Co-Living Collaborative
Building Community
Smart Share's Co-Living Collaborative seeks to foster affordable housing solutions that include common areas, providing a sense of community, as well as private areas. Smart Share is exploring opportunities in the county to establish co-living centers. Since 2017 we've investigated older motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, large residences and other under-utilized commercial or public properties for possible acquisition and conversion to a co-living center. Many of these collaborative dwellings are successfully meeting people's needs for housing in community all over the world.
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The Waterman Village Project is a co-living micro-village in development with the City of San Luis Obispo right now. Located in downtown SLO, Waterman Village will be a car free cottage cluster community. Stay tuned for more information or join our mailing list to stay up to date on the latest. Look for more co-living projects ahead!
Waterman Village
Safe, secure, permanent & affordable housing in a sustainable Cottage Cluster
Watch the video to find out more about people who are interested in living at Waterman Village.
What is Waterman Village?
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20 permanent, below-market rate homes, built on foundations, each with full bathing, kitchen and laundry facilities
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A group of efficient small homes (220-260 square feet) and a neighborhood park around a restored historic adobe that serves as a gathering center for residents (14 attached and 6 detached)
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A cultural heritage center that models sustainable living practices, encourages community interactions through walking and bicycling, and provides residents and the community a calm, shaded neighborhood park.
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The all-electric, high efficiency homes and the adobe will be hooked up to City water, wastewater and electric infrastructure, just like all other homes on the block, and they will have solar generating capacity added on, to meet or exceed California codes.
Who will live at Waterman Village?
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Older single women on a fixed income; working singles who choose to live simply and car-free; a working mom or dad with a small child. Residents will have to apply, meet income and other requirements, and will then be selected via lottery.
Who will manage the Waterman Village property?
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Smart Share Housing Solutions or another non-profit housing organization using an on-site office and an off hours on-site resident manager.
What Waterman Village is NOT:
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Temporary homeless shelter
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Social services hub
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McMansions that only wealthy retirees from LA and SF can afford
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Off-grid cabins without adequate utility infrastructure
Who will NOT live at Waterman Village:
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Anyone who would like to. All applicants must pass screening.
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People making more than designated income limits
Who will NOT manage the Waterman Village Property:
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An off-site professional property management firm
What Waterman Village will NOT do to surrounding properties:
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Decrease property value: Multiple studies show no negative effect on property values nearby quality affordable housing, e.g. this on National Association of Realtors site.
Why is there a small home on wheels at the 466 Dana St. location?
Have you seen Smart Share's Demo Cottage at the Waterman Village site? Wondering what it's doing there? The Demo Cottage provides a representative interior layout of the homes planned for Waterman Village. It IS NOT an example of a proposed Waterman Village home. The foundations, exteriors, and finishes will be different from those of the Demo Cottage.
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Find out more about the purpose of the Demo Cottage using the link below.
How will Waterman Village Benefit the Community?
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Increase socialization and provide a local park
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Lower cost to construct: small homes on permanent foundations
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Attainable housing for single, lower income workforce and retired senior households
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Community Resilience: low footprint construction, adaptive reuse & car-free living
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Preserve the majority of the on-site trees
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Restoration of the adobe, currently boarded up for many years
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A beautiful, centrally located place for San Luis Obispo residents of limited means who want to live simply, in community, and car-free near downtown
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Sustainability showplace and education center
If you would like to show your support for Waterman Village during the hearing process, please click on the button below and fill out the short form. You will receive a follow-up email with more information as we develop a communications strategy for the hearings. Add your name as a Waterman Village supporter using the button below.
Help Smart Share construct 20 affordable homes in downtown San Luis Obispo at the Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe!
The Waterman Project, a sustainable micro-village, will renovate the historic adobe at 466 Dana Street and add up to 20 affordable small homes. The long unused property will be transformed to serve the community, bringing old and new together while preserving the lush tree canopy AND meeting needs for local affordable housing and community resilience. Through these efforts, neighborhood safety and vitality will be further enhanced and this project will serve as a replicable community partnership model for other game changing adaptive reuse, community resilience, and affordable housing partnerships ahead.
