Direction de l’Habitat et du Logement de la Métropole de Lyon EMERGING MODELS OF COHOUSING WG HOUSING JUNE 16th 2020 THE EMERGENCE OF COHOUSING IN FRANCE ➢ 2000’s : some groups of inhabitants launched collective initiatives aiming at designing and managing their habitat collectively ➢ The terminology remained fuzzy until 2010 when the terminology “cohousing” was finally agreed upon ➢ 2010 : Creation of the national network of local communities for cohousing (in Strasbourg). Lyon was one of the founding members ➢ March 2014 : With the law called “ALUR”, in March 2014, the concept of cohousing is expressly recognised and integrated into French Law. Lyon participated in the elaboration of the said law THE DEVELOPMENT OF COHOUSING IN LYON METROPOLIS 1st cohousing project : Village vertical (Villeurbanne) → this example was used to support debate when elaborating the ‘ALUR’ law. 2007 : the concept of cohousing is integrated in the local urban masterplan Since 2006, Grand Lyon has been working with inhabitants groups: - Annual funding to ‘Habicoop’ who provides support to inhabitants groups - Support to inhabitants groups in identifying lands and real estate properties - Sale of land or real estate, sometimes with discounts - Provision of loan guarantees, under the condition of a social landlord endorsement/support/backing, if needed KEY STAKEHOLDERS Rhône Saône Habitat : the most involved social landlord Alliade Habitat and EMH : other social landlords involved in developing cohousing solutions SERL : Equipment & Urban planning company for Rhône department and Lyon Habitat & Partage : Cooperative company supporting the emergence of cohousing THE DEVELOPMENT OF COHOUSING IN LYON METROPOLIS : LIMITS Cohousing projects are increasing in Lyon Metropolis, yet some failures can be highlighted: Confluence, Saint Germain au Mont d’Or, Croix rousse, Bron MAIN WEAKNESSES ➢ Lack of available and adequate property : most frequent reason why inhabitants groups renounced their project ➢ Reluctance of stakeholders to provide support to non-professional self-promoters ➢ Lack of well-identified operational guides (e.g. ‘La Gargousse’ project) MAIN STRENGTH Involvement of local authorities : without political backup the cohousing projects would never have emerged E.g. ‘La Gargousse’ project faces difficulties especially because of a lack of involvement from the local authority THE DEVELOPMENT OF COHOUSING IN LYON METROPOLIS : FOOD FOR THOUGHT To support the development of cohousing at the local level, we need to focus on the following : ➢ Support access to land Requisition of solidarity leases for cohousing as part of the OFS (Solidary Land Organisation) Save 2 or 3 properties a year to dedicate to cohousing projects (through a call) ➢ Support to inhabitants groups Improve national lobbying in favour of cohousing Offer assistance through grants to contribute to operational support costs ➢ Resume discussions at the national level (especially with the national network previously mentioned) Contribute to reinvesting the national network Agree to host the meetings of the national network in Lyon in 2021 COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? BENEFITS OF SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING Provides seniors with an alternative to retirement or traditional homes Allow seniors to remain active citizens and to break with solitude Better answer to the double contradictory requirement : - Desire to remain independent for as long as possible in the way they live - Need for security that arises in anticipation or following a loss of autonomy Age well at home Need for security and desire to Desire of autonomy overcome loneliness Cohousing solutions offer Active citizenship Local solidarity COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN EUROPE Pioneer in senior cohousing (1987) Increased interest in senior or multi-generation cohousing First senior cohousing project in 1994 Hard to evaluate the number of initiatives and their geographic distribution Increased interest for cohousing solutions Most projects are developed within or near large cities COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN LYON Number of seniors in 2019 : 273 000 Estimated number of seniors in 2042 : 348 000 (+ 27,5 %) → Public authorities need to pay close attention to the development of housing initiatives alternative to individual & retirement homes and medico-social establishments, such as senior or multi-generation cohousing. KEY STAKEHOLDERS Non-profit organisations “Esdes intégénérations” & “Pari Solidaire” : flat-share (between elderly people & students) “Chers voisins” & the company “Récipro’cité” : operate in intergenerational buildings or districts Social landlords “Grand Lyon Habitat” “Est Métropole Habitat” COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN LYON 3 main projects of senior or multi-generation cohousing OASIS – SAINT PRIEST VILLAGE VERTICAL - VILLEURBANNE CHAMAREL ‘LES BARGES’ – VAULX EN VELIN COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN LYON Name : OASIS Location : SAINT PRIEST Number of units : 20 Number of households : 20 Legal structure : social housing, non-profit org. Origin of the initiative : inhabitants, citizens Main partner : EMH Common areas : meeting room, workshops, kitchen, garden, courtyard/patio Participation : program development, housings design, « This is the first time we design of shared spaces, collective life charter have collaborated directly with inhabitants to create a collective housing building. This approach should be The non-profit organisation OASIS was created in 2009 generalised to all projects, following the desire of a group of retired people to create an since it does not only allows a associative project of common housing based on the values finer work of architecture but also avoids falling into a of solidarity and mutual aid. standardisation » The architect, Pierre Minassian DEC. 2015 DEC 2017 Launch of the JULY 2017 SEPT. 2018 AUGUST 2017 Launch of the JUNE 2020 consultation for Launch of the Filing the building :Project approval consultation with Delivery project works permit businesses management COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN LYON Name : Village Vertical Location : Villeurbanne Number of units : 14 Number of households : 14 Legal structure : cooperative of inhabitants Origin of the initiative : inhabitants, citizens Main partner : Habicoop, Coopérative HLM Rhône Saône Habitat Common areas : meeting room, guest rooms, laundry room garden, courtyard/patio Participation : at all levels (the inhabitants collectively own the building), democratic management Generational diversity 2005 2013 2013 Launch of the Moving-in of the 14 Delivery project households COHOUSING : A MEAN TO AGE BETTER? SENIOR/MULTI-GENERATION COHOUSING IN LYON Name : Chamarel ‘Les Barges’ Location : Vaulx-en-Velin (‘priority area’) Number of units : 16 (14 ‘2-rooms’ + 2 ‘3-rooms’) Number of households : 15 Legal structure : cooperative of inhabitants Origin of the initiative : inhabitants, citizens Main partner : Habicoop Common areas : meeting room, guest rooms, laundry room, workshops, kitchen, garden Participation : at all levels (the inhabitants are collectively the contacting authority) Generational, cultural & social diversity The inhabitants avoid real estate speculation through the following rule : an inhabitant who leaves, leaves with the value of the social shares he/she holds, whatever the capital gain that the building might have taken DECEMBER 2012 MAY 2010 Creation of the JULY 2017 Creation of the non- cooperative simplified profit organisation joint stock compagny Delivery ‘Chamarel’ ‘Chamarel Les Barges’ Launch of the works.