Darren is a fashionable foodie who spent his time living and working in New York City and then commuting to Philadelphia for the culture and community. When the pandemic hit, he decided to make Philadelphia his permanent home in order to recharge while also having the flexibility to pick up his busy lifestyle if things changed.  After some online searching and a virtual tour with a leasing specialist, Darren became the newest member at Common Civic before ever stepping foot in the building! We spoke with Darren to learn more about what he loves about Philly and how he’s settled into ..read more

After a 10-year career in the military, Tracy was focused on starting over fresh as he re-entered civilian life. By building off of the skills and disciplines he learned while serving in the military, he quickly landed an operations and sales manager position at an industrial power generator company in Philadelphia and moved from his family in New Jersey to Common Civic in Philadelphia for the role. Tracy was excited to start a new chapter in his life and find community in Philadelphia city…and then a global pandemic hit. We caught up with Tracy to gather his perspective on transitioning from ..read more

Alison’s got some tips for beginners in New York City. Like many graduates, University of Richmond alumnus Alison Schaffir found herself in a new job and a new city after graduation. She hoped to find the same kind of welcoming community as she did in college and immediately toured Common homes in New York. Alison moved into her home in Ridgewood after seeing the space, started her job at Ann Inc., and the rest is history. Find out what she’s got to say about coliving and the neighborhood. First things first, introduce yourself! Hi! My name’s Alison, and I just moved to New York City in the fa ..read more

Misti Schindele is one-of-a-kind. When she moved to New York City from Colorado a decade ago, she had an advertising job on lock and a rare, rent stabilized apartment in Chelsea to call home. Now, 10 years later, she has a successful career as an ad ops specialist, 2 successful blogs to her name, an envy-inducing social media presence, and a home at Common Kingston that allows all of her creative inclinations to flourish. We met up with Misti at her home in Crown Heights to talk about her creative pursuits, what style means, and how coliving provides the perfect backdrop to her life in Ne ..read more

The apartment search can sometimes feel like a page ripped from a fairytale — think Goldilocks, not Cinderella. You’ll find a beautiful apartment with everything you love, but it’s not in your budget, and then you’ll tour an apartment that would give you a little extra cash each month, and it doesn’t check any of your boxes. Hopefully, you’ll land somewhere right in the middle: an apartment you can comfortably afford with all the extras that make a space feel like home.  That’s what Hunter found when he first toured Common at Parco in National City, “I wanted to find a place that was in m ..read more

When Aaron’s not working, you can find him on the rooftop of Common Civic with a cup of tea by himself or a cold drink with his friends. We spoke with Aaron about what his life in Philadelphia is like and how he found Common during the pandemic. Hi Aaron! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am a Third Year Resident at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Chair of Community Engagement for The Alliance of Minority Physicians. Through that, I do a lot of community-focused work outside of the hospital. I have been involved in projects to address food insecurity and gun violence ..read more

Meet Robby: an extroverted and friendly Common member who works in tech support by day and loves exploring Bushwick and meeting new people in his spare time. Originally, he was a member at Common Cypress in Ridgewood before the pandemic, but when his job promoted him to a remote role, he transferred to Common Gates for more space and amenities. Keep reading to hear about how he’s adjusting to life in Bushwick and some of his favorite roommate memories! How has your experience living at Common shaped your time in New York? To be honest, I was nervous about living with new people I hadn’t met ..read more

Mordecai may have only been a Common member since this year, but he’s loved living in Washington D.C. for almost a decade. From volunteering on multiple boards to organizing city-wide Carolina Panther football watch parties, Mordecai’s D.C. life is anything but boring. We caught up with him to hear more about his experience in the city, and why he chose to live in a coliving space during the pandemic.  Hi Mordecai! What originally brought you to DC and encouraged you to stay?  To be fair, I never expected to stay in D.C. for this long! I’m originally from Charlotte, North Carolina a ..read more

LeeAnn Webster is an email marketing specialist, triathlete, and a member at Common Briar in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood. Although she lived alone for years, LeeAnn moved into Common because she was seeking a larger space, without sacrificing affordability. At Common, she found not only a gorgeous kitchen and living area, but an active community in an amazing neighborhood. We asked LeeAnn to take us through a day in her life. Read more below: 6:00 am — Morning Run LeeAnn starts her day with a run through the city. She’s part of the November Project, a Boston-born organization th ..read more

Over the past two years, remote work has become the new normal for thousands of renters across the globe. While we used to spend a few hours at the beginning and end of the day in our apartments, we’re now finding ourselves at home from 9 – 5 for five days out of the week. While remote work has its benefits, there are downsides to making your city apartment your home office, like conflicting Zoom meetings, small spaces, and a sense of isolation.  Pat, a member at ALTA by Common, might have found a solution. Although he lives with roommates in a coliving suite, the amenities at his Long Is ..read more