Alastair Townsend
Founder of Township
Following an accomplished architectural career in Europe and Asia, Alastair realized harnessing real estate development could be a conduit for his creative passion: crafting communities. This led him to obtain a master’s degree in real estate, after which he managed $2 billion in U.S. real estate projects for global firm BGO.
Then Alastair discovered the potential of cohousing, a thriving yet often overlooked niche in real estate. He founded Township to channel his expertise into building communities that nurture social connection and empower residents to enjoy longer, happier, and more enriching lives.
Today, Alastair is a member of 500 Communities, a professional cohort of U.S. cohousing professionals lead by one the movement’s pioneers, Katie McCamant. Recognized as a thought leader in housing, Alastair’s insights have been highlighted by leading media outlets such as CNN, WSJ, and NPR.
Strategic Development Partners:
Township and our communities benefit from our strategic partnership with North America’s two pioneering cohousing development experts: Ronaye Matthew and Kathryn “Katie” McCamant.
Our cohousing development practice is built on the foundation of knowledge cultivated over their careers and generously shared by Ronaye and Katie, who are committed to nurturing the next generation of thriving cohousing communities across the continent.
While Township navigates the complex day-to-day challenges of development, our mentors offer a dual-layer of support—guiding both our team and directly engaging with community groups. This creates a powerful knowledge transfer, giving our clients direct access to insights gleaned from over 25 years of cohousing successes and valuable lessons learned across dozens of completed projects.
This collaborative approach delivers proven frameworks for effective group decision-making, participatory design processes, compelling member recruitment strategies, and the essential community-building practices that ensure long-term sustainability. Our synergistic partnership combines Township’s hands-on execution and accountability with visionary expertise, creating an optimal environment for communities to flourish from concept to completion and beyond.
Areas our strategic partners can provide direct support:
- Facilitating key meetings, such as “Getting-it-Built” and design workshops
- Education on cohousing principles and community dynamics
- Developing governance frameworks that balance efficiency with inclusion
- Guiding difficult decisions to reach community consensus
- Providing effective group collaboration structures and processes
- Design guidance on site plans, common houses, and residential units
- Reviewing legal and financial models
- Guiding the transition to completed community management
Ronaye Matthew
Principal,
Cohousing Development Consulting
Ronaye Matthew, founder of Cohousing Development Consulting, stands as Canada’s foremost expert on collaborative housing, having shepherded eleven cohousing communities from dream to doorstep. Her background bridges human connectivity with development expertise, creating spaces that nurture both connection and ecological responsibility.
With an Environmental Studies degree from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture (1977) and experience in conventional development across western Canada, Ronaye’s path shifted in 1994 at the Haven Institute on Gabriola Island, where she discovered the impact of intentional community—knowledge that informed her pioneering cohousing work beginning in 1996.
In her book “Community Led Housing: A Cohousing Development Approach,” co-authored with Margaret Critchlow, she distills decades of experience into guidance for aspiring community builders, addressing financial structures, municipal requirements, and community building.
Since 2001, Ronaye has lived at Cranberry Commons in British Columbia, embodying the principles she champions professionally while empowering groups with practical tools to create thriving communities that balance privacy with collaboration.
Kathryn McCamant
President,
CoHousing Solutions
Katie McCamant, the driving force behind CoHousing Solutions, brings unparalleled depth and diversity of experience as an architect, developer, and cohousing resident. Her passion for creating sustainable, community-oriented housing models that offer a better version of the “good life” while reducing environmental impact has been the guiding principle throughout her career.
As a licensed architect and coauthor of the seminal book “Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves,” Katie introduced the cohousing model to North America. She co-founded McCamant & Durrett Architects / The CoHousing Company in 1987 and has since designed and developed numerous award-winning cohousing communities across the United States and Canada.
In recent years, Katie has focused on guiding groups through the cohousing development process, working on all facets from project kick-off to move-in. A thought leader in sustainable development, she frequently lectures and gives workshops on the topic.
Her newest venture, the 500 Communities Program, aims to train passionate entrepreneurs to build the next 500 cohousing communities while fostering collaboration and financial success. Township is proud to be a member of 500 Communities and to continue working closely with Katie to expand her vision.
Outreach Collaborator:
Township communities benefit from our strategic collaboration with cohousing marketing specialist Christina Marshall.
Our development practice is enhanced by Christina’s expertise in community outreach and membership growth, addressing one of the most critical challenges facing forming cohousing groups.
While Township manages development, Christina provides targeted support in community building and member recruitment. This partnership gives communities access to proven marketing strategies refined through nearly two decades of experience.
As a fellow graduate of Katie McCamant’s 500 Communities Program, Christina helps communities develop the marketing infrastructure and engagement strategies needed for long-term success.
This collaboration combines Township’s development expertise with specialized marketing guidance, creating an optimal environment for communities to attract committed members and thrive.
Areas our outreach collaborator can provide direct support:
- Marketing strategy development and brand identity creation
- Member recruitment and engagement campaigns
- Website and social media creation
- CRM setup and digital marketing infrastructure
- Event planning to convert interest into equity membership
- Training group members in effective outreach and sales processes
- Ongoing marketing support throughout the development timeline
Christina Marshall
Founder,
Coho Collab
Christina Marshall, founder of Coho Collab, brings nearly 20 years of senior-living real estate sales and marketing expertise to the cohousing movement, specializing in transforming forming groups into thriving membership-building organizations. Her deep understanding of the connection between housing and community drives her mission to help cohousing groups grow from initial concept to full membership.
As a fellow graduate and ongoing affiliate of Katie McCamant’s 500 Communities Program, Christina works closely with cohousing professionals to bring new communities to life. She specializes in jumpstarting forming groups with comprehensive marketing strategies, relationship-based sales expertise, and tactical guidance that turns interest into commitment and strategy into action.
Currently supporting communities across South Dakota, North Carolina, Alabama, and leading the launch of Kinni Cohousing in River Falls, Wisconsin, Christina brings a powerful combination of marketing know-how, community development experience, and grounded, actionable guidance to each project.
Her approach focuses on creating authentic connections and building trust with potential members while developing sustainable systems that communities can maintain throughout their development journey and beyond.