Building co-operatives
Encyclopedia
Building co-operatives are co-operative housing
corporations where individuals or families work together to directly construct their own homes in a cooperative fashion.
Members of this type of co-operative purchase building material
s in bulk and co-operate with other members of the co-op during the construction phase of the co-operative. Once the housing has been completed the members usually own their homes directly. In some cases, roads, parkland and community facilities continue to be owned by the co-operative.
Building co-ops were extremely popular in many parts of Canada
from the 1930s to the 1960s. Father James (Jimmy) Tompkins
and Dr. Moses Coady
were key organizers in Nova Scotia
of the first building co-operatives. Through active local study groups they began research on co-operatives and developed a concept of how a building co-op could work.
In 1936, Father Tompkins helped found the first self-help building co-operative in North America near Glace Bay (Reserve Mines), Nova Scotia, Canada. A group of coal miners formed a housing cooperative
with a loan of CAN $22,000. The housing loan was used to pay for building materials. Each miner's personal contribution consisted of his labor or "sweat equity
". The miners worked together to build eleven homes which they moved into in 1938. These homes continue to be occupied today at Tompkinsville.
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
corporations where individuals or families work together to directly construct their own homes in a cooperative fashion.
Members of this type of co-operative purchase building material
Building material
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks, even twigs and leaves have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more...
s in bulk and co-operate with other members of the co-op during the construction phase of the co-operative. Once the housing has been completed the members usually own their homes directly. In some cases, roads, parkland and community facilities continue to be owned by the co-operative.
Building co-ops were extremely popular in many parts of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from the 1930s to the 1960s. Father James (Jimmy) Tompkins
James Tompkins
Father Jimmy Tompkins was a Roman Catholic priest who founded the Antigonish Movement, a progressive effort that incorporated adult education, cooperatives and rural community development to aid the fishing and mining communities of northern and eastern Nova Scotia, Canada...
and Dr. Moses Coady
Moses Coady
Rev. Dr. Moses Michael Coady was a Roman Catholic priest, adult educator and co-operative entrepreneur best known for his instrumental role in the Antigonish Movement...
were key organizers in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
of the first building co-operatives. Through active local study groups they began research on co-operatives and developed a concept of how a building co-op could work.
In 1936, Father Tompkins helped found the first self-help building co-operative in North America near Glace Bay (Reserve Mines), Nova Scotia, Canada. A group of coal miners formed a housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
with a loan of CAN $22,000. The housing loan was used to pay for building materials. Each miner's personal contribution consisted of his labor or "sweat equity
Sweat equity
Sweat equity is a term that refers to a party's contribution to a project in the form of effort --- as opposed to financial equity, which is a contribution in the form of capital....
". The miners worked together to build eleven homes which they moved into in 1938. These homes continue to be occupied today at Tompkinsville.