Why Building Community in Apartments Matters
Let’s face it, living in an apartment can be a bit of a lonely experience, especially for first or second year students living in a West Chester Off Campus housing. You’re going to share hallways, lifts and laundry with a whole host of people and yet you’ll probably never know the names of the people living in the flats either.
Everyone comes and goes, quite often with nothing more than a hello. You don’t have to live in an apartment to have a sense of community.
Learning how to build community in an apartment block starts with the very simple thing of getting to know the people in your building. You don’t need any complicated plans or fancy events. Often times a simple chat will be all that is required.
A nice, welcoming apartment environment will go a long way to making life in the apartment more pleasant and can also help people to feel at home.
Start by Connecting With Apartment Neighbors
You don