About Altair
Our mission is to build attractive homes and common facilities designed on a model that is ecologically sound, emphasizing moderate consumption and resource sustainability, where the architectural design promotes a comfortable balance between community interaction and privacy.
Our Vision
We at Altair are forming a cohousing community
built around the following objectives:
- A diverse community providing the opportunity
for all generations, economic levels, and
religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds to
live together in supportive relationships - Where the architectural design promotes a
comfortable balance between community
interaction and privacy - Where attractive homes and common facilities
will be designed on a model that is ecologically
sound, emphasizing moderate consumption,
resource sustainability, and horticulture.
Planning for Altair Cohousing at Kimberton
Village is guided by the following values:
- We believe that trust and respect are fostered
in an active neighborhood environment - The village is solely governed by its residents in a non-hierarchical model.
- Rather than majority rule, decision-making is a group process in which all present must
consent before action is taken. - Because everyone carries a piece of the truth,
this method can help spread power throughout
the whole group.
CHRISTMAS PARTY QUIZ
ALTAIR COHOUSING
1) When was the first Altair meeting?
A: August, 1999
2) What was the name of the Cohousing group prior to Altair, when did they meet, and who were they?
A: Seniors for Talents and Resources (STAR – hence the name “Altair” is a star), 1998-9, the Reitnours, Celine Gedron, Mary Burkhardt, Helen Zipperlin, Lou Chapman, Norene Benton, Alexandra Bricklin, Eric Forsythe, among others. At least three of them became Altair members, and we are still in touch with all of them.
3) Over the course of the history of Altair, how many sites have we looked at seriously?
A: 12, ranging from rural to in-town, institutional to private
4) How many governmental groups have we introduced Cohousing and Altair to?
A: 6, mainly adjacent townships, but also Chester Co. as a whole
5) How many magazine or newspaper articles have we had about us?
A: 7 (but two sources have had more than one article)
6) How many Cohousing communities have we visited (not just driven by)?
A: 28, from Vancouver to Virginia, California to New England
7) How many events and/or presentations have we done?
A: 13, from the Quakers to Barnes & Noble
8) How many workshops/conferences on Cohousing/Altair have we led or attended?
A: 18, from the American Planning Association to our own Marketing Workshop
9) How many meetings have we had (plenary, not committee/circle)?
A: 108, and it varies from 9 meetings in 2001 to 27 meetings in 2000
10) How many people have attended at least one of these meetings?
A: 191, not including those who came to our workshops or events
If some of these answers surprise you, or you want to know in more detail some of the answers, please contact us! Also, let us know how well you did!
Joel Bartlett, for Village at Altair. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This quiz was given at the Christmas, 2004 Altair party.
Since then, we have looked at many more sites, had many more visitors, attended more conferences, visited many other communities, and now we are finally ready to start designing!
