Boston Home Improvement Blog

Mosaic Commons and Camelot Cohousing in Berlin

Two new cohousing communities, Mosaic Commons and Camelot Cohousing, have joined to form Sawyer Hill EcoVillage, in Berlin, MA. Cohousing is a concept that made its way from Scandinavia to the United States in the early 1990s. Part condominium, part commune (kidding!), 100% community, cohousing involves shared resources and a desire to form a community at its heart.

Some established cohousing communities in Massachusetts range from Pine Street Cohousing in Amherst, established in 1994, to Cambridge Cohousing in Cambridge, MA, established in 1998, to New View Cohousing in Acton, established in 1995. With 14 cohousing communities established or underway, Massachusetts is one of the most cohousing-dense states in the U.S.

An EcoVillage is somewhat different from cohousing, however:

EcoVillages use the latest and best practices related to sustainable development and land planning principles, including modestly-sized dwelling units typically clustered to reduce development footprint, various forms of shared common facilities, low vehicle use, and emphasis on neighborhood. Projects (typically) include recycling of construction waste materials, green building techniques and use of sustainable materials, preservation of open space for perpetuity.

Mosaic Commons and Camelot Cohousing share 65 acres of land in Berlin, MA, the site of a former tree farm from which many trees for the Big Dig project were transplanted. The site feels remote and peaceful as you walk it, and the views are breathtaking, and yet the drive from the development to Solomon Pond Mall and 495/290 is under 10 minutes.

Both cohousing developments have unique characteristics. Mosaic Commons has been in development for nearly 8 years and leans toward families with younger children, while Camelot Cohousing started as a project among a group of college friends wanting more daily interaction and social time and expanded to include many more people with a similar desire to find community. Both cohousing communities are open to all.

Each cohousing development will hold 34 households, an ideal number for forming cohousing communities. The entire ecovillage will have a population of over 200 residents ranging from retirees to growing families with infants to singles. Mosaic Commons will have its own common house with a children's area and exercise facilities and amenities such as a hot tub, while Camelot Cohousing plans for an in-ground pool and a common house with a studio for creative movement/dance/martial arts.

Both communities' common houses will include commercial kitchens and large dining areas for community dinners and events, with plans to hold group dinners as frequently as 3-4 times per week.

The communities plan extensive overlapping in sharing resources, but also intend to maintain separate identities as well. According to Catya Belfer-Shevett, a Mosaic Commons organizer and resident, "What's the difference between any two cohousing communities? We're based out of different core groups, have somewhat different design priorities, facilitate our meetings differently... but we're both cohousing groups, and happy to be sharing our land."

The ecovillage has worked closely with the town of Berlin to discuss logistics and town service issues, as the development adds considerable numbers of children to the town school system (about 1/3 plan for public school, 1/3 homeschool, and 1/3 attend private schools) and the communities will require fire, police, and emergency medical services as needed. In cooperation with the town, the ecovillage will maintain a small pond/reservoir to be used as backup for fire services as well.

Both cohousing communities are part of the 40b lottery system for households meeting income guidelines for affordable housing.

The next Intro Meeting and Site Tour will be held on Sunday, July 6: read the Sawyer Hill calendar for details.

Posted by Melanie Zoltan
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