We’re Rachel Carson EcoVillage a visionary collaborative community with a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and social justice.
Our innovative co-housing development is located in McCandless Township, just 10 miles north of downtown Pittsburgh, PA. We are proud to be western Pa’s first cohousing community.
Our 35 unit community will be an eco- friendly, multi-generational neighborhood that fosters environmental stewardship, social cohesion, and a deep connection to nature.
We are excited to announce we are on the brink of construction! There’s still room for a few more individuals or families to join us.
Nestled in the woods, we are also adjacent to La Roche University, and within walking distance of a grocery store, book store, restaurants, movie theater, hospitals and public transportation we will also be in close proximity to downtown Pittsburgh, one of America’s most livable cities. The local public schools are recognized for academic excellence.
Our buildings and site are designed to connect us to nature and to each other: to promote personal interactions and easy sociability, while at the same time, allowing us the privacy of our own residences.
The entire development will be built to high standards of energy conservation, keeping our energy costs down. Our materials have been selected for long-term durability and affordability as well as better air quality.
Our 35 units community offers a range of home sizes, with pricing from approximately $235,000-$600,000. Construction will be complete in 2025.
For more information: www.rachelcarsonecovillage.org
Register for one of our virtual Introductory Sessions by emailing [email protected]
Membership & Visitors
- Current members: 35
- Open to new members
- Not open to visitors
Just send an email to [email protected] for any information. To attend an introductory session, email [email protected]
the eco-village theme applies to a community of members with similar interest, perhaps dwelling in a more economic fashion. I can B interested at age 72. But, my interest today is the session advertised for tomorrow and how that may relate to my project of applying modular units to the sites through-out the City and elsewhere suited for single and multi-unit dwelling.
At one time a X of yrs ago during the Great Society era of Pres Johnson there were built 16 ft by 12 ft by two sty high units, consisting of the most expensive part of a living unit, the remaining portion of a house or apartment is empty space surrounded by four walls. The modular industry would call it the “wet” half of the dwelling. Unfortunately the plant in Snyder County, PA could produce 5000 units in a yr, but found less than 500 to 1500 orders. It failed and maybe the flood in 1972 helped.
Ideally, the 12x 16ft modular with Kitchen, baths, furnace, AC, electric panel etc could be set on an “old” foundation modified for the new dwelling. This is followed by the fabrication of the “room”, the living, BR, etc. and finishing of the basement and entrances. House building is a individual & “custom” job requiring craftsmen with those skills.
The plumbing, electrician, heating and AC craftsmen have their own skills and are paid accordingly. The prior work is factory work as is moving the “modular” unit to the building site which requires “specialist with trucks/trailer and crane to deliver & “set” the unit. With a smaller “wet” portion of the dwelling unit, the off site costs are reduced as is the on-site cost of construction. On-site design and custom work is maximized. The dwelling can be enlarged room by room as the homeowner needs and finances grow according the professional design. chas tanner, Econ-Homes of Pennsylvania. Butler, 724-679-0600
the eco-village theme may relate to the implementation of custom designed units utilizing modular economy. We are aware of the abandon properties and vacant lots thru-out the City and urban areas that are infrastructure ready. Water, sewer elect and improved street frontage is required for a living unit and adds much cost to housing in the urban area.
At one time a # of yrs ago during the Great Society era of Pres Johnson we built 16 ft by 12 ft units consisting of the Kitchen, baths, furnace, AC, electric panel etc, ie. the more expensive portion of a house or apt. The remaining portion is empty space surrounded by four walls and a roof. The “wet” half, as the Modular industry has call it, requires skilled plumbers, electricians, heating & AC craftsmen. Finding, training and employing these craftsmen is requirement the modular industry that is done for decades. In our case, on site framing, roofing, finishing and cement craftsmen are needed. The 12 ft by 16ft modular “unit” can be “set” on the “old” foundation modified for the new dwelling. This is followed by the fabrication of the rooms & Kitchen and completion of the basement. on Site. AC The electrician, plumbers, furnace & AC are utilized at the factory, and are required “On site” to finish. Skilled truck drivers and Crane men are needed to deliver the wet modular unit to the building location.
With the building of a smaller “wet” portion of the unit off site, the construction costs are reduced and efficiency and quality is improved. On-site design and custom work is also maximized. The dwelling owner can enlarged room by room as needed and as finances permit. chas tanner, Econ-Homes of Pennsylvania. Butler, 724-679-0600 (revised Nov 12, 2021)