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We asked, and the community generously responded
Thank you to our team of donors, volunteers and contractors
The Waterman Village is Smart Share Housing's first housing development project. As with so many firsts, there come a variety of things you didn't know you didn't know--and that suddenly, yesterday, somebody needed to know. Appropriate treatments to make a 170 year old mud building functional for modern use today, for example, and what appropriate head clearance is for lofts in 220 square foot homes is common sense merged with code–demanding a high level of team collaboration. This project development is possible only with the help of an extended team. Our sincere thanks to all listed and additionally to the hundreds of people participating in the process in various ways, some whose names we'll never know:
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All Volunteer WV Team: Thank you, first, to our dedicated all volunteer WV Team members: Terri Main (The Main Company, Inc, a general contractor), Carl Meissner (Service Electric), Erik Berg-Johansen, Stephanie Teaford, Celeste Goyer (Casita Coalition), Fred Hathaway, Aimee Wyatt, Marianne Kennedy (Women's Shelter of San Luis Obispo County, retired), Tim Waag, Greg Notley, PE (Power & Communications Engineering), Sharon Gottesfeld and Marcia Alter. Team members have drawn plans, marked out home sites, measured heights of tree limbs, spoken with neighbors and given tours to community members, pressed partners for action, asked for donations and done the hands on work of making this project possible. Click here for more information about our board and staff.
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Professional consultants: Thank you to Dana Hunter and Kaye Lao, project architect and draftsperson, for leading project design and site planning, handling thousands of small details to fit homes between and under tree limbs, get enough fire separation, maintain and protect the primary historic features of the adobe, try to fit in the best place for e-bike charging, keep residents from hitting their heads on low ceilings, etc; to Terry Lee, TLLA, for help with essential tree protection; to Dan Parker-King at Hive Engineering, for making the rainwater flow away from the mud building; to Jennifer Rennick at InBalance Green Consulting for assistance with home energy efficiency analysis; and to the team at SWCA for multiple rounds of environmental review to protect site resources.
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Project partners: We appreciate the ongoing assistance of City of San Luis Obispo Council Members & staff, particularly project liaison Bob Hill for keeping the project moving forward; County of San Luis Obispo for ARPA project grant funding; Angela Tahti and Ken Haggard, whose vision for this property got the project underway, and Stacey Hunt, at Ecologistics, for the organizational capacity and dedication to sign off on a large project of small homes
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Many, many donors:
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172 community members contributed to the GoFundMe campaign = $10,570
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24 community members contributed donations through this website = $9,990
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Total donations of $20,560 from 196 donors
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10 generous donors have made Match Pledges of $734,100 for project development, contingent upon City match funds
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206 donations and pledges totaling $754,646 make this project a reality
Private community member contributions will be leveraged with City and the County affordable housing funds, private foundation contributions and loan funds, as necessary.
Your additional contributions to help us reach our $1M in local community contributions goal will help us continue to demonstrate broad community support for small, infill, affordable homes and show that this model is replicable in San Luis Obispo and elsewhere.
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What are the fees to participate?Seekers pay a $50 fee at the time they submit their application. The application is good for two years, allowing you to pursue matches during that time. If your match ends and your application is over two years old, we will ask you to reapply and pay the fee again. We can't guarantee we'll make an introduction for you that will result in a homeshare match, as it's the provider's decision who they decide to share with. Providers pay no fee at the time of application, but half of the first month's rent is paid directly to Smart Share Housing Solutions (HomeShareSLO), to support program costs at the time of move-in.
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How long will it take to find a match for me?Plan on anywhere from several weeks to a month or more. You can expedite the process by making sure you provide appropriate references and that they are available and will respond to our inquiries in a timely manner. Also, be sure to give us your current phone numbers (and let us know if they need to be updated) so that we can easily reach you. If we have someone currently on our list who meets your needs, the process will be faster than if we have to wait for the right person to come along. Some people find a match quickly, sometimes it takes weeks or months, and some never find the right situation for themselves. It all depends on you, your specific needs and preferences, and the availability of other seekers or providers who can offer the qualities you are looking for.
