This building is the first affordable rental building in Sebastopol in ten years and one of the first affordable rental cohousing communities in the nation. It contains 45 apartments and town homes serving low income families and seniors. Petaluma Avenue Homes was developed using the concept of cohousing, which originated in Denmark in the 1960’s. Cohousing is an innovative approach to housing where private homes are clustered around extensive common facilities in a walkable environment.

At Petaluma Avenue Homes, cohousing principles are applied in the community garden, common house, and abundant open space, encouraging all residents to come together to build their community. Green design is also featured prominently. Solar panels reduce external energy use, bioswales collect and filter runoff water to remove pollutants, and recycled materials are used in construction to reduce resource use.

Photos by McCamant & Durrett Architects.