Proposed ‘cohousing’ in Olympia would be geared toward adults with special needs 

As the need for supportive and inclusive housing options grows, a local group is exploring a new way to provide community living for neurodivergent individuals, particularly adults diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

A free online webinar will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, to give the public a chance to learn more about a variation of the cohousing model. 

Organizers of the 2021 Boulevard Cohousing Project want to create a community on a 0.9-acre parcel south of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The undeveloped parcel was last occupied in 2008 by Boulevard Nursery. In 2023, contractors cleared the land of herbicides with help from the City of Olympia under a contract from the Washington State Department of Ecology.  

Aside from families who have one or more neurodivergent members, the proposed cohousing neighborhood would include homes for a mix of individuals. 

“We hope to construct 16-20 one-bedroom cottages and duplex units, each with about 500 square feet, and a common house, to serve the needs of a mixed group of individuals, including some adults with disabilities, seniors and caregivers,” according to Danny Stusser, who began working to acquire the property six years ago intending to create dense residential housing there.

This is the architect’s concept drawing of a new cohousing development unit layout in Olympia.

Image courtesy of 2021 Boulevard project.  

Of note, Stusser is also the publisher of The JOLT.

Cohousing blends private living spaces with shared facilities, where residents collectively manage their communities. For neurodivergent individuals, this setup offers a unique blend of autonomy, belonging and built-in support.

This is the architect’s concept of a new cohousing development in Olympia.

Image courtesy of 2021 Boulevard project.  

Cohousing is the ideal living environment for these individuals cared for by aging caregivers or facing the uncertainty of caregiver succession, according to the concept’s innovator. 

Charles Durrett, the Principal Architect of The Cohousing Company and author of "One Life, Live It!," is driving the design of the proposed Olympia inclusive community.

Durrett brought cohousing to the United States from Denmark in 1981, and has planned or designed more than 50 cohousing communities in North America, including some in Bellingham, Port Townsend and Spokane. He believes Olympia — home to supportive organizations and close to state agencies — is ideal for creating a neurodivergent-focused cohousing model. 

His vision draws inspiration from Solheimar, a cohousing community in Iceland, where 45 residents with autism and Down syndrome live interdependently along with neurotypical adults. 

“Every person needs a community to survive and thrive, regardless of their neurological makeup. And every parent or primary caregiver of a child or adult with special needs should feel like they are part of a community where they can share the load and be supported,” shared Durrett, as he emphasized the need of inclusive cohousing developments to support both neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers.  

Loren Michael Freeman, a longtime advocate for self-directed, long-term care, also supports the effort. Freeman points out that many neurodivergent adults still rely on aging parents as primary caregivers, with few sustainable housing options available once those caregivers can no longer provide support.  

“What aging parents and aging caregivers would like to see is some ability to transition to a successful placement so they have some confidence that it's sustainable and that it will continue for the time that their dependent adult child is going to be in need, and beyond that, perhaps successive to other families that come in afterwards who have the same vision and the same needs as their values,” Freeman said. 

The June 18 online webinar will explore how intentional communities like cohousing can redefine life for neurodivergent individuals and their neighbors. Participants will hear from experts and advocates about how inclusive design, shared ownership models, and resident-led governance can foster community support and sustainability. 

 Register here for the free webinar. For questions about the proposed project, click to email