BAY AREA • PORTLAND • SEATTLE
Copyright 2013-2021 Open Door Group. A Public Benefit Corporation
Purpose. The common areas in OpenDoor communities are the central place where members gather, socialize, host events, and more. In partnership with Members, we strive to make the common areas a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for Members and guests alike. As such, this policy is designed to provide a baseline of clear agreements and etiquettes for Members to follow in using the common areas.
Quiet Hours. Quiet hours are between 10pm and 8am every day. Members may use the common area during this time but must keep noise to a minimum and halt any noise-making activities if requested by another member. If a member wishes to use the common areas during quiet hours for activities that produce significant noise, they must receive permission from the Floor. Members must also respect noise restraints, as set by the local municipality.
Cleanliness. In service of providing a clean and inviting space for all members, each member agrees to leave common areas in the same or better condition than they found them – which includes removing all personal items and trash from common areas. While OpenDoor does hire professional cleaners to clean the common areas twice each month, this is no replacement for members tidying and cleaning up after themselves each time they use a common area. The purpose of the professional cleaners to provide the deep clean, including mopping floors, sanitizing surfaces, etc. They they will not clean up your personal messes.
Prohibited Activities. The following activities are prohibited in all common areas:
Activities to be Mindful Of. Certain activities may make other members and guests feel uncomfortable or unsafe. These may include but are not limited to cuddling, massage, or other signs of overt physical affection. We kindly ask that members be mindful of the impact on other Members when considering performing these activities, and always err on the side of consent with other members in the space if they are not sure.
Exclusive or Dominating Uses of Common Areas. Any use of a common area that makes it difficult or impossible for other Members to utilize requires permission from the entire Floor. This includes activities such as large social gatherings, yoga, loud music, and similar. We do encourage events and other special activities in common areas, so long as the Floor is supportive of it as well. OpenDoor will provide a community calendar to help coordinate shared usage of the common areas.
Restricted Access. OpenDoor reserves the right to restrict or eliminate access to common areas, or programming being offered therein, for members who are a) not following the below common area policies, b) causing damage or harm to the common areas or common furnishings, or c) being a nuisance to other members or their guests.
1st Floor Common Lounge + Kitchen Usage. These two common areas are the largest in the building and are available to all members. These are the best place to host larger events and gatherings (10+ people) such as building-wide events or community dinners.
Common Kitchen Usage. Each floor has its own common kitchen which is intended to be used by members on that floor (except for the 1st floor kitchen, which is common to all members). Of course, members from other floors can visit / hang out in other common areas, but priority is given to the members who live on that floor. Usage is on a first-come, first-serve basis; while common kitchens will be available to members most of the time, you are not guaranteed access at all times due to usage by other people, in which case you can use the kitchenette in your studio. Note: 1st Floor Members are encouraged to use other Floor kitchens if and when the 1st floor is being used for an event.
Large Group Gatherings. If you are doing a large group gathering with floormates, you are not required to book the common kitchen on your floor but please communicate and coordinate with your floormates on Slack. For gatherings over 7 people during COVID (and 10 or so people in “normal” times), we recommend using the 1st floor common area to accommodate, which you are required to book.
Public Events. We encourage members to host events or gatherings available to other Karsti members. If you are hosting such an event, please share it in Slack in the #events channel and add it to the whiteboard calendar in the common space. If you would like to host an event open to the wider public (not just Freya members), please reach out to OpenDoor to discuss and coordinate.
Hosting Guests. You are welcome to have friends, families, partners, and the like over at Karsti. Hosting guests helps build a larger community and network of people around the community. As a member, opportunity to connect with new and interesting people is one of the great benefit of coliving.
Guests are the responsibility of the member who invites / hosts them. Guests are required to follow all rules and policies of Karsti, and it is the hosting member’s responsibility to make sure guests are sufficiently educated and managed. For the safety of all members, during the COVID pandemic, guest visits are limited to your own studios and are now allowed to hang out in common areas.
Overnight Guests. Overnight guests are welcomed at The Roost. Overnight guests must sleep in the hosting member’s private unit and are not allowed to sleep in any common areas. Per the membership agreement, each guest is limited to a maximum of 15 days a month and 30 days a year. If you would like a guest to stay longer, they will need to be added to your Membership Agreement, which is subject to approval from OpenDoor. Please see your membership agreement for the full details of this policy.
