Ross Chapin, the architect who introduced pocket neighborhoods to America, and the author of Pocket Neighborhoods, spoke last Thursday at the Whatcom Museum as part of its AHA! evening programming.

The presentation addressed subtle design strategies to maintain privacy for individual homes in these neighborhoods. The many benefits of these intentional communities, also discussed in the talk, include safety, shared responsibility of gardens and common spaces, social community, and shared knowledge and talents of community members. You can find out more about his work at www.rosschapin.com and www.pocket-neighborhoods.net

Here in Bellingham, we are working to incorporate some pocket neighborhoods of our own. Millworks Cohousing was completed two years ago by Aiki Homes, and now Rob Staveland and his team, including Altimeter Studio, are working with McKenzie Green Commons in Fairhaven. There will be twelve homes in this project when it is completed, and homes are still available. For more information visit www.mckenziegreencommons.org