Welcome to Muir Commons
Cohousing Community
Muir Commons, 2222 Muir Woods Place, Davis, CA 95616 U.S.A., (530) 758-5202
email general questions to - info at muircommons dot org
Muir Commons Cohousing
Muir Commons was the first Cohousing community newly constructed in the United States and was modeled after communities in Denmark. After several years of planning, ground breaking took place on
November 1990 with the residents moving in during the summer of 1991. Most of the homes were constructed as affordable housing.
Cohousing communities are resident developed neighborhoods which combine private homes with a strong community environment. Cohousing communities are planned and managed by residents. This living
arrangement allows residents to share household tasks and tools, reduce resource consumption and living expenses. A strong sense of security and neighbor-liness adds to the attractiveness of
affordable and environmentally responsible housing.
Muir Commons is made up of 26 homes on just under three acres. Each individual house includes complete kitchens and private yards. Houses come in three models ranging from 808 to 1381 square feet.
The clustered homes face a central pedestrian pathway while the backyards face the outer edges of the site. Outdoor features at Muir Commons include a garden, an orchard, children's playground,
lawns, and "nodes" to facilitate socializing. The extensive landscaping includes many drought-tolerant and native species.
The 3,668 square foot Common House is the heart of the community and includes a large kitchen and dining area to accommodate group meals. Other features include a sitting room with a fireplace, a
children's playroom, an exercise room, a recreation room, an office, laundry room, and a guest room. Other shared facilities include a 900 square foot woodworking and automotive shop, parking areas,
bicycle sheds, and a hot tub.
or check out our photovoltaic installation.
Muir Commons is legally structured similarly to a condominium. Residents own the land in front of, under, and in back of their houses and share ownership of the common outdoor space and facilities.
The Homeowners Association consists of a 26-member board of directors comprised of one member from each household. The community makes almost all decisions by consensus.
Sharing at Muir Commons involves a variety of responsibilities, tasks, equipment, and pleasures. Meals are shared several times a week in the Common House. Many items such as woodworking tools and
lawn mowers are owned by all and shared. Residents share in the maintenance of common property by participating in various committees that do the work. Both formal and informal get-togethers are
common here.
Responsibilities to the community include cooking and cleaning for the common meals, committee membership, cleaning the Common House, performing landscape and maintenance chores, participating in
workdays, and attending general meetings. Some responsibilities can be hired out.
Every household must also pay monthly dues (currently set at $140) which covers the cost of operation and maintenance of shared facilities and activities.
Currently Muir Commons is home to approximately 45 adults and 28 children. Households include a variety of family structures. Most homes are owner-occupied, but several are occupied by renters.
Davis is located in Northern California 15 miles west of Sacramento and 75 miles northeast of San Francisco; there are public transportation opportunities for those commuting to either the capitol
city or the Bay Area. A city of 50,000 residents, it is home to University of California Davis. The City has become well-known for its extensive bike lanes, energy efficient housing designs, and its
productive agricultural land.
Muir Commons is part of the Aspen development in West Davis. Neighborhood features include a greenbelt, parks, a wildlife pond, and an elementary school.
- Cohousing: a Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves, 2nd edition, by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett, 1994, published by Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. (the second edition
includes a chapter on Muir Commons complete with color photographs)
- Collaborative Communities: CoHousing, Central Living, and Other New Forms of Housing with Shared Facilities, by Dorit From (1991), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, $46.95. (this book
includes information on Muir Commons and N Street Cohousing in Davis)
- The CoHousing Network, publishers of CoHousing, The Journal of the CoHousing Network
Tours of Muir Commons can be arranged by email (preferred), writing, or calling ahead to set up a convenient date and time. Please do not simply show up at Muir Commons to take a look around or ask to see the community - this is our living space.
- Muir Commons
- Attention: Tours/Requests
- 2222 Muir Woods Place
- Davis, CA 95616 U.S.A.
- tours at muircommons dot org
- (530) 758-5202
Due to the fact that tours impact the community and take the time of residents, we ask $10 for a tour of up to 10 people; group rates are available. We also participate in tours of northern California cohousing communities led by the Cohousing Association of the US. We ask that you respect the privacy of residents and that you please follow the following basic rules: arrive on time (not early), do not take photos without permission, no smoking, no pets. No overnight accommodations are available on site. Please reconfirm your visit a couple of days in advance.
Occasionally homes do become available for purchase or rental. If you are interested in moving to Muir Commons, we keep a list of interested people; when a vacancy arises, this information is passed
on to a homeowner who wants to sell or rent. If a home is available, please arrange for a tour and orientation to the community to see if the Cohousing lifestyle is right for you. The resident
keeping the waiting list and providing orientation to prospective buyers is Rhonda David.
Comments on this site to: webmaster at muircommons dot org