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What if I don't know what to charge for rent?HomeShare SLO cannot make that decision for you, but we can tell you what some other people in similar situations have charged. We suggest you talk it over with family or friends. You can look in the newspaper or craigslist for market value rents.
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How much is the rent?It varies. Each HomeShare provider sets her or his own rent. All household members are expected to do their share of chores to keep common areas clean and safe.
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What if I don't like my housemate after we are living together?This is the reason for the trial match period. It gives you some real experience together before a definite decision is made. Even after the agreement is signed you can terminate the arrangement. But don't give up too easily. Sometimes all that is needed is some honest communication and clear statement of your needs. HomeShare is available to help smooth out the rough spots in your relationship.
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How long do homeshare matches last?It varies. Some last for years, others for months. The average time home shares last is between one and four years. Sometimes a person moves away, or an older homeowner may become disabled and need to live in a more supportive environment. Family situations change, and with that, living arrangements are altered.
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Okay, what's the big deal about sponge squeezing?It's the little things, right? Some folks squeeze the excess water out of their sponge after using it, and some don't. You can't cover everything in those first face-to-face meetings, but we try to include questions about all the important areas, to get the conversation going. For instance, 'how important is it to you that the home's common areas are kept clean and tidy?' is meant to get the whole sponge-squeezing controversy out in the open. Compatibility is comprised of details like this-- preferred home temperature, television viewing, guests, storage, noise--our mission is to find folks that align well in the big and the little areas of living.
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Where can I learn more?Start with the HomeShare SLO page on our website. You may also be interested in taking our FREE How to Homeshare course. You can access it from our HomeShare SLO page.
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What is Co-living?Co-living is a style of housing that includes private areas and shared areas. It can refer to anything from intentional communities with private apartments and homes and shared common areas, to living with roommates. This can look like adult roommates homesharing in single family homes, or floors in a high-rise building that have been converted into dormitory-style lodging with shared kitchen and living areas. Humans have been using co-living arrangements since the dawn of time, Humans have lived in shared housing for millennia. Today, starting in the early 1970's, more than 60 home share organizations in the U.S. have made tens of thousands of successful matches. Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, have been developing co-living housing developments for decades.
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What is the Co-Living Collaborative?Co-Living Collaborative is one of Smart Share Housing Solutions' three programs. It seeks to foster affordable housing solutions that have common areas and a sense of community, while also affording privacy. Smart Share is exploring opportunities in our county to establish co-living centers. Since 2017 we've investigated older motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, large residences and other under-utilized commercial or public properties for possible acquisition and conversion to a co-living center. Many of these collaborative dwellings are successfully meeting people's needs for housing in community all over the world. The Waterman Village Project is a development in conjunction with the City of San Luis Obispo. The co-living center will be in downtown SLO - a car free cottage cluster community. The Waterman Village Project is a micro village in development right now! Stay tuned for more information or join our mailing list to stay up to date on the latest. Look for more co-living projects ahead!
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What is Waterman Village?Waterman Village is a joint project of the City of San Luis Obispo (the owner of the property) and Smart Share Housing Solutions, a non-profit organization. The use of the historic Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe and grounds will be established in a long-term lease between the City and Smart Share Housing Solutions. The project vision includes preservation of the site's natural beauty and a majority of the trees, rehabilitation of the historic adobe, construction of a micro-village of efficient small homes, and creation of a neighborhood park. Waterman Village will be a cultural heritage center that models sustainable living practices, encourages community interactions through walking and bicycling, and provides residents and the community a calm, shaded neighborhood park. Once rehabilitated, the historic adobe will contain an office, kitchen, bathroom, and space for small meetings or gatherings. A model, car-free, cottage cluster of homes will provide affordable housing for community-minded residents, committed to the project and sustainable living practices. Public access hours to view the historic adobe to be determined. Park grounds will be accessible to neighbors during daylight hours. Through these efforts, neighborhood safety and vitality will be further enhanced and this project will serve as a replicable community partnership model for other game changing adaptive reuse, community resilience, and affordable housing partnerships ahead. Summary: 20 permanent, below-market rate homes, built on foundations, each with full bathing, kitchen and laundry facilities A group of efficient small homes (220-260 square feet) and a neighborhood park around a restored historic adobe that serves as a gathering center for residents (14 attached and 6 detached) A cultural heritage center that models sustainable living practices, encourages community interactions through walking and bicycling, and provides residents and the community a calm, shaded neighborhood park. The all-electric, high efficiency homes and the adobe will be hooked up to City water, wastewater and electric infrastructure, just like all other homes on the block, and they will have solar generating capacity added on, to meet or exceed California codes.
