Prairie Onion Vision Statement
April 2009
Prairie Onion Cohousing will create and sustain an intergenerational cohousing community within the city of Chicago designed to minimize environmental impact, encourage strong ties among residents and foster interaction with the larger neighborhood.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will build strong ties among its members. These ties will be fostered by sharing meals several times a week, creating traditions, and sharing our talent and knowledge with each other. We will be involved with one another naturally through work projects and recreational activities while also respecting the varying desires for private and public time.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will be intergenerational and diverse. We will be supportive and welcoming of individuals and families of all ages, from differing races, economic classes, genders, religions, and sexual orientations. Residents will benefit from the rich array of resources and cultural opportunities found in neighborhood and city life.
Our community will minimize its environmental impact. We will use "green" design principles and construction practices, especially those which emphasize energy efficiency and water conservation. Our location in the heart of Chicago near rapid transit, and bike parking on-site, will encourage non-car transport. Residents' day-to-day activities such as recycling, carpooling, using organic foods, co-operative meal preparation, community gardening, and other choices will enhance sustainability.
Our site and buildings will be designed to foster casual interaction and maximize green space. Parking will be on the perimeter of the site. Individual apartments and townhouses will be fully independent, but connected to extensive common space shared by all residents.
Our community's legal structure will be a condominium development.
Units will be as affordable as possible to members with differing incomes.
Prairie Onion Cohousing will make decisions as a group using a consensus model. We will all have equal responsibility for making our community work, both physically and interpersonally. We will build our community by working together willingly for common purposes, meeting regularly, and governing ourselves through consensus-based decision-making and mediation.
We will become an integral part of the surrounding neighborhood. We will provide space for local groups to hold meetings, and sponsor educational programs related to cohousing, the environment, and other issues. Both as individuals and as a group, we will support existing neighborhood groups and local businesses. As individuals, members will become involved in volunteer work, civic activities and community issues.