Your Questions Answered: What It Really Takes to Build a Village

Building a cohousing community is exciting, but let’s be honest—it also raises a lot of questions. People want to know if it’s realistic, how it works, and what they’ll need to commit if they join. At Gratitude Village, we believe in radical transparency. We want future neighbors and supporters to understand not just the dream, but also the practical steps required to bring it to life.

So today, we’re answering some of the most common questions we hear about what it really takes to build a village.

How Do You Start?

Every cohousing community begins with a group of people who share a vision. For Gratitude Village, it started with a desire to create a place where affordability, sustainability, and belonging come together. From there, we gathered an initial group of Explorers and Founders, built a board of directors and began working with a team of specialists including architects, engineers, contractors and consultants who specialize in cohousing, sustainable building practices and development.

The early stages aren’t about construction yet—they’re about building the community’s foundation of people, values, and plans. We host info sessions, community events, and workshops to attract those who resonate with our values and our mission. That's what is set in stone in the beginning and what serves as our northstar. Once a committed group is in place, we can move forward into design and land acquisition with confidence.

How Is It Funded?

One of the biggest questions we hear is: Where does the money come from? The answer is: many places. Founding Members contribute deposits that fund design, permits, and legal costs. Donations, grants and philanthropic support help cover pre-development expenses and affordability initiatives. Partnerships with organizations such as Community Land Trusts and local housing authorities ensure a portion of our homes remain permanently affordable. And investors who believe in what we are creating even though they don't plan to live in the community, with both time and money.

By combining member contributions, donations, grants, partnerships and some market-rate home sales, we create a balanced financial model. This diversity of funding sources is what makes Gratitude Village possible—it spreads out risk, ensures stability, and keeps the project moving forward.

Who Decides What Gets Built?

This is one of the most exciting parts of cohousing: the people who will live here have a say in how it’s designed. Our first 20+ Founding Members will meet with architect Charles Durrett and his local counterpart this fall to refine the layout, common spaces, and features of Gratitude Village.

Instead of moving into a neighborhood that someone else designed, our members get to co-create their future homes. This means deciding how many townhomes versus single-family houses versus condos are built and if they have 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms, what kind of shared amenities make sense for the lifestyle of the future residents, and how to prioritize green design. The decisions we make together now will shape our community for generations to come.

How Long Does It Take?

Cohousing is not a “move-in next month” kind of project. From vision to move-in, it often takes 3–5 years to complete although some projects have taken much longer for various reasons. For Gratitude Village, we’re currently in the pre-development phase: gathering members, finalizing design concepts, and securing land with a goal of moving in before year's end in 2028.

Once land is purchased, the process moves into final design, permitting, and construction. During that time, members continue to meet, make decisions, and build community. The wait can feel long, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of the journey—because by the time the homes are ready, neighbors already know and trust each other.

What Does It Cost to Join?

We’ve created multiple pathways for involvement depending on where someone is in their journey. Inquirers can attend info sessions and stay in the loop for free. Explorers contribute a small fee to access documents, attend meetings and get to know the community more deeply. Founders make staged deposits that go directly toward their future home and gain priority in home selection.

We’re also actively exploring long-term rental options for those who want to live in cohousing but aren’t looking to buy. While details are still being developed, we anticipate a limited mix of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), smaller condos, and long-term rental homes.

Is It Worth the Effort?

Yes—and not just because of the end result. Cohousing isn’t just about moving into a nice, green neighborhood. It’s about the process of building it together. Founders and Explorers often say the friendships, skills, and confidence they gain along the way are just as meaningful as the homes themselves.

Yes, it takes time. Yes, it requires financial investment. But the reward is priceless: a community designed by and for the people who live there. Gratitude Village isn’t just real estate—it’s a new way of living that puts connection and purpose at the center of daily life.

Why Now?

We live in a time of overlapping crises: housing affordability, social isolation, and climate change. Gratitude Village is our response to all three. By working together, we can create something that none of us could build alone. And the best part? We don’t have to wait for someone else to fix these problems. As neighbors, we can take action right now. Every member who joins us, every supporter who contributes, every volunteer who shares their skills—each one helps lay another brick in the foundation of this village.

Be Part of the Answer

The questions we get about cohousing are good ones—and we’ll keep answering them with honesty, transparency, and excitement. Because this isn’t just about building homes; it’s about building a way of life where people belong and thrive.

🌱 Be part of the story from the very beginning. Join us, and let’s build a village together.

👉 Take the first step: Join an info session this month