We propose neighborhoods be built around common interests, or what we call cominterests—the shared topics and activities neighbors can engage in together to enrich one another’s lives. These are the things we do, not just the places where we live. When cominterests guide the creation, planning, design, construction and management of communities, we can make meaningful choices about not just where to live, but how to live.

All neighborhoods should be organized with a nuanced social infrastructure specifically for the residents to gather with one another, or what we call complaces— uniquely crafted physical settings created with a specific community interest in mind. Leaving behind the cookie cutter community amenities of a clubhouse, playground, or open space, for uniquely selected and designed places means residents can connect for meaningful personal interaction, turning a space into a place.

When neighborhoods are organized around shared community interests (cominterests) with a matching social infrastructure (complaces) we call this a commonhood.  A commonhood is a residential community unit that is organized around a suite of shared community interests for the purpose of identifying and improving the community’s social benefits.  If you live in a commonhood then chances are…  you will be living in a community of people who enjoy the same things as you.