About Us

Creating a Neighborhood

Island Cohousing is a neighborhood of 16 houses and a collection of shared common facilities located on a 30-acre woodland site in West Tisbury, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.  It began in 1996 when John Abrams, president of South Mountain Company, a local design/build and development company, set to work with a core group of Islanders excited by the prospect of community living, affordable year round housing, and environmental responsibility (see Guiding Principles). In 1997 the group purchased land and began a highly collaborative design and development process.  In the spring of 2000, 16 families moved into completed homes, marking the end of the development adventure and the beginning of a new experiment for all of us.  See Design and Planning.

We settled in quickly and gradually acclimated to our new surroundings, our new neighbors, and the potential rewards of what we have created. Today we are a community of 29 adults, 24 kids, 5 dogs, and a herd of cats.  Our site includes a wonderful pond (great swimming and ice skating!), a beautiful common house where we share meals and other activities, a community vegetable garden, and beautiful woodlands with trails that link to many parts of the island.  There are many improvements we would like to make, but we understand that this is a long term process that unfolds over time -  at present our desires far outstrip our abilities and participatory energies.

But we’ll get there in due time. . . . . .

If you would like further information, or like to arrange to see Island Cohousing, please e-mail John Abrams at jabrams@vineyard.net.