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Who will live at Waterman Village?Likely residents include older single women on a fixed income; working singles who choose to live simply and car-free; or a working mom or dad with a small child. Residents will have to apply, meet income and other requirements, and will then be selected via lottery.
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Who will manage the Waterman Village property?The property will be managed by Smart Share Housing Solutions or another non-profit housing organization using an on-site office and an off hours on-site resident manager.
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How will Waterman Village benefit the community?Increase socialization and provide a neighborhood park Provide housing for people who need it Preserve the majority of the on-site trees Restoration of the adobe, currently boarded up for many years A beautiful, centrally located place for San Luis Obispo residents of limited means who want to live simply, in community, and car-free near downtown Sustainability showplace and education center
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What is the current status of the project?Now that the project is approved, the SmartShare team will seek project construction estimates and begin fundraising in earnest. March 4, 2025: The City Council unanimously voted to reject the appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission. Dec. 17, 2024: The project was appealed by Stephan Barasch (owner of a neighboring rental property) on behalf of the San Luis Obispo Property and Business Owner's Association, which required that the project then be heard by the City Council. Dec. 11, 2024: The Planning Commission unanimously approved the project with a few conditions. Nov. 18, 2024: The Architectural Review Commission approved the project with a few recommendations. Oct. 28, 2024: The project was approved by the Cultural Heritage Commission with a few recommendations. Development review of the project application is underway, during which time the project will be evaluated to make sure it meets objective City requirements and adequately protects the existing historic adobe. Smart Share's volunteer team continues to: share information about the project with neighbors and community members; request support and funding from community members; and build a sense of excitement around how this co-living, cottage cluster community model, with lower cost permanent, affordable tiny housing and car-free living, can work on this site and be replicated elsewhere. Smart Share staff is working with City and County staff and applying to foundations to secure affordable housing, historic preservation and community electrification and resiliency funds for the project. Public involvement will be essential to a successful project.
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What is the ADU SLO program?Started in 2019, ADU SLO was created to educate, inspire and assist property owners with the logistics of adding housing units to backyards, garages, infill lots and existing buildings that already have infrastructure and an embedded energy grid. Smart Share supports opportunities for safe and affordable housing through Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs) in San Luis Obispo County backyards.
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I'm curious about building an ADU on my property. Where do I start?The ADU SLO program had a contract with the City of Arroyo Grande in 2023-24 to produce workshops and provide technical assistance to city homeowners who were interested in building ADUs. That contract has ended, but a video of the presentation can still be accessed on our website. Keep in mind that while much of it is general and will apply to all jurisdictions, this presentation was created specifically for Arroyo Grande residents and some may not apply to you.
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I don't live in Arroyo Grande. Can you still help me?Maybe. We do offer some limited fee-for-service items, particularly in southern San Luis Obispo County. Please contact us via email: info@smartsharehousingsolutions or phone: 805-215-5474 for more specifics. Be sure to call your city or county office and request information about ADUs, maybe even suggest they contract with Smart Share Housing Solutions to provide resources to your jurisdiction.
Your Support is Important
Public support and donations are a valuable factor toward providing safe, affordable housing in this premier location. The City of San Luis Obispo and the County need to know you want this project to happen. Your pledge of support will influence their investment. Contribute financially now to help us reach our $1M match goal. Please donate now! Donate by credit card using the button below or send checks to P.O. Box 15034 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.
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Your tax-deductible donation and/or pledge can be cash/check/credit card or:
- appreciated stocks or securities
- real estate or other property
- all or a portion of your required minimum distribution (RMD)
- gift from your DAF (donor advised fund)
Call to talk about which option(s) might be right for you: 805-215-5474.
To donate via credit card, click the button below. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!