The common house is the central focus of the community located so that residents pass by it on their way home. A large south-facing terrace takes advantage of both the sun and the view towards the tall ponderosas on the other side of the site. The common house design is inspired by the large commercial buildings typical of the early Mother Lode architecture using simple forms and board-and-batten siding.

The kitchen in the common house will be used to prepare meals for the interested households four to six days per week. Common meals are a distinguishing (and attractive!) feature of cohousing - imagine knowing that after a particularly busy day at work you and the family can just show up and eat a "common house cooked" meal that evening. Each household works in the kitchen one or two days per month in order to help make this system work.

The common house was designed by the group to accomodate a variety of activities such as shared cooking and dinning facilities, an attractive terrace that encourages impromptu gatherings, a number of crafts and kid's play rooms, and a laundry room.