Block Planning and N St. Co-op

N Street Co-op. Foto by Steven Johnson

N Street Co-op in Davis, California is a rare example of transforming an entire suburban block.  Starting off in 1986,  N Street came into being with a couple properties with a fence taken down, N Street has added new properties to the retro fit co-housing ever since.  In more recent years, several houses across the street have become allies. There are some 50 adults and 5 to 10 kids living at N Street.  Some of the mid 50's suburban homes are owned by community residents, absentee landlords and partnerships of former and current community members.  In 1999, N Street was recognized as a planned development, a land use designation vital to Block Planning.  That designation  allows  more relaxed regulations regarding set backs and remodels.  Since 2005, there has been a newly built commons house.  The integrated free range back area is a great example of taking down fences and making much more effective use of space, another core ideal of Block Planning.

Note, in the foto above, there would be a back yard fence coming straight to the camera from the telephone pole in the middle of the image.