Williamsburg, VA

HOPE FAMILY VILLAGE | Mission Focused Cohousing & Co-living

is an intergenerational cohousing community in Williamsburg, Virginia, designed to foster connection, dignity, and long-term support for individuals living with mental health conditions and their families. In addition to approximately 25 private homes and a central common house, the village includes two Fairweather Lodges, supportive cooperative living arrangements where four adults with mental health conditions will live together, sharing responsibilities and peer support as a pathway toward greater independence. Landscaped courtyards, gardens, and outdoor gathering spaces encourage daily interaction and collective stewardship. The project also incorporates innovative strategies for financial accessibility, including homeownership through a Community Land Trust and nonprofit development. Developed in close collaboration with future residents, the design balances autonomy with belonging, creating a resilient and inclusive neighborhood centered on wellbeing and mutual care.

In collaboration with the local architecture firm Hopke / Harrison, Inc.

Hope Family Village

#of units: ~25

year: OCCUPANCY EXPECTED IN 2028

current phase: SCHEMATIC DESIGN

project team:

community website: hopefamilyvillage.org

performance metrics

Diverse housing types

7 unit types ranging from 2-bedroom patio homes to 4-bedroom cottages with walkout basements, supporting varied household sizes, lifestyles and affordability.

Co-living support

2 Fairweather-style co-living units with 4 bedrooms each, fostering shared responsibilities, peer support, and independent living skills.

Space for Community

~4,000 SF common house with a private wing for residents and a public wing for the broader community, promoting social interaction, shared resources, and active neighborhood integration.

Group of twelve people standing in a room with whiteboard papers in the background and a large architectural model on a table in front.

Process

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Site workshop and conceptual design

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Common House workshop and schematic design

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Private House workshop and schematic design

Hope Family Village gallery

A detailed miniature model of a city or town layout showing buildings, roads, and green spaces, with a topographic map underneath.

A detailed miniature model of a city or town layout showing buildings, roads, and green spaces, with a topographic map underneath.

People gather around a large topographical map on a table, examining a layered landscape model with small building models and pathways, likely in a meeting or planning session.

People gather around a large topographical map on a table, examining a layered landscape model with small building models and pathways, likely in a meeting or planning session.

A group of people sitting around tables in a conference room, with a man standing in front near a whiteboard filled with sticky notes, during a workshop or brainstorming session.

A group of people sitting around tables in a conference room, with a man standing in front near a whiteboard filled with sticky notes, during a workshop or brainstorming session.

TESTIMONIAL