Dream

Communities and neighborhoods across the USA have atrophied in the last century, as people have become more mobile, and technology like TV, automobiles, and the phone system have shifted how people live, work, and play in relation to each other. While this has left many people more affluent, it has left just as many people feeling isolated from the city or community they live in.

The Goal of the Ant Hill Cooperative is to create a cooperative housing system in Rochester NY that will foster community, while giving students a good standard of living, at a low cost. In order to create the best community it can, Ant Hill specifically seeks to created a broad cross section of members, with many different skill, interests, and abilities.

• An archipelago of co-ops across Rochester, with common values but distinct focus.
  

• regularly held quasi-public events, like weekend potlucks, pancake brunches, guest speakers, movie nights, picnics, bike rides, and fund raisers to encourage community and provide a service.
  

• An emphasis on learning from each other and encouraging members' creative/technical/community projects (everything from constructing a Theremin or organising a Critical Mass). Hosting workshops and DIY events, on topics such as home improvement, safety, gardening, knitting, kite-building, beer brewing, electronics, academic subjects, etc.
  

• Promote owner-occupied housing by being our own landlords.
  

• Be a waypoint for independent travelers in Rochester.
  

• An emphasis on being a positive effect in the world, including promotion of local community and ecological sustainability (reduction of consumption, reduction of waste, environmentally friendly practices, energy efficient retrofitting—insulation, double-paned windows, etc).
  

• persistence and identity. A house that exists for many years, after the founders and original members have moved on. A house with a name. A place that people know about.
  

• a positive living environment — we are, after all, living there.
  

• Large enough to exploit an economy of scale. Where we can shop at the farmer's market, have a bakery run for bagels in the morning, etc. So that there are people around pretty much all the time.
  

• A spacious and comfortable common room, for lounging around and for hosting events.
  

• Walking distance to UR's River Campus. This could be exchanged for a convenient bus route.
  

• Operate in the tradition of American student cooperatives, like USCA, ICC, NASCO, etc, and the "Nations" (student clubs) at Swedish universities of Lund and Uppsala.
  

• General adherence to the Rochdale Principles and the qualities mentioned in A Great Place.
  

• a hot tub. Because a co-op without a hot tub is not a co-op. (-:
  

• dinner every night. Prepared by housemembers on a rotating basis or other agreed-upon scheme.

Possible projects down the road:

• storefront/cafe
  

• community (computer) colocation
  

• hostel