BLOG | Living outside the box: inside Vancouver's first cohousing complex

By Now or Never host Trevor Dineen

Would you pay $600,000 for a 750 square foot place to live?

If you said yes, it means you either make way more money than me — or you live in Vancouver.

But what if I told you that with that 750 square foot place you also get to share a massive 6,000 square foot house with a community of people? One that has everything from a massive kitchen, a yoga studio, and a giant play area for your kids?

How about if three times a week you could have a meal cooked for you ... and you always have child care at your finger tips? 

What if I told you there was a communal keg of beer? Now you're listening. 

You see, all of the above are just a few things the Vancouver Cohousing development offers. And if you're paying enough to finance a small independent film, you'd better be getting some perks.

The development has 31 townhouse-style units built around a shared courtyard. Its purpose? To create a small village where kids can play freely and you can take the time to get to know your neighbours really well — all 100 of them.

When I visited, I was struck by just how nice this place is. I'm talking magazine-quality nice. White walls, wood accents, garden boxes growing fresh vegetables ... I'm fairly certain I saw a child petting a unicorn.

But is cooperative housing for everyone? No. Nothing ever is. You need to be a person who wants to have small talk with people all the time. You have to become very good at settling conflicts and disagreements. And you need to be open to the idea that in a community, everyone has to pull their own weight.

If that isn't for you, that's just fine. 

But if it is, it sure means you'll get a lot more bang for your $600,000 buck. And, you know, a beer.