Due to the nature of our program, we do not allow members to sublet their units. It adds complexity to the community dynamic, especially given the thoughtful process in which we onboard and bring new members into our communities. Similarly, you are not allowed to advertise or rent your unit on Airbnb, VRBO, Craigslist, or any other listings platforms.
Purpose. As a coliving apartment building, it is particularly important to have clear and thoughtful COVID agreements in service of keeping all members safe & healthy in their home. As such, and as outlined in the membership agreement, members agree to follow the following requirements at Karsti.
Masks. Masks are required to be worn in common spaces, including but not limited to: kitchens, TV lounges, laundry rooms, the lobby, hallways, stairwells, garbage and recycling room, bike storage / dog wash room, and exercise room.
Guests. Guests are allowed to visit only in member’s units and are required to wear mask when walking through common areas. Guests are not permitted to hang out in common areas (lounges, TV Room, or kitchens, etc). Members are required to limit the number of guests to 3 at any given time to avoid exposure for other members.
Exposure. Members are required to inform OpenDoor and the community (via Slack) if they have been exposed to someone with or test positive for COVID-19.
Quarantine. Members are required to quarantine in their Private Unit for 14 days following exposure or positive test results.
Safe Practices. Members agree to follow the below safe COVID-19 practices:
Policy Updates. As the pandemic and associated healthy requirements / recommendations is an evolving situation, OpenDoor may periodically update this COVID-19 policy. OpenDoor will adhere to any local, state, and/or federally mandated requirements regarding COVID-19, as well as employ the best practices and recommendations of local, state, and federal agencies. OpenDoor will at some point remove all restrictions once we have deemed that we can do so legally and in a way that maintains the health & safety of all Karsti members.
Purpose. OpenDoor uses Slack as the online communication platform for our members to communicate, collaborate, and organize with one another. The Roost has its own dedicated Slack workspace intended for open communication about community needs, issues, and coordination between community members. This policy is meant to provide basic guidelines for Slack usage by members and moderation by OpenDoor.
Prohibited Activities
Moderation by OpenDoor. While OpenDoor does not monitor daily Slack activity, OpenDoor may take the following actions if it deems member(s) have violated the Slack policy or are generally being a nuisance in the Slack workspace:
For details on how we use Slack as a community workspace, including best practices and norms, check out the Slack section of the Life at Roost page.
You are required to provide OpenDoor with at least 20 days notice prior to moving out, which must be given before the 1st of the month in writing. Please email [email protected] to give property notice.
Purpose. Keeping with the OpenDoor philosophy to encourage residents to value and enjoy their spaces as they would their own homes, we have a limited pet policy that will allow residents committed to responsible pet ownership to thrive.
Policies
Moderation by OpenDoor.
Permission to keep a pet is granted at management’s sole discretion and is subject to resident’s strict adherence to all aspects of this pet policy. Any resident who wishes to keep a pet will first obtain management’s approval and sign a pet agreement.
Dog Washing Station. Downstairs in the Bike Storage, we have a dog washing station! We love it when you keep your pup squeaky clean (and so do your fellow members). Please protect the pipes by cleaning the hair out of the drains and wash basin after each use, and generally cleaning up after yourself so it’s ready for the next pup!
Kitchen tasks & agreements are essential to co-living. While kitchens in the building are surface-cleaned twice a month, each floor requires upkeep from its members. Floor liaisons are encouraged to host floor specific community dinners in order to create a shared vision. Everyone is required to participate in shared tasks & upkeep of the common kitchens.
General Agreements. OpenDoor properties all adopt a “leave no trace” policy in the common areas. In the kitchens, there is also a “no dishes in the sink” rule. This helps to ensure that each member enjoys a standard level of cleanliness that is upheld by all. This includes cleaning up after yourself & contributing to the overall maintenance of the space.
Common Kitchen Tasks. Each floor will adopt its own culture, dependent on its members. Having shared tasks that everyone contributes to, helps cohesion over time. OpenDoor provides a template for each kitchen that is based on rotating cleaning tasks. Floor liaisons assist in ensuring that they are kept up to date and each member understands where they land in the flow over time.