Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op

Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op
Name	Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op
Location	Takoma Park, Maryland
Founded	1970s
Type	Housing Cooperative
Members	~500

Takoma Park-Silver Spring Co-op is a member-owned housing cooperative located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, centered near Takoma Park, Maryland and Silver Spring, Maryland. The cooperative operates as a community-oriented residential complex that combines shared governance, collective ownership, and affordable housing aims within a mixed-use suburban-urban setting. It interacts with regional institutions such as the Montgomery County, Maryland government, the District of Columbia metropolitan transportation network, and nonprofit actors active in housing policy like Enterprise Community Partners and National Cooperative Bank.

History

The co-op traces its origins to housing movements of the 1970s and 1980s influenced by precedents including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee era communal experiments and the cooperative housing surge following the energy crises that transformed development patterns in Prince George's County, Maryland and Montgomery County, Maryland. Early organizers studied models from cooperatives such as Penn South in New York City and the Cooperative Village projects, while drawing legal counsel from practitioners familiar with Maryland condominium law and cooperative incorporations under the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Over decades the site evolved through renovation phases paralleling regional redevelopment projects like the Takoma Park revitalization and transit-oriented development around Takoma Metro Station. The co-op has weathered market shifts tied to the growth of employers such as Johns Hopkins University and The George Washington University, and to policy changes influenced by the Fair Housing Act and county-level zoning reforms.

Organization and Governance

Governance follows a democratic structure modeled on cooperative principles espoused by organizations like National Association of Housing Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Foundation. A board of directors elected by the membership oversees budgeting, maintenance, and policy, while committees handle functions analogous to those in Co-opportunity Food Co-op and Equal Exchange-style cooperatives. The co-op's bylaws reference corporate forms similar to those used by Habitat for Humanity affiliates and coordinate with financial instruments from institutions such as the Federal Housing Administration when members use mortgage assistance. Dispute resolution practices reflect precedents from decisions in Maryland Court of Appeals cases involving cooperative governance and member rights.

Membership and Community Life

Membership draws residents affiliated with nearby institutions including American University, Montgomery College, George Mason University, and employees from federal agencies like the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Social life incorporates programming patterned after community cooperatives such as the Brooklyn Community Housing and Services model, featuring potlucks, workdays, and affinity groups that mirror activities at organizations like Casa Ruby and Interfaith Works. Educational workshops partner with nonprofits like Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Community Development Corporation of Montgomery County to provide financial literacy, tenant rights, and cooperative governance training.

Facilities and Services

The complex includes shared amenities comparable to those at cohousing projects like Davis Commons and services coordinated with providers such as Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission. Facilities typically comprise communal kitchens, garden plots inspired by Kensington Community Gardens, bicycle storage linked to Capital Bikeshare infrastructure, and childcare spaces modeled after Montgomery County Child Care Resource Service guidelines. Maintenance and capital improvements have utilized contractors with experience on projects funded by entities like Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development grants.

Financial Model and Affordability

The co-op operates on a limited-equity model informed by examples like Cooperative Homes, Inc. and Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives in Massachusetts and New York City. Members buy shares with resale formulas designed to preserve affordability, similar to mechanisms in Mitchell-Lama Housing Program analogues and tax abatements administered by Montgomery County Department of Finance. Operating revenue derives from member fees, rental agreements for guest units, and occasionally grant funding from foundations such as the Ford Foundation and Kresge Foundation. Financial oversight includes annual audits and compliance with standards promulgated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Community Impact and Advocacy

The co-op engages in advocacy on issues consistent with coalitions like Coalition for Smarter Growth and Greater Greater Washington, addressing transit access, affordable housing policy, and environmental sustainability initiatives championed by groups such as the Sierra Club and Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Its members have participated in public comment processes before bodies including the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Maryland General Assembly, influencing local zoning revisions and funding for community land trusts like those modeled after the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.

Notable Events and Controversies

Notable moments include organized responses to gentrification pressures associated with projects like the Purple Line (Maryland) debate, internal governance disputes resolved through arbitration consistent with precedents from the American Arbitration Association, and campaigns addressing maintenance backlogs during regional downturns similar to those experienced by cooperatives during the 2008 financial crisis. Controversies have involved allegations over resale pricing formulas and compliance with county occupancy codes, prompting reviews by agencies such as the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection and appeals to the Maryland Attorney General for mediation.

Category:Housing cooperatives in Maryland