> My cooperative (Washington Hill Mutual Homes) was formed in the 1970s by a
> bunch of activists (including the local Communist Howard Silverberg who
> passed away some three years ago http://www.pww.org/article/view/3600/1/167/
> http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=3421 ) as an alternative to both
> public housing and individual home ownership. There were no "systemic
> obstacles" - in fact we got a HUD loan (paid off by now.) We offer decent
> self-governed housing at a fraction of what it cost to buy or even rent. I
> do not see why this cannot be replicated in any place in the US - except the
> obsession with the 'American dream' which feeds the pig of real estate
> brokers and money lenders.
So your complaint seems to be "why can't other people get busy and find themselves a nice co-op to get into like I did". That sounds a lot like "why doesn't everyone just get themselves a San Fran or Manhattan rent-controlled apartment".
Co-ops do sound great, but isn't it still a form of home ownership? Instead of owning real-estate, you own shares in a corporation that owns real-estate.
I am not sure who you think claimed it cannot be replicated. But there are systemic obstacles; for one, the Federal subsidies that existed when your co-op was built no longer exist. Most of the resources for doing this I found on the web focus on major US cities like NYC, SFO, and Balt/Wash.
But I agree - most people do not consider this an option, but unlike you, I don't blame them for some obsession with the "American Dream", whatever that is. I think they just don't realize it is an option and don't have access to resources to learn about it.
Matt
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