Project Goals
Sketches and Concepts
The Land
Reconcile human habitation with nature
- Strive for regeneration of native ecology
- Design in harmony with the site
- Foster connection between people and place
Promote community
- Connect to each other
- Connect to our neighbors
- Connect to the larger West Grove community
Be feasible and replicable
- Provide housing competitive with local market prices
- Successfully navigate the entitlement process
- Demonstrate the superior marketability of green design
Promote health
- Use healthy, non-toxic materials
- Provide abundant daylight and clean air to occupants
- Nurture outdoor activity
Celebrate diversity
- Be intergenerational – support for kids and aging in place
- Provide diverse housing sizes, prices, and accessibility
- Restore the natural diversity of the site
Be exemplary and visionary
- Demonstrate the highest levels of environmental performance (LEED Platinum Certification)
- Be a learning community and an educational resource
Here are our near final drawings, based on a series of intensive design workshops, or charrettes, June & July 2011. These charettes were an "all hands on deck" effort with all members and our amazing professional design team. Click on the images below for full sized views.
The neighborhood site plan will follow the general cohousing design concepts, tight clusters of homes connected by walking paths and surrounded by shared green spaces, with parking to the periphery. TGE's layout places homes in three "groves", each with a different character.
Individual units all have a similar main floor plan, but the upstairs floor plans will differ based on the unit size (1, 2, 3, or 4 bedrooms). All units have 2 full baths (except the 1 bedroom unit), and all have basements. The 1 and 2 bedroom units can each be fit out in the future with an extra bedroom.
The similar footprint of all units allows for clever clustering for a varied external appearance of the homes. The shared walls will be very well insulated for sound, and as all shared walls they will have an insulative R-value of infinity! Shown below are different siding treatments that we are considering, to give the neighborhood the varied texture of Chester County farm houses.
The 5000 sq. ft. "Common House" will be a central feature and ammenity for all TGE residents. It will have a professional kitchen and a dinning hall with indoor seating for 60, playrooms for children, two comfortable sitting rooms (one with a TV), an exercise room, a mailroom, a laundry room and two guest bedrooms for overnight guests of any TGE resident. The third floor is a professional office suite that has four or five offices that any resident can purchase for "work at home." The courtyard to the south will contain a patio, playground and natural swimming pool.
The Land
Our land is 7.5 acres on the south edge of West Grove, PA, in the London Grove Township. It is right across from the planned London Grove Community Park (see below). The land has a southwest exposure for excellent solar exposure, a few trees around the edges, and a tiny little stream on the western border. It is walkable to downtown West Grove, the Avon Grove High School, and even the SCCOOT bus route that travels along US1 between Oxford and West Chester.
If you want to walk on the land, please contact us for the next scheduled land walk. Please do not walk on the land unescorted. This is due to liability concerns, so bear with us. Thanks!
The satellite map with property lines is below. Our proposed home is actually 2 parcels, outlined in red.
Here's an interactive map of the property. Zoom out to see where it is located.
The property is within walking distance of a large number of restaurants, shops, schools and other places. Click on the walk score icon below to see an interactive map and list. However, the list that Walk Score provides is incomplete for some reason. Its missing Brother's Pizza and Marrone Deli, to name a few. However, the Walk Score map and list are a a great start!
The 125 acre London Grove Community Park, right across the street to the south really gives the property an astounding location. The map below shows the northern quarter of this park, and how our homes will be about 250 yards from the playground and fishing pond.
This complete park map below shows the extent of the community park, including the 40 acre annex that will increase the park to 125 acres total. Half the park is wooded and the trails follow the tiny stream to the much larger branch of White Clay Creek.
