Four friends who have chosen to share their senior years together by cohousing are finally within sight of seeing their dream realized.
In the works for five years, the women — Dona Bowers, Kathy Crowe, Mary Alice Henry and Norah McMahon, who call themselves the Soul Sisters — are nearing completion on their unique home under construction in Vanier.
The Soul Sisters project is a large semi-detached home on a corner lot in Vanier with four private apartments and shared common space that’s about 1,245 square feet. In total, the building is 5,780 square feet. Construction is expected to finish in late fall.But the Golden Girls these women are not.
“Technically speaking, there are primary units and secondary units in each half and that’s how we pulled off a four-unit building — a four-unit apartment building is not permitted here,” says their architect, Rosaline J. Hill. “We had to go to some lengths to convince the building permit staff that this really wasn’t a four-unit apartment building, it was a semi.”Article content
“Ninety per cent of groups that start off wanting to cohouse don’t ever form,” says Linda Kruus, Ottawa Cohousing’s directing manager. “It’s such an enormous undertaking for people… Our intent for Ottawa Cohousing is to shorten the timeline for these groups and give them a shot at it by giving them the expertise and organizing them so that they proceed on their group work in a methodical manner and addressing all the things they need to address before it becomes critical.
Like the Soul Sisters, it took Terra Firma several years to establish, eventually buying two three-unit townhomes separated by an alleyway in Old Ottawa East. They would later add an infill home in that alleyway to create a seventh home and add common space for their community.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Style File: Four stylish sunglasses to heat up your summer styleFrom oversized designer frames to a cool, timeless cat\u002Deye shape, here are four fashionable sunglasses to try on for size.
Read more »
Gatineau Park's Champlain Lookout closing on weekdays for four weeksThe popular Champlain Lookout and a section of the Champlain Parkway in Gatineau Park will be off limits to vehicles and cyclists on weekdays for the next four weeks.
Read more »
Style File: Four stylish sunglasses to heat up your summer styleFrom oversized designer frames to a cool, timeless cat\u002Deye shape, here are four fashionable sunglasses to try on for size.
Read more »
SPOILING THE VIEW: Champlain Lookout closed weekdays for four weeks starting Aug. 15The National Capital Commission says the closures are needed to complete landscaping work at the Gatineau Park tourist attraction.
Read more »
Style File: Four stylish sunglasses to heat up your summer styleFrom oversized designer frames to a cool, timeless cat\u002Deye shape, here are four fashionable sunglasses to try on for size.
Read more »
Putin's war in Ukraine hurls Russia's economy back four years in one quarterThanks to Vladimir Putin\u0027s war, Russia is on track for one of the longest downturns on record. Find out more.
Read more »