The island, Home of the Suquamish
“We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within the aboriginal territory of the suq̕ʷabš “People of Clear Salt Water” (Suquamish People). Expert fisherman, canoe builders and basket weavers, the suq̕ʷabš live in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington’s Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here, the suq̕ʷabš live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855.” (Suquamish Tribe Land Acknowledgement, 2020)
While we at Winslow Cohousing are not yet aware of exactly what use our specific piece of the island had for the Suquamish people, we are currently working with members of the Suquamish Tribe to research that history.
The Village
In early 1989, we formed Winslow Cohousing as a caring, cooperative community of 30 households. In April 1992, we moved into our newly constructed homes.
We are a pedestrian village with open green space and a central Common House, within walking distance of schools, the public library, medical clinics, shopping, parks, and a public pool.
We are located on 5 acres in the Winslow district of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, one mile from the ferry, which is a 35-minute boat ride from downtown Seattle. Bainbridge Island is a small-but-growing town with about 23,000 residents. Find out more: Short History of Bainbridge Island.
The Homes
Our community has 30 homes:
- 10 townhouse duplexes with 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes
- A fourplex with 1 and 2 bedroom townhouse homes
- The Carriage House with 6 flats of varied sizes
Homes range from 518 to 1500 square feet. Floor plans are similar throughout the village. The duplex and fourplex homes have exclusive use areas (backyards) behind them, with all kitchens facing the walkways, courtyards, and green areas where children can play and neighbors can visit or stroll.
Common Spaces and Facilities
An integral part of the cohousing concept is our centrally located 5,000 square foot community Common House. The Common House has dining and meeting space, a large kitchen, a recreation room for children, a fully equipped community office, a guest room, a quiet space, an exercise area, and a laundry for those who do not want laundry facilities in their homes.
We have a children’s playground, a large open lawn, a basketball area, a pottery studio, and a woodworking workshop. An orchard flourishes near the large, sunny community garden providing varieties of apples, pears, plums, and figs.
We are also the stewards of a small urban woodland! Protected by a conservation easement with the Bainbridge Land Trust, our forested acre has footpaths and well-monitored and maintained native vegetation.
Environmental Concerns
Buildings are sited near each other and parking is located in one corner to preserve wooded areas and open space. Paved lanes connect all the homes, creating a peaceful pedestrian neighborhood.
All buildings are kept to strict energy-saving best practices, and mini-split heat pumps are standard. Our refuse/recycle center and composting/worm bin projects are part of our care of the environment. Our landscaping uses drought-resistant, hardy, native species, edible by human or wildlife whenever possible. No fertilizers or toxic products are allowed on our land.
