For those looking for a new place to live in Buffalo, or simply interested in exploring different housing options, the Nickel City
Co-Op might have just the right alternative.
View image
The Plankton House, located at 126
Fargo Avenue in Buffalo has undergone an extreme makeover, and is seeking new housemates
interested in filling up their cozy, 3-story, 11-bedroom co-op.
Shea Akers, a 28-year-old resident of Plankton house, says there are 6 rooms available at this time, and she welcomes anyone who would like to join their mission in advocating affordable, cooperative, and sustainable living.
In 2001, the Nickel City Co-Op was founded by a group of University at Buffalo students with a drive to fix up some of the older vacant homes scattered throughout Buffalo. As members of NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation) their co-op was able to lease two houses on Buffalo's West Side through NASCO properties, dubbed Ol'Wondermoth and Plankton. They are just one of the many organizations around the United States who are part of a bigger effort to support living more simply and sustainably; somewhat of a DIY movement that adds to helping the greater good.
"They started it because Buffalo just seems like the place that would do well in terms of cooperative living," said Akers. "They wanted to promote community in Buffalo. Instead of leaving and moving away, they decided to lay their roots down here in the city."
In the past 3 years, the organization has worked as a team, revamping and completing several external and internal renovations to Plankton - a house that was far from perfect. Prior to the home improvements, there were numerous areas of the house in need of repair, along with a lot of structural damage surrounding the entire house, involving the siding, insulation, and electricity.
"The heating was near nonexistent for a while," said Akers. "There was only heat on the third floor."
Interestingly enough the third floor of the house wasn't always there; it used to be the attic. The Nickel City Co-op crew built the third floor themselves, as well as restructuring the front and sides of the house. They are still in the process of fixing up the rear of the house. Certainly, they have transformed this once crumbling house into a home by working collectively and efficiently.
Several people have lived in the Plankton house, with ages ranging from infancy to fifties. Currently, the people residing at the house are between the ages of 21 to 28. Although this seems like a specific age bracket, they want it known that all age groups are welcome.
"It's a responsible way to live in the sense that we can make decisions that might normally be too expensive for a single family unit," said Akers. Email membership inquiries here.
Living in this type of communal setting, the residents of the house have many of their basic needs met through working hard to provide for each other, as well as the entire neighborhood. Instead of working to live alone, they are working to live as one happy cluster of people who can take pleasure in each other's company.
"It means an emotionally and physically healthier lifestyle rather than the default single studio," says Brigidann Rauch, a 24-year-old resident of Plankton. "It's more ecological (smaller carbon footprint) and sustainable than living alone. It's also a helluva lot more fun. It means I can share a backyard, cook a full meal, chill on a porch, chat with dozens of new friends, cuddle with pets, and generally enjoy a better Buffalo life."
The Plankton house invites others in the community to join them in their home for a weekly potluck, held every Sunday at 7 PM. This gives outsiders the opportunity to chat with the people in the house and ask them any questions. For those interested in the Ol'Wondermoth house, their potlucks are every Wednesday at 7 PM.
Members of Plankton are also working to set up another symposium with the community to hold a discussion for people to feel free to share their ideas about how they can contribute to the mission of positively improving the city of Buffalo. A knitting night is also in the works.
"I'm lucky enough to live with a community of people who are always bringing something new to the table," said Akers. "Every day, I'm learning something new."
Images: Amy Woodin and Shea Akers
Shea Akers, a 28-year-old resident of Plankton house, says there are 6 rooms available at this time, and she welcomes anyone who would like to join their mission in advocating affordable, cooperative, and sustainable living.
In 2001, the Nickel City Co-Op was founded by a group of University at Buffalo students with a drive to fix up some of the older vacant homes scattered throughout Buffalo. As members of NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation) their co-op was able to lease two houses on Buffalo's West Side through NASCO properties, dubbed Ol'Wondermoth and Plankton. They are just one of the many organizations around the United States who are part of a bigger effort to support living more simply and sustainably; somewhat of a DIY movement that adds to helping the greater good.
"They started it because Buffalo just seems like the place that would do well in terms of cooperative living," said Akers. "They wanted to promote community in Buffalo. Instead of leaving and moving away, they decided to lay their roots down here in the city."
In the past 3 years, the organization has worked as a team, revamping and completing several external and internal renovations to Plankton - a house that was far from perfect. Prior to the home improvements, there were numerous areas of the house in need of repair, along with a lot of structural damage surrounding the entire house, involving the siding, insulation, and electricity.
"The heating was near nonexistent for a while," said Akers. "There was only heat on the third floor."
Interestingly enough the third floor of the house wasn't always there; it used to be the attic. The Nickel City Co-op crew built the third floor themselves, as well as restructuring the front and sides of the house. They are still in the process of fixing up the rear of the house. Certainly, they have transformed this once crumbling house into a home by working collectively and efficiently.
Several people have lived in the Plankton house, with ages ranging from infancy to fifties. Currently, the people residing at the house are between the ages of 21 to 28. Although this seems like a specific age bracket, they want it known that all age groups are welcome.
"Planktons
are small creatures that are all different and unique, living together, so I
assume that is why it was chosen," said Akers. As far as like-minded, responsible living, the tenants tend to buy locally, eat
organically, and are conscious of what they purchase in terms of how it effects
the environment around them.
"It's a responsible way to live in the sense that we can make decisions that might normally be too expensive for a single family unit," said Akers. Email membership inquiries here.
Living in this type of communal setting, the residents of the house have many of their basic needs met through working hard to provide for each other, as well as the entire neighborhood. Instead of working to live alone, they are working to live as one happy cluster of people who can take pleasure in each other's company."It means an emotionally and physically healthier lifestyle rather than the default single studio," says Brigidann Rauch, a 24-year-old resident of Plankton. "It's more ecological (smaller carbon footprint) and sustainable than living alone. It's also a helluva lot more fun. It means I can share a backyard, cook a full meal, chill on a porch, chat with dozens of new friends, cuddle with pets, and generally enjoy a better Buffalo life."
The Plankton house invites others in the community to join them in their home for a weekly potluck, held every Sunday at 7 PM. This gives outsiders the opportunity to chat with the people in the house and ask them any questions. For those interested in the Ol'Wondermoth house, their potlucks are every Wednesday at 7 PM.
Members of Plankton are also working to set up another symposium with the community to hold a discussion for people to feel free to share their ideas about how they can contribute to the mission of positively improving the city of Buffalo. A knitting night is also in the works.
"I'm lucky enough to live with a community of people who are always bringing something new to the table," said Akers. "Every day, I'm learning something new."
Images: Amy Woodin and Shea Akers
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