Maryland's first cohousing community, Liberty Village, has received a development loan to begin construction of a 38-unit neighborhood in Libertytown.

Woodsboro Bank is acting as the lender for the village, which will be built on eight acres. Another 15 acres will remain as open green space.

The cohousing community will consist of residences clustered around a community center with facilities such as a workshop space, recreation room, television room and children's rooms.

Construction on the 34 duplex units, one single-family unit, and three full-size lots will begin this month, with the first residents taking occupancy in January.

The cohousing concept, developed in 1972, seeks to blend privacy with living among neighbors who know and care about each other. The cooperative nature of these communities is intended to facilitate social advantages such as carpooling, splitting expenses and sharing each other's company at meals.

For more information, call 800-400-0621 or view the village's Web site at:

www.libertyvillage.com.

Pub Date: 9/27/98