If you think you’d like to live at Eno Commons, we encourage you to explore what it means to live in cohousing and get to know us before making a decision. Spend time getting to know us: come to a shared dinner, to a business meeting, to a community care day. And use the information below to help you explore whether you’d like to join us. 

Learn about cohousing so you can understand the elements that are common to most communities and the benefits of this way of life. The national nonprofit CohoUS offers a wealth of information – start with What is Cohousing and Why Cohousing?

Begin learning about Eno Commons by reading our “About” page.

Governing ourselves

Our Eno Commons community relies on our Vision Statement as a touchstone and inspiration. Our governing documents begin with the 1997 Covenants filed with the State of NC by the developer. As set forth in the Covenants, a nonprofit corporation, the Eno Commons Homeowners Association, was established to maintain and administer the community. The Eno Commons HOA activities are guided by its Bylaws. Community business meetings are held monthly on the first Sunday of the month at 4 pm. Officers are elected each year at the annual meeting in January, the budget is reviewed and voted on annually. We strive for agreement, listening to and discussing each other’s concerns until we find creative solutions to the challenges we face. We use a system of voting with our fingers to indicate the level of agreement with a proposal, see an explanation here. 

Our homes

Our community was designed and built to care for the environment and to conserve energy. Read about our efficient homes, view a plat and an overhead view of our community and see floor plans for the two models of homes on our Eno Commons Home Designs page. Any homes for sale, for rent, or homeowners seeking roommates are listed here: Houses for sale or to share.

Working together

Neighbor participation is essential in order to manage the upkeep of our physical space – mowing the meadow, maintaining the Common House and barn, caring for our common grounds (woods, playground, dog play area, roadway and parking area). And neighbor participation fosters relationships and friendships among neighbors. Our committees organize and manage the things we need and want to do: Finance, Common House, Barn, Common Grounds, Kids Life – and Community Life with its focus on care and fun.

Celebrations

We love our long-standing community traditions, and current neighbors contribute time and energy to continuing them, adapting as needed. And we try out new things that might soon be considered traditions:

• In February we focus on our youngest neighbors with our Secret Pal week – which neighbor brought those little treats? …read the clues and try to figure out who (a way for the children to get to know neighbors and to feel appreciated just for being themselves).
• In the Spring, we gather for our No Talent show – songs, skits, skills, silliness of all kinds by neighbors of all ages – augmented by an art show and by snacks.
• At the end of the summer we celebrate Eno Commons day, gathering to relax together and celebrate our very existence.
• In October: our own Enoween, on the Saturday before the 31st… a gathering to admire costumes, trick-or-treating along our pedway, sometimes more elaborate activities when inspiration and energy make their appearance.
• An anytime treat: Pop-up Popsicle afternoons – a very popular activity recently introduced by our Community Life committee!

Questions to consider

Here are some questions to help you think about what it would be like to live here day-to-day. When possible, discuss the topics with current residents of Eno Commons to broaden and deepen your exploration.

What benefits do you hope to realize by living here?

What are your strengths? In what ways can you imagine contributing to meetings, meals, social events, and the work of the community?

What worries or concerns do you have about living here?

What are your thoughts about the consensus process and our practice of decision-making? Are you able to listen respectfully, state concerns constructively, and collaborate to find solutions?

Do you have concerns about our bylaws or policies?

How would you expect to navigate some of the common tensions of living in community (e.g., balancing other life demands with the responsibilities of participation, maintaining positive interpersonal relationships and resolving conflicts)?

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If you’re thinking about buying a home and joining our community, we hope you’ll reach out and get to know current neighbors. If you haven’t already connected with neighbors or if you have other questions, please use our Contact form to get in touch. Join us to walk through the community, ask if there’s an upcoming community event you can join, or just come to talk in person with some of us.

Thank you to Takoma Park Cohousing for granting us permission to use and adapt portions of their guide.