Explore our Neighborhood Design
Working with our local architectural firm, Conterra Workshop, we designed a neighborhood of 26 homes that encircle our Common House.
Sitemap of the Alpenglow Community: Gray area will be sold as commercial space on the main street (Sherman Street) in Ridgway, Colorado.
The Common House – the heart of our community
The heart of cohousing communities, the common house is where we get together for activities, events, socializing, relaxing, happy hours, shared meals, and meetings.
Homes
Each home is designed to be comfortable, filled with light and energy efficient, as well as to ensure privacy but also not isolate us from the larger community.
Garages
Garages on the periphery ensure a safe playing space for children and walking area for all, as well as to minimize vehicle traffic, noise, congestion, and pollution. All garages include solar heating (to ensure vehicles do not freeze in the winter) and storage space. The six smallest homes will be over their own garages.
Central walkway
The central walkway and surrounding landscape, where folks access their individual homes through the community, present opportunities for informal get-togethers. This space allows community members and guests to hang out, create projects, meet, picnic, and enjoy the plants and landscaping. Moving vans and emergency vehicles gain access to homes via the central walkway on those rare occasions when they are necessary.
The land
Our 4.5 acres will generally be xeriscaped, with plenty of opportunities for gardening. We will build shared amenities such as a workshop, gazebo and play area after we all move in. The land on which each house is built will be owned by each homeowner, while all members will be part of a homeowners association, sharing ownership of the remaining land and the Common House.
The Heart of tOwn
Alpenglow CoHousing is located just south of Sherman Street, the central thoroughfare through Ridgway, and west of the Uncompahgre River. Ridgway’s athletic park with soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball court, pickleball court, skate park, and gazebo are south of the southern tip of the neighborhood. A coffee shop, ice cream shop, restaurants, bank, doctor and dentist offices, and shopping are literally steps from our doors.
Located in the historic residential district of Ridgway, our cohousing neighborhood is across from Hartwell Park, the main town park where a variety of community events happen. Walking directly north from our homes, you pass the Ouray County Ranch History Museum, Ridgway Railroad Museum and Ridgway Library as you walk along the Uncompahgre River Trail that leads north to Dennis Weaver Memorial Park and the Ridgway State Park. A four-minute drive away are natural hot springs.
