Brown Association for Cooperative Housing
Encyclopedia
Student housing cooperative
A student housing cooperative, also known as co-operative housing, is a housing cooperative for students in an educational institution.Unlike a resident who acquires shares at market rates to earn the right to occupy a specific apartment on a permanent basis , a resident of a student co-op acquires...
located in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. BACH was the first non-profit in the country given non-profit status on the basis of fighting gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
.
History
BACH's founding resulted directly from a Group Independent Study Project (GISP) organized byBrown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
students in 1970.
BACH was the first organization in the United States to receive non-profit status for fighting gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
. It does this by providing an affordable housing alternative for Brown students. Ideally, the provision of low cost student housing decreases the burden on the Providence housing market, and may help prevent student renters from driving up the rent for the limited housing stock available in the College Hill
College Hill, Providence, Rhode Island
College Hill is a neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, and one of six neighborhoods comprising the East Side of Providence and part of College Hill Historic District. It is roughly bounded by North Main Street to the west, Power Street to the south, Governor Street and Arlington Avenue to...
area of Providence.
General information
BACH is currently made up of two houses, which house nearly 30 members. Both houses offer low-cost vegetarian and vegan dining alternatives to residents and other students and non-students.Though BACH was founded by Brown University students, it is an incorporated entity independent of Brown University, and has an open membership. Though predominantly Brown students, recent members have included students from RISD, University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
, and Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, co-educational, career-oriented university with four campuses located throughout the United States. Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is home to JWU's first and largest of four currently operating campuses. Founded as a business school in 1914, by...
, non-students, travelers, locals, and all sorts of other types.
BACH is the only entirely student-run cooperative in the United States. There are no paid staff of any kind. Members are therefore obligated to perform all tasks relating both to the upkeep of two houses, and the running of a non-profit corporation. Towards these ends, all BACH members commit five hours per week on average. Each year, members for the next semester are chosen by random from a blind lottery system.
The "Houses"
The current BACH houses are:- Finlandia co-op, 116 Waterman St.
- Watermyn Co-op, 166 Waterman St., purchased in 1970, was BACH's first self-owned house.
And past houses (RIP) have been:
- Milhaus Co-op, 67 Charlesfield St.
- Carberry Co-op, 71 Charlesfield St.
Milhaus and Carberry were the original BACH houses, in buildings leased from Brown. They closed as co-op houses when Brown terminated the leases in September 1995. The buildings sat empty and unused for a decade. The exteriors were repainted, but until 2007 when the buildings were renovated for graduate student housing, the interiors remained untouched since eviction day in 1997. In 2005, students revisited the old houses and were greeted by art/graffiti and posters, advertising shows from a decade ago.
Traditions
BACH has multiple traditions. For instance, every year Watermyn Coop is host to the world-famous invitation-only Naked Party. Also, every fall, Finlandia hosts its famous Halloween party. And once a year the two houses collaboratively host a blind-date prom.Famous "Bachumni"
- Barnaby EvansBarnaby EvansBarnaby Evans is an artist who works in many media including site-specific sculpture installations, photography, film, garden design, architectural projects, writing and conceptual works...
- creator of Providence's Waterfire. - Amy CarterAmy CarterAmy Lynn Carter is the fourth child and only daughter of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter. She entered the limelight as she lived as a child in the White House during the Carter presidency.-Early life:...
- daughter of President Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. - Erin McKeownErin McKeownErin McKeown is an American multi-instrumentalist and folk-rock singer/songwriter.McKeown began her career in the folk scene. She released her first album, Monday Morning Cold, on her own label , travelling throughout New England while still a student at Brown University in order to promote the...
- Musician - danah boydDanah Boyddanah boyd also known as Danah Michele Boyd, is an American social media researcher known for her public commentary on the use of social networking sites by youth...
- myspace.com scholar - Noah Fulmer - Executive Director of Farm Fresh Rhode Island