Question 1

What awards has Prairie Hill Cohousing received?

Accepted Answer

Prairie Hill was named the 2019 Best New Owner-Occupied Residential Development in Iowa by 1000 Friends of Iowa, a statewide nonprofit organization focused on promoting sustainable land use practices in the state. This prestigious recognition highlighted Prairie Hill's excellence across multiple criteria.

The award specifically cited Prairie Hill's energy-efficient construction methods, which incorporate advanced building techniques that reduce energy consumption and utility costs for residents. The community's use of renewable energy sources was also recognized as a significant achievement in sustainable residential development.

Additionally, the judges praised Prairie Hill's best practices in stormwater management, which include bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces that naturally handle runoff while protecting local waterways. The use of sustainable building materials throughout the construction process further demonstrated the community's commitment to environmental responsibility.

This award from 1000 Friends of Iowa placed Prairie Hill among the state's most innovative and forward-thinking residential developments, validating the vision of the founding members who spent years planning and developing Iowa's first cohousing community.

Question 2

How has the media covered Prairie Hill Cohousing?

Accepted Answer

Prairie Hill has received extensive media coverage from local, regional, and statewide outlets since the project's early planning stages in 2013. Television stations including KCRG-TV, KWWL-TV, CBS2/FOX28, and KGAN-Channel 2 have all visited the community to produce video reports and interviews with residents and founders.

Print and online publications have provided in-depth coverage as well. The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Iowa City Press Citizen, Daily Iowan, Corridor Business Journal, and Little Village have all published feature articles exploring various aspects of the cohousing model and Prairie Hill specifically. These articles have covered topics ranging from the environmental benefits of cohousing to personal stories from community members.

Radio coverage has also been significant, with Iowa Public Radio's River to River podcast featuring an interview with founding member Del Holland in 2017. This broad media interest reflects the novelty and appeal of the cohousing concept in Iowa, where Prairie Hill represents the state's first such community.

The consistent media attention over many years has helped raise awareness of cohousing as a housing alternative and has attracted interest from people throughout Iowa and beyond who are curious about this model of intentional community living.

Question 3

When was Prairie Hill Cohousing built and what was the timeline?

Accepted Answer

The journey to create Prairie Hill Cohousing began in 2009, when a group of Iowa City residents started meeting to explore alternatives to traditional housing arrangements. These founding members shared interests in community living, sustainability, and the Danish cohousing model that had been successfully implemented in communities around the world.

The project reached a major milestone in 2013 when the group secured land on Miller Avenue on the west side of Iowa City. Over the next several years, they worked through the planning, zoning, and design process with architect John Shaw and city officials. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 13, 2016, marking the transition from planning to construction.

Construction proceeded through 2017, with the first residents moving into their homes in late 2017. The community continued to grow as additional units were completed, with the construction of all 37 homes and the common house finishing over the following years. The completion of the last unit marked the full realization of the founding group's vision.

Throughout this multi-year process, the founding members maintained their commitment to the cohousing principles of participatory design, sustainable construction, and community governance that continue to guide Prairie Hill today.

Question 4

What is the cohousing model that Prairie Hill follows?

Accepted Answer

Prairie Hill follows the Danish cohousing model, which originated in Denmark in the 1960s and has since been adopted by hundreds of communities worldwide. This model creates intentional neighborhoods where residents actively participate in the design and operation of their community while maintaining the privacy and independence of individual homeownership.

The key principles of the Danish cohousing model include participatory process, where residents are involved in planning and designing the community. Intentional neighborhood design clusters homes around shared spaces to encourage interaction. Extensive common facilities, centered on a common house, provide shared resources that extend each household's living space without the cost of individual ownership.

Prairie Hill implements these principles through its 37 eco-friendly homes arranged around pedestrian-only green spaces, with a centrally located common house that serves as the community's social hub. Governance is handled through a sociocratic decision-making process where all community members have a voice, and residents share responsibilities for maintaining common areas and organizing community events.

The model is explicitly designed to balance community engagement with personal privacy. Unlike communes, each household owns their home independently, has their own kitchen and private living spaces, and can choose their level of participation in community activities. The Danish cohousing model has proven successful because it creates the conditions for strong neighborly connections without requiring a communal lifestyle.

Question 5

Who are some of the key people involved in Prairie Hill Cohousing?

Accepted Answer

Prairie Hill Cohousing was brought to life through the dedication of many community members and supporters over more than a decade of planning and development. Del Holland was among the most prominent founding members, frequently serving as a spokesperson in media interviews and public presentations about the project from its earliest days through completion.

Other founding members who played significant roles include Barb Bailey, Nan Fawcett, Annie Tucker, and Marcia Shaffer, all of whom contributed to the planning process and represented the community in media appearances and public meetings. Craig Mosher and Donna Rupp were among the first residents to move into Prairie Hill when the first units were completed in late 2017.

Architect John Shaw designed the homes at Prairie Hill, creating the diverse mix of duplexes, townhomes, and stacked flats that nestle into the community's hillside site. His designs balanced energy efficiency and sustainability with comfortable, modern living spaces that accommodate households of different sizes and needs.

Community member Karen Kubby, an Iowa City business owner, contributed to the project both as a member and as a public advocate, writing opinion pieces about the value of investing in cohousing. The community also received support from Iowa City planners including Bob Miklo, who helped guide the project through the municipal approval process.

Prairie Hill in the News

Prairie Hill featured on Channel 4!

Prairie Hill wins award for Best New Development in Iowa

Sustainability built-in at Iowa’s first cohousing development

Green houses and green thumbs in eco-friendly cohousing

Only cohousing community in the state welcomes visitors in Iowa City

In Iowa City, a co-housing movement blends living large with living small

Building green: Energy efficiency, sustainability can be incorporated into home design

Iowa City Cohousing development is a worthy investment

Construction continues on a shared-housing community focused on sustainable living

First residents set to move into Prairie Hill

First cohousing neighborhood in the state readies for first residents

Iowa City boasts state’s first cohousing development

“Not a ‘60s Commune”: Iowa City’s New Co-Housing Community

Cohousing community breaking new ground in Iowa City

Earlier Coverage

Prairie Hill to become Iowa’s first cohousing site

Cohousing inches closer to Iowa City

Group creates Iowa City’s first cohousing community

Cohousing in Iowa City coming closer to reality

Iowa City cohousing community presents revised proposal

Iowa City officials to consider cohousing development

Cohousing project moves ahead

Iowa City cohousing group will soon own land

Iowa City Group Working on Cohousing Project

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