Enright Ridge Urban Eco-village

xidai

Enright Ridge Urban Eco-village

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Mission Statement
Urban retrofit eco-village

Community Description
ENRIGHT RIDGE URBAN ECO-VILLAGE
CINCINNATI, OHIO

In 2004, Imago, an ecological education organization on Enright Ave. brought 17 residents together to start an eco-village in the neighborhood. They came together and committed to developing a neighborhood that valued a sense of community and would become a destination neighborhood embodying green sustainable living practices, as well as a model for revitalizing other urban neighborhoods. Its mission: Enright Ridge Urban Eco-village, Inc. seeks to be an ecologically responsible community sharing ideas, resources and a reverence for earth.

The eco-village is located on a ¾ mile long dead-end street with 80 houses and 90 households in an inner ring neighborhood, just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. 40% of the residents are involved with the eco-village 30% are open and 30% indifferent. There is no opposition because the neighborhood is a wonderful place to live because it is an eco-village. The eco-village became a non-profit tax exempt organization in 2009.

Housing prices and rentals are reasonably priced. We have acquired eight houses that were foreclosed and have rehabbed them and sold most to home owners, some we have kept to rent to people interested in the eco-village. We used creative financing to purchase the first home, then came across a foundation that has lent us money for purchase and rehab, repaying it when we sold the house. Houses in the eco-village are owned by the homeowner. We do not control who buys into the eco-village, but most people who moving here do so because of the eco-village. We have had a good number of young families with children move into the eco-village over the years.

We have created an urban CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project in and around the eco-village, using backyards and lots. We have two farmers working for us and an intern. We have 75 shares, serving around 200 people. Shares are not restricted to the eco-village. The CSA is, what we feel is the best way to grow a significant amount of food in our urban areas, and also provides employment to farmers.

With the majority of people now living in cities, we have to find ways of making our cities more Earth friendly. The eco-village is a great way of doing this. Our goal is to help other urban neighborhoods create their own eco-village. We are willing to consult with groups interested in looking at the possibility of creating an eco-village in their city neighborhood.

Housing
Current Number of Residences: 80
Additional Comments:
The eco-village owns three houses and land around them. Imago owns 36 acres in the area. The rest of the land is individually owned
Imago has 36 acres. Most of the land is owned by individual residents of the eco-village.
We would be open to cohousing developing in the eco-village

Membership
Adult Members: 100
Non-member Residents: 150
Visitors accepted: Yes
Visitor Process:
Contact Jim Schenk at jschenk@imagoearth.org
Open to new Members: Yes
Membership Process:
One can purchase or rent in the eco-village when places are available
Additional Comments:
We do Earth-centered spiritual celebrations based on Earth centered traditions an our own developments
People choose their own. We have several Waldorf teachers who live in the eco-village and teach at a local Waldorf school

Economics
Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
Shared Income: None
Required Labor Contribution: No
Open to members with existing debt: Yes
Additional Comments:
People are resonsible for own finances
There is a $15/year membership fee

Lifestyle
Shared meals: 1-3 times per month
Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals)
Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
Tobacco Use: Yes, used seldomly, or ceremoniously.
Additional Diet Comments:
We have a CSA and many private organic gardens
Most of our community meals are vegetarian

Source: https://www.ic.org/directory/enright-ridge-urban-eco-village/