When Is the Right Time to Join a Newly Developing Community Like Gratitude Village?

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a close-knit neighborhood where people know your name, share meals and look out for one another, you’ve likely wondered: When is the right time to get involved in a community like this? It’s a question we hear often in these early days of Gratitude Village—and it’s an important one. Joining a newly developing cohousing community can feel like a big leap. But the truth is, the best time to join isn’t once the homes are built—it’s right now, while the vision is still taking shape and your voice can truly make a difference.

Be Part of the Story as It’s Being Written

Gratitude Village is at a thrilling stage of its journey. After months of outreach, site visits and feasibility studies, we’re closing in on securing land in western Adams County. This milestone brings us one step closer to transforming a property into a beautiful, thriving, multigenerational, mixed-income, Net Zero, Colorado cohousing community. We can almost see the walking paths, the solar panels glinting in the sun and neighbors sharing laughter over a community meal.

But before those moments can happen, there’s an exciting chapter unfolding—and you’re invited to be part of it. Joining now means you’ll help shape the foundation of what Gratitude Village will become. You’ll have the rare opportunity to influence how our common house functions, what shared spaces matter most, and how the design of our homes reflects our shared values of connection, sustainability, accessibility and affordability.

Why This Is the Ideal Moment

This winter marks a critical turning point for Gratitude Village. In January 2026, we’re hosting our Get It Built Workshop—the last in-depth planning workshop that will be open to both Explorer Members and non-Founding participants. Led by cohousing pioneer Charles Durrett, this hands-on event will bring together our core community members to lay the groundwork for moving from vision to construction.

If you’ve been curious, attending this workshop offers the best window into what cohousing really looks and feels like from the inside. You’ll learn how cohousing communities across the country have successfully moved from concept to reality—and you’ll leave inspired, informed and ready to take the next step in building something extraordinary here in Colorado.

After this milestone workshop, participation in future design and planning events will be limited to Founding Members, who will begin the detailed design process—refining everything from the layout of our homes and gardens to the functionality of the common spaces that make cohousing so unique. So, if you’ve been watching and waiting, now is the time to move from observer to co-creator.

Designing a Place That Reflects You

Next spring, we’ll begin a series of design-specific workshops—focusing on the community layout, common house, and private home design. These sessions are where ideas turn into blueprints. Only our Founding Members will collaborate with our architects in these workshops to imagine the heart of Gratitude Village—deciding what spaces foster joy, connection and ease in daily life.

Maybe you envision a children’s playroom adjacent to the common dining hall so parents can linger a little longer over coffee and dessert. Or perhaps you dream of a cozy hearth room lined with books where you can cuddle up on a cloud winter day or a garden path that winds past a greenhouse and bee hives. Perhaps you are longing for a quiet, sacred space where yoga and meditation are the tools helping us form bonds across the silence. This is your chance to help decide what “home” looks like for you and your future neighbors.

When you join now, your perspective—your family’s needs, your dreams for sustainable living, your sense of community—becomes part of the DNA of Gratitude Village. It’s your opportunity to put your stamp on something enduring and meaningful.

More Than a Home—A Legacy of Connection

The beauty of joining a cohousing community early is that it’s about more than housing; it’s about building a village—a network of people committed to living with purpose, with people and with the planet in mind. Each new member adds richness, diversity and depth to our collective story. The sooner you join, the more relationships you’ll form, the more insight you’ll gain into how community decisions are made and the greater your sense of ownership and belonging will be when you finally move in.

Being part of a forming community also means you experience the magic of watching it come alive—together. You’ll celebrate every milestone: the land agreement, the design unveilings, the first shovel breaking ground. It’s a journey filled with collaboration, creativity and shared vision.

Take the Next Step: Become a Founding Member Today

At Gratitude Village, our Founding Membership is designed precisely for this stage—when curiosity turns into action. A deposit of $5,000, gives you access to community meetings, design workshops, and planning discussions. Plus, you'll be among the first to select your future home (based on when you make your deposit). You’ll not only get an authentic feel for how decisions are made—you will actually be making those decisions! You'll meet future neighbors who share some of your core values and see firsthand that cohousing is a smart choice for your future.

Or, you can join now as an Explorer for as little as $150. Joining as an Explorer before the Get It Built Workshop ensures you’re part of the conversation when it matters most—and it opens the door to becoming a Founding Member if you’re ready to help bring this dream to life.

Your Future Starts Here

There will never be another moment quite like this one. The window is open—the land is within reach, the workshop is on the horizon and the design phase is about to begin. By joining now, you’re not just finding a home—you’re helping build one. You’re shaping the future of a community that values connection over isolation, sustainability over consumption, and belonging over busyness.

If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could find a place where neighbors feel like how family should feel,” this is that place—and this is your moment.

👉 Ready to get involved?
Become a Founding Member or an Explorer Member today!