EcoVillage at Ithaca

New York, USA

Cohousing community with clustered housing, land conservation, and shared facilities

Key facts

  • Country: USA
  • Region: New York
  • Founded: 1991
  • Members: 175
  • Land size: 175 acres
  • Governance model: Democratic cooperative with neighborhood and village councils
  • Economy model: Private ownership with cooperative services and bulk purchasing
  • Ownership model: Condominium ownership with land trust conservation
  • Status: active
  • Website: https://ecovillageithaca.org

About

Cohousing community with clustered housing, land conservation, and shared facilities

Full description

EcoVillage at Ithaca, established in 1991, is one of North America's pioneering cohousing communities and a model for sustainable suburban development. Located on 175 acres near Ithaca, New York, the community features clustered passive solar homes, extensive organic gardens, preserved open space, and shared common facilities. EcoVillage demonstrates how thoughtful planning can create vibrant neighborhoods with a significantly reduced ecological footprint. The community has won numerous awards for its environmental design and has documented an 80% reduction in energy use compared to typical American housing. EcoVillage serves as an educational resource, hosting tours, workshops, and research projects focused on sustainable community development.