There are still dirt roads, pieces of heavy machinery and on weekdays, up to sixty construction workers on the Belterra site, but there are now actual residents of Bowen’s first co-housing development.
The Yamashita family has moved four times since departing their last “home” in July. The family of five couldn’t find a place to live on Bowen in the summer, so found two temporary accommodations on the mainland until September, when they had to be here for the kids to start school. Since then, they’ve lived at Artisan Square and Miller’s Landing.
The family’s 1200 square foot, three bedroom unit is not a “downsize” for the family, whose last home was 1000 square feet, but with three kids, a dog, musical instruments, toys and a miniature trampoline, it appears tiny.
“I am thrilled with the storage, especially in the kitchen,” say Carmen Yamashita, pointing to the pantry, the island, and the cupboards that stretch all the way to the ceiling. “But I expect as we unpack, we’ll be downsizing a lot, getting rid of a lot more stuff.”
For Katy Michener, one of the other new occupants to Belterra, the move to a 706 square foot one bedroom unit is a huge move.
“I was renting a three bedroom, two story house, and this is absolutely wonderful,” says Michener. “And I love it because this is mine, and I am paying less in mortgage payments now than I was in rent.”
One of the casualties of Michener’s downsizing is her 24 year-old son, who said he didn’t want to live at Belterra.
“He’s got his own place now,” she says.
As for material possessions, Michener says that getting rid of the furniture she’s had her whole life has been a liberating process.
“I’ve kept some plates and dishes,” she says. “Small things that have meaning, but that’s it. I’m really looking forward to getting some new stuff. And I can actually afford that now.”
The other thing Michener says she loves about her new home is that, although her son is not with her, she does not live alone.
“There are tons of kids around here, there’s a newborn living right above me, and there’s an 80 year old who’s going to be living here as well,” she says. “And also, I won’t be eating alone all the time.”
Michener’s latter point refers to shared meals at the future Common House, which will include a dining room and kitchen for shared meals. This is a building that currently has a foundation, and will have its walls and roof put on after the final residential building is complete.
“The Common House will be the glue of this community,” says Stephanie Legg, one of the creators of Belterra. “And the members of this community will finish it once everyone’s moved in. We want it to be a really nice space, because all of our homes are so small, the Common House will be an extension of all our living space. Also, there will be a lot of art and furniture that people donate to this space as they downsize and move into their new units. Some people have really nice stuff they’re going to be giving.”
Legg says despite the fact that this focal point for community has yet to be built, the community feeling of Belterra is already tangible.
“There are Christmas lights up, and when a moving truck pulls in to one of the units, there will be a handful of people there to help them unload. So far, everyone’s working together. The little village we dreamed of is starting to take shape.”
