We often get the question, “What makes Cathedral Park Cohousing different from other housing developments?” The honest answer is that it’s not just one thing, it’s the values that members share and the people those values bring together. Many housing developments focus on a single group: senior housing, disability housing, affordable housing, etc. Each of these housing types serves an important purpose, but each also tends to gather people who are, in some way, similar to each other, and separate from everyone else.
Cathedral Park Cohousing was built around a different idea: that community is stronger when a culture of belonging is nurtured and when people aren’t sorted by category at all.
Of the 23 homes in our multigenerational community, more than half are offered at an affordable rate—several with preference given to individuals living with disabilities—alongside homes sold at market rate. These homes, and the people who live in them, exist side by side: Families, elders, singles, people with and without disabilities—all living next door to one another, sharing meals and connection. Nobody here is defined by a single label, everybody is simply a fellow neighbor.
This integration is core to our values, and supported by our built environment. Homes and shared spaces were designed from the ground up using universal design principles, meaning every detail is usable and accessible for all to the fullest extent possible. Every home is built without stairs and with accessible bathrooms, so mobility is never a barrier to visiting a friend or joining a gathering.
Universal design also considers people who experience the world differently in less visible ways. Shared spaces have full sightlines, so you can see into a room before entering it, a small detail that makes a real difference for neurodivergent neighbors, or anyone who feels calmer knowing what to expect. Clear wayfinding and a range of gathering spaces, from small and quiet to large and lively, mean there’s a place that feels comfortable no matter how someone processes the world around them or where they fall on the introvert to extrovert spectrum.
This matters for everyone, not just those who benefit most directly. Living alongside people whose experiences differ from our own changes us, quietly, for the better. We are reminded daily that our own worth doesn’t come from our abilities, our “success”, or our bank accounts, but from our shared humanity. Living in community builds empathy, challenges assumptions, and reminds us that a good neighborhood has room for all kinds of people.
That’s the heart of what we’re building: a community where being different from your neighbor is a welcome part of our world, and we draw strength from our diversity.