The Chicken Problem: What Intentional Communities Get Wrong

People love the idea of values-based, democratic residential communities. So why don't they work?

Thesis Driven dives deep into emerging themes and real estate operating models. This week’s letter dives into the world of intentional communities—developments based on shared values and democratic leadership—and explores their pitfalls and potential.

Living collaboratively with friends is a dream for many Americans at a certain point in their lives. Between the high cost of city living and the social isolation often associated with the suburbs—not to mention the challenges of raising children alone—there’s good reason the idea of living in a community with shared values, responsibilities, and even ownership is in high demand in concept.

I get asked about intentional communities a lot given my experience growing Common into the largest coliving brand in the United States, so I finally decided to put together some thoughts on the model.

In those early days of building Common, the team and I visited dozens of intentional communities. Some were single-asset coliving projects in the Haight; others were sprawling complexes of single-family homes in the rural West. Intentional communities are based on a shared set of values, purpose, and rules; most exist somewhere on the spectrum between an HOA and Rajneeshpuram. While we took Common in a more utilitarian direction and avoided the “intentional” label, the intentional communities we visited gave us inspiration—and more than a few cautionary tales.

Purposeful residential communities may begin as simply as a group of friends who want to live together, or they may come together as a larger, planned community. They build some residential structures, elect leaders, establish ground rules and basic financial management, and live in harmony.

Then one day someone decides to get some chickens, and everything goes to hell.

Today we’ll discuss the promise and potential of intentional living communities. But we’ll also highlight the pitfalls they often encounter: social, financial, and more. We’ll also talk about what this might mean for society, governance, and cities.