Cozy pocket neighborhoods have sprawl on the move

[phantom power]

Based in Langley, Wash., Chapin has developed 40 pocket neighborhoods across the country — many in partnership with Seattle developer Jim Soules of The Cottage Co. He is currently working on projects in Indiana, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Cities in the Puget Sound area have adopted cottage housing ordinances that often allow twice the number of homes on a lot as long as they're small, limited in height and face a common area.

"Jurisdictions around the country are looking at these and adopting them," Chapin says. "The idea of a pocket neighborhood is that you have nearby neighbors coming together around a shared space. ... This really harkens back to the fact that we, as humans, are social. We want to be together."

Together but private. And that's what pocket neighborhoods may bring to a society that is increasingly aware of the need to save natural resources — no sprawl and less reliance on cars — yet still cherishes personal space.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-30-pocket30_ST_N.htm

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The antithesis of megamansions.

[pnwmom]

8. Except that the prices, for what you get, are still mega.

Unless 600-700K sounds mini to you.

A few years ago, before the real estate downturn, they were even more expensive.

Here's what's available near me now in one of those Chapin developments.

1500 square feet for $600,000.

http://www.cottageCompany.com/Communities/Danielson-Grove/for-sale/listing-detail.aspx?lid=24

[xchrom]

interesting. nt

[Cleita]

2. Better than apartment buildings IMHO. n/t

[LeftinOH]

3. It's a great idea, but it doesn't guarantee that the people who live in them will be "good"

neighbors. Meaning: There are some people who are oblivious or unconcerned (or both) about how much noise they make -audio systems, parties, etc.; there are others who let their animals run amok; some have limited understanding of the term 'private property'.

Maybe these problems do not extend to new property developments.

[pscot]

4. Sounds dangerously European

As it happens, there is a battle royal going on in little olde Langley-by-the-Sea concerning a proposed development somewhat along these lines. People have chosen up sides and are no longer on speaking terms over it.

[DCKit]

5. Sweet, but it's cheaper to start your own than to buy into one of them.

I've checked.

[zipplewrath]

6. Better have good HMA's

I live in a small house (1500 sqft) with a small "garden" yard. So do many of my neighbors. You "live" in your neighbors "yard". It doesn't take much noise to "spill over" into your yard/garden/porch.... Major construction spills over, as do kids games, creeping vines, and all manner of otherwise normal activity. You become acutely aware of when your neighbor tends to mow his lawn, or water his garden. Heck, during certain months, you'll know what they are having for dinner. A neighbor comments that they can sit in their back yard and watch 3 different wide screen TV's through large picture windows in their neighbors houses.

It's all great when you all "get along". But when a house goes rental, to the local college kids, or when the new neighbors move in that move their lawn at 6:30 am, or have "after work" parties until 10pm, or the one family has the teenager with 5 "good friends" that are constantly parked in the (small) street, one can begin to notice the "smallness" of ones house and neighborhood.

[drmeow]

9. I agree with you

although I don't know what an HMA is (same as HOA?).

I live in a large house with a large yard and there still are neighbors I wish I was further from (from a green standpoint - I do have solar panels on my roof, I walk to and from work, and am in the process of converting my yard to xeriscape so the footprint of my large suburban home is not the same as others might be). I have one neighbor who allowed hers and another neighbor's kids to toilet paper their own house because how else were the kids "going to practice" (they also have a rusty old car parked on the street in front of their house and generally are not good neighbors). Another neighbor had a feral cat colony living in her garage. One couple who are actually very good neighbors (and are looking to move :() breed and show 85 lb dogs and have 3 adults (and currently about 7 puppies). Granted, the neighbors I have are not the type who would buy in a place like that (any more than I would). I don't mind the small house/small yard thing but I would only do it as a row house type situation, preferably with an alley between the back yards (my brother had a house like that in Baltimore).

[RKP5637]

10. All excellent points. I have some neighbors I wouldn't want in my front yard or backyard on

top of me.

[pnwmom]

7. Alas, these pocket neighborhoods are cute but hugely expensive.

The one nearest me had homes in the $700 K range a few years ago (probably lower now, but still.)

[bhikkhu]

11. First impression - it looks like a nice trailer park

My grandmother and grandfather, her sister, and four of my aunts live in one nice trailer park for awhile years ago, when they were all retired. I still have some family living there and they find it very nice - everybody knew everybody, walks in the evening, always someone dropping by for a social call, regular things going on at the clubhouse, generally just a good close neighborhood feel...and for much less than 600k!