Sunday, March 30, 2025

CREATING INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITIES

MIXING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT LEADS TO HEALTHIER, MORE FULFILLED, BETTER CONNECTED AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES


In Iowa City, Iowa, the innovative Prairie Hill Co-Housing is a leader in co-housing, land stewardship, master planning, sustainability and intergenerational living.

The development is on 7.3 acres and has 37 residences with 55 residents.

Thirty of its units have earned LEED for Homes Gold Certification and it was a 2024 United States Green Building Council LEED Home Award winner in the Outstanding Multifamily category, earning praise as a leading example of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

“Some co-housing is restricted to people over 55, but we didn’t do that—we wanted the vibrancy of youth,” said Barbara Bailey, co-founder and resident of Prairie Hill.

“Life is centered on a 5,000-square-foot common house with a big kitchen, laundry and guest rooms.”

People buy units at Prairie Hill, which has studios, and one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

More than half the acreage is dedicated to orchards, gardens and land conservation.

The development is planted in prairie grass, so it does not need to be watered or mowed.

The all-electric homes are designed for energy efficiency. Solar panels generate more power than the development consumes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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