Peterborough Housing Cooperative
Peterborough Co-op is 14 townhouses around a huge central courtyard, with a neighbourhood house.
It's in inner-city Ōtautahi (Christchurch), and started in 1982. The 2011 earthquake terminally damaged all the houses, allowing us to rebuild as a purpose designed pocket neighbourhood. |
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Sense of Community
Peterborough gives a sense of extended family-like ties. Each household is in charge of itself, but is also part of something bigger.
Peterborough purposely includes grandparents, families, single parents, couples, singles, young people, and children. The cooperative is designed to encourage informal chats, with the central courtyard giving a sense of village life, and a chance to say hi to your neighbours every day. We also have a weekly pot-luck dinner in the common house and self governance. |
We Are Our Own Landlords
Co-operative enterprises are controlled and managed by their residents, workers, or consumers. We as residents run the cooperative, and decisions are made by consensus.
Peterborough provides an economically sustainable housing model as an alternative to profiteering from private ownership.
We have one lawn-mower. |
Sustainable Homes
Peterborough pocket neighbourhood was rebuilt with environmental sustainability in mind. It features:
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Designed for Children
It takes a village to raise a child. Peterborough is designed for children as the heart of community.
Children will have a huge back yard, with a playground, that's safely away from cars. They get instant playmates. Parents are better placed to support each other, and know they are not alone. We have found Peterborough children increase their social skills, intelligence and are more articulate than otherwise. This is because they have many other adults besides their parents to talk to, and look out for them. |
Tour PeterboroughTake a tour around Peterborough Housing Cooperative.
A resident will show you around, and discuss what living in a pocket neighbourhood is like, how to design for community, and answer all you questions. The on-site tours cost $2 and run for about 50 minutes. |