La Querencia, the Valley's first cohousing community, will host a free presentation about this unique style of home and neighborhood building, Thursday, May 18 from 7-9 pm at the Professional Exchange Service Corporation in Fresno. Architect Kathryn McCamant, author of "Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves" will be the guest speaker. The topic will be: "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child, or Do the Children Raise the Village?" Refreshments will be served.

"People still want to live as we did in generations past - in safe, caring neighborhoods where children play together and neighbors help each other out. Cohousing fills that gap for today's busy families," says La Querencia spokesperson Larry Bassman. "The residents design and manage the community, and have come together intentionally to live in this environmentally friendly way."

In a nutshell, cohousing combines all the advantages of private home living with the substantial benefits of community building and a green, sustainable lifestyle. Some shared facilities such as a pool area, workshop and clubhouse, and some events such as optional sharing of meals help in building the community.

Cohousing has been popular in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and throughout Europe for decades: At present, 44 cohousing communities are in various stages of development throughout California alone. La Querencia, the only cohousing community in the Central Valley, will be built at 2658 Alluvial Avenue in Fresno and will have 28 homes. New members are welcome. Construction is expected to start in the autumn.

As always at cohousing events, children are welcome at the May 18th evening event. The Professional Exchange Service Corporation is located at 4747 N. First Street, Suite 140. While the informational meeting is free, please RSVP to 559-272-2254.

Location: Professional Exchange Service Corporation, 4747 N. First Street Suite 140, Fresno
Starts: 2006 May 18 - 7:00pm
Ends: 2006 May 18 - 9:00pm
Website: http://www.fresnocohousing.org