Development Update – 2/5/25
As you hopefully already know, you can now reserve a lot or living unit at Polestar Village. We already have a dozen reservations and are processing a steady stream of interest. You can find out every you need to know on the website at polestarvillage.com
The final iteration of our plan is in process and will be submitted to the city by the end of the month. Years of planning, distilled from decades of cooperative living will, we hope, deliver a unique and comprehensive blueprint for a lasting, thriving community. Our attention moves now to the ‘development agreements’ with the city. These will clarify and codify the phasing of the construction, the sureties required for public improvements, the ultimate ownership and maintenance of the roads, infrastructure and more.
We expect to start our first phase of construction in June. It includes paving the extension of Orchard St. and a short section of Polestar Way; the detention pond, water, sewer, communication lines, and the ‘platting’ of 18 single family lots. This first phase will allow us to begin construction on single family homes and position us financially to move into phase two: constructing the Village Center.
We are working with the city Forestry Department to move and save as many of the existing trees as possible. Some of the smaller trees can be moved with our own excavator but we are contracting with a tree spade company to come in April to save about 10 of the larger ones. If you would like to make a contribution to help save as many trees as possible – please contact us soon!
We are in touch with many other community builders, especially in America but also around the world, and there seems to be an increasing sense of urgency about the importance of this work. Many of us it seems, seek to live in a more conscious, connected, and uplifted lifestyle. Some very interesting initiatives have developed recently around coliving arrangements. This has enormous potential on many levels (especially affordability!) and I will write more about these developments in an upcoming newsletter.
For now, we hope to see you this year. There’s not a bad time to come (and lots of community service projects this year!) but you might especially consider Family Camp at the end of June and Polestar’s 25th birthday celebration at Fall Equinox.
blessings and hope to see you soon,
michael
