest rooms that residents may reserve for out-of-town guests. Shared features such as shared lawnmowers, shared tools and space for storing bicycles and canoes will free up space in private homes and promotes a more sustainable lifestyle. Read more at the EmersonCommons.org web site.
Community Features: – 26 private homes surrounding a central green – community playground and car-free central area where kids can run free. Creeks on property. – large swimming pool with stone terrace – orchard, shared organic gardens and edible landscaping – 1890 farmhouse renovated as a club house – historic 1840s log cabin with fireplace – in charming town of Crozet – walkable to stores and restaurants – 19 minute commute to Charlottesville – 15 min to Shenandoah National Park and Appalachian trail.
Emerson Commons is well balanced intergenerationally. There are many families with children as well as folks who are retired or retiring and in between.

Our Mission

Emerson Commons cohousing has created a diverse, welcoming community that lives in harmony with one another and with the earth.

  • Purpose
  • Home-sharing
  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Sustainability practices
  • Renewable energy systems

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 2014
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 2018
  • Started living together
  • 30 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
54

How to join

Contact us before visiting. Come visit us for a tour, attend a meeting, and consider if you’re ready to buy a house in our community.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Please contact us at in**@************ns.org

Primary decision-making authority

  • All Community Members Together

The whole membership decides collectively.

Decision-making process

  • Modified Consensus

Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes (2 hrs/week)
Membership is for condo owners. There will be a condo fee for upkeep of the property and community amenities.

Vehicle accessibility

  • It would be difficult / impossible to live in this community without a car

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Library, Outbuilding(s), Swimming pond or pool, Swingsets & play areas, Waterfront access, Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Dietary restriction

  • People can cook and eat what they want in their own residence

Gender composition

  • Roughly balanced (no group over 60%)

Age demographics

  • Family-focused (many children and parents)

Property status

  • Privately owned

Property owner

  • By a Land Trust, Home Owners Association, or corporation

Setting

  • Town/Small City

Smaller municipalities with local services but rural character.

Community type

  • Cohousing

    Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
    interaction while maintaining independence.

Sustainability approach

  • Renewable energy systems

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%

Local, organic, or fair trade food

  • Up to 33%

Food systems

  • Community garden
  • Land area size
    6.3 acres

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Virginia, United States

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
1 month ago

3000sf House+Apartment, Rosewind Cohousing, Port Townsend WA

We are a retired couple who are downsizing, still living within the community. We are selling our large, flexible, comfortably rustic house, perfect for a multigenerational household, a family with kids or for 2 separate households. It’s 3000 square feet on 3 levels. The house is on a slope, with 2 main entrances. At one time it housed a large blended family. The current setup is a 2250 square foot, 2 bath main house with a 700 square foot rental apartment, also called an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU). There is a staircase between the main and lower floor, with a lockable door. If desired, the ADU kitchen can be removed. The main floor has a very large kitchen/dining area, large living room, two small bedrooms, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a shower, a laundry room and a large mudroom. The non-bearing wall between the 2 bedrooms can be removed to turn it back to a single primary bedroom. The top floor has two bedrooms, one of which is primary with a large bright sitting area, and a large open middle area between them (game room, TV room, kids sleeping area, etc.). There is a bathroom with a claw-foot tub, no shower. The lower floor is the ADU, a finished storage area and a stand-up “crawl space“ which is used as a second pantry and storage.Attached to the house there is also a 150 sq ft wood paneled office/hobby space with its own electric and propane lines. Features: – straw bale construction, which is energy-efficient, great sound insulation, and provides a warm, soft, feeling. -very large functional kitchen with a long granite countertop. The dining area fits 10 people. -natural construction, with solid maple floors in the middle and upper level, marmoleum floor in kitchen and oak floor in the lower level. The two small bedrooms have painted wood floors. The doors are all solid wood. -large, functional, low maintenance patio area. Room for a table for eight and an additional sitting area. Propane hook ups for grills and smokers.
  • Promoted
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Promoted
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
7 months ago

Worktrade Opportunities on Big Island Hawaii

We are continuing our work-trade program at Bridge Hawaii for the right people on this beautiful 86-acre land located along the Hāmākua Coast. Ideally, we want to host those individuals who can help with the garden and who can support with build projects for up to a 3 month stay. This work-trade would include lodging, food staples, community kitchen, running hot water showers, off-grid electricity, and laundry. There is access to high speed wi-fi. We often have a car that can be reserved. We also have full bar signal strength with Verizon cellphone service. We have about 2 acres of permaculture garden that needs to be cared for including; weeding, planting, picking up mulch, some tree trimming, ect. We are currently in a building stage on the land. We have a few current grant projects we are working on and some build projects that are underway. We are an intentional community with about 8 permanent residents. There are rescue dairy cows, mini cows, mini donkeys, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs, and active bee hives. We are a drug and alcohol “free” space. A glass of wine or beer with dinner is fine, but absolutely no day drinking or parties. We have a meditation temple and many waterfall pools that are wonderful for swimming. Close to some of the nicest beaches on island. We have snorkeling gear and a kayak. Since this is an animal sanctuary, we limit the consumption of meat on the land. Fish, eggs, honey, and dairy are fine. Let me know if you’re interested by sending an email or text for our application. Maomi (801) 623-0738 ma***@*****************ii.com

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