HAVE YOU HEARD about CoHousing?  It's a safe place for families and for people living alone, an intentional neighborhood with a vision for the environment, and a model in Tucson for cooperative efforts in ecological living.  (Not a "co-op.") WHY COHOUSING?  This concept from Denmark has spread over the last two decades across Canada, Europe, Australia, and the U.S.   Hundreds of co-housing developments have sprung up as a smart way to meet people's needs for friends and safe neighborhoods. WHAT IS IT?  Cohousing developments are planned and designed and managed by the residents.  Each family or individual owns a private home and also owns 1/48 of the common facilities.   WHERE IS IT?  We are in the heart of Tucson at the southwest corner of Stone and Limberlost in Tucson.  Close to Trader Joes, Tucson Mall,  University of Arizona, UMC, Tucson Heart Hospital, and Rillito River bike and jogging path. SCHOOLS:  Close to excellent charter and private schools (Sartori, Montessori, Basis, Presidio, Greeen Fields).  Parents car-pool and walk-pool to these schools.  FOR KIDS:  Homes surround large central green where kids play safely, without having to cross any streets.  Playground with new "castle" play structure: swings, clilmbing ropes, slide, tire swing. PEOPLE:  Friendly neighbors include lawyers, teachers, counselors, architects, researchers, community acitivists.  Activities include parents' group, women's groups, Spanish classes, cooking classes, hiking group, kids' activities. STRUCTURE:  Five villages for 48 households.   Managed by voluntary teams for cooking, maintenance, finances, etc.  Home to thirteen children from 2 to 16.   Residents have meals with the Meal Club once or twice a week or cook and eat in the privacy of their homes.  Neighbors exchange pet-sitting and baby-sitting, trips to the store, friendships. Community work days (optional) with food and fun.    THIS HOME:  3BD/2BA with office,  floorplan F at  stonecurves.com Less than two years old.  photovoltaic solar panels. Gorgeous wood laminate floors downstairs and in stairway, carpeting upstairs, large pantry, plenty of storage.  Bosch diswasher, smooth-top stove.  Washer/dryer hookups.  Covered parking right outside back gate.  Village shade sail covers the interior plaza for neighborly gatherings, summer suppers. Deeply shaded balcony off master bedroom. Bamboo/real wood blinds throughout.  Seven ceiling fans. Three solar-tube skylights. Custom screen door. Custom iron gate in arched gateway. Private back yard with drip irrigation system.  Young acacia, pomegranate, and apple trees. ENERGY USE:  Homes meet TEP Guarantee standards. Double-paned low-E windows and sliding glass doors.  2006 utility bills for this all-electric home ranged from $81 in July to $31 in December. Average bill was $53.25.  TERMS: Owner is willing to consider a lease with purchase agreement. COMMON GROUNDS:   New lap pool and spa.  Large kid-friendly central green for camp-outs, running through the sprinkler.  Large workshop in planning stages. Security gates and a creative ferro-concrete wall surround the community.  COMMON HOUSE: 4000 s.f.,  kitchen, dining room, living room with cable TV,  office with high-speed wireless, three guest rooms, quiet library, exercise room,  solar PV panels and grey-water system.  Use the central laundry room with drying yard or your personal washer/dryer at home. RAINWATER COLLECTION system with cisterns and basins. Native urban forest of 252 trees on 5.1 acres.   Low-water-use landscape.  Recipient of two Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants. ORGANIC GARDEN:  Plots available now.   Complete composting system.  Baby fruit trees -- fig, apple, apricot-- in all villages. TRANSPORTATION:   Bus outside gate goes direct to the University and downtown.   Bicycle to Trader Joe's.  Walk to restaurants, movies, Home Depot, Borders Books, Cold Stone Ice Cream. PARTICIPATION: Opportunity to join with others in decision-making and in designing the next stage of the commmon areas (orchard, workshop, exercise room) and in restoring desert habitat and community values.   COA DUES: $164 monthly for all water, common laundry and kitchen supplies, utilities and maintenance for common house, grounds, and buidlings. CONTACT:  Please come visit or call us at 520-777-5999. Email us at karenkennedy1@cox.net.