Start a Community in Asheville

Have you ever thought it would be ideal to gather a group of people who enjoy each other and start your own little neighborhood? I hear people talking about that all the time in the Asheville area.

As peak oil looms on our horizon and green living becomes more a necessity than something new that some people are trying, more of us are wanting to be part of a small, caring community.

This is “green” and “sustainable” at its best.

There are all kinds of communities in the Asheville area, from highly organized cohousing communities like Westwood in West Asheville and Earthaven Eco-Village east of Asheville, to various neighborhoods that have unintentionally bonded.

I loved the feel of our neighborhood last winter when we had all the snow. People were out taking walks, checking on each other and helping each other. A neighbor chainsawed a tree that had fallen across our driveway and someone brought us the newspaper when we weren’t able to get out.

But, most of the time, we all go our own ways.

I’ve put together a “cart” of multifamily properties that could easily become “intentional” communities. You could skip the step of buying land and building from scratch. You could “recycle” these into green communities – do some energy-efficiency updates, rain water catchment systems, composting, organic gardens and other permaculture… it could be great! A mini-homestead. All kinds of benefits, not to mention caring for each other.

Just for fun, take a look. Some of these multifamily properties could be used to create great homes for   groups of people who want to share the benefits and responsibilities of being part of a real community.

These are all located in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located.

Some of the less expensive places include:

• a 3-family home on the busline in West Asheville for $219,970
• a historic brick 4-plex in Montford for $289,900
• 4 units in East Asheville on .89 acre for $334,900
• another historic 4-plex near Grove Park, just a mile to downtown, with a large shared deck, sunrooms in each unit, lots of storage for $365,000

Another more expensive place has 8 units, two each in four buildings in West Asheville on about an acre for $600,000.

There are all kinds. Have fun looking!

Just let me know if you’re interested and I’ll be happy to get more information to you. greentreenc[at]gmail[dot]com