When someone asks you what kind of home you live in, do you say coop or co-op? Condo, or cooperative? There are many ways we live, and the terminology can be a little confusing. So we created this handy guide to explain the different ways we classify our homes:
Condo
If you live in a condo you typically own the unit you live in, and own part of the common spaces that are shared by other condo dwellers. If you don’t live in a condo but wish you did, you can always build a Lego version.
Co-op
If you live in a co-op, you own shares of a corporation that owns the building. Co-ops will have a board that is elected to make decisions on behalf of the building. Just don’t be surprised if the board rejects your request to install a Jacuzzi tub in your bathroom.
Cooperative
Some people choose to join cooperatives that have a theme or mission in place so that a community of like-minded individuals is formed. For example, the Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, New York, brings healthy and affordable foods to its members. Another example is a nanny cooperative like the BeyondCare Cooperative, which creates better opportunities for nannies. Cooperatives (or communes) were pretty popular during the 1960s counterculture movement, and included some interesting fashion choices.
Chicken Coop
Urban apartment dwellers live in small spaces under one roof, and so do chickens! Chicken coops include a nesting area, where female chickens sleep and lay eggs, and an outdoor area where they eat and hang out (like an apartment kitchen and living room). The chickens are close together, one after the other , are often noisy, and walk in and out of their coop all day, which means they’d be pretty comfortable in the average New York apartment building.
Mycoop
So what is mycoop? One of the first posts we ever created on our blog was an explanation of the meaning behind the name. Taking pride in where you live, and fostering a community with your neighbors, are some of the primary reasons why we created this site. Like a chicken comes home to roost, we want you to come home to your apartment and say, “This is MY COOP!” Because no matter what kind of home you live in, whether a co-op or a condo, your home should be the best place you can live, and your very own coop. We chose the name “MyCoop,” for this very reason, and we pronounce “coop” like “chicken coop.” Though, if you pronounce it as My Co-op, it’s good with us!
