Welcome!

“Traditional forms of housing no longer address the needs of many people. Things that people once took for granted — family, community, a sense of belonging — must now be actively sought out. Cohousing re-establishes many of the advantages of traditional villages within the context of modern life.” —McCamant & Durrett

What makes Delaware Street Commons a cohousing community?

photo from design workshop

We are a self-organized community. We are a group of households who have come together around the idea of intentional community. We planned our neighborhood using consensus decision-making, a model that carries through to community self-management.

We are inter-generational. Like most cohousing communities, we are a mix of singles, couples, families with children, and elders.

Our neighborhood is designed for interacting. Our homes are clustered, linked by pedestrian walkways that connect with the common house. We share several evening meals a week in this building. Parking is located on the periphery. Our homes are individually owned by a condominium arrangement.

What do we like about living in cohousing?

Residents at DSC benefit from cohousing in many ways, including:

photo of J and Linda
Example caption.

Raising children. Cohousing provides a great environment to raise children with support from others. Children have safe and appropriate play facilities and playmates within the community.

Opportunities for social interaction. Cohousing offers greater opportunities for socialization without sacrificing privacy.

Safety. In a neighborhood where everyone knows you, safety and security are greatly enhanced.

Saving money and time. Residents have the option of sharing resources and chores, optional resident-cooked meals, bulk buying, carpooling, shared childcare, trading goods and services, and less travel because of on-site activities.

Intergenerational diversity. Living in a community in which a range of age groups are represented provides rich experiences for young and old alike.

Share facilities and resources. Cohousing communities provide access to more facilities than residents could have on their own. Gardens, play areas, workshops, darkrooms, craft rooms, lounges, and kitchen and dining facilities are often part of cohousing common facilities.

Resident participation. Consensus decision-making empowers all residents. Everyone’s point of view must be heard and considered in planning and managing the community.

Contribution. Cohousing communities provide the opportunity for all to share skills and talents such as music, fixing bikes, cooking, and gardening with other members of the community.

Photo Gallery

Visit the Commons

Our primary address is 1222 Delaware St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

The Common House is the single-story red building located on the North end of our parking lot. It has a small playground in front of it. If you’re coming from Delaware St., follow the stone path between # and #.

Our parking lot entrance is located off 13th St., just West of Oregon St. Look for the white DSC sign and community garden to the West of the driveway.

Contact Us

Please get in touch with us if you have specific questions or just want to tell us about yourself and what you are looking for in a community.

We welcome your questions, comments, and requests for information.

We will be happy to arrange a tour of our neighborhood, but please respect the privacy of our home; we cannot accommodate drop in visitors. Thanks for understanding.