PARTICIPATORY

From the earliest planning phase through construction and beyond, active member participation is what sets RTC apart from other types of housing. Residents are responsible as a group for most of the final design decisions. Once we have moved in, RTC residents will continue to manage the co-housing cooperative ourselves, using a form of consensus decision-making process called sociocracy which relies on decentralized work groups (circles) to ensure everyone is involved and has a voice.

RTC will create affordable living space for residents by reducing unit size in favor of a large common house and shared grounds. Residents will also realize cost savings due to the eco-friendly aspects of construction, such as solar panels. Residents will find other expenses, such as transportation, child care and elder care are less in co-housing, as residents share these responsibilities and help one another. RTC is also seeking to make some of the units affordable to households below the Milwaukee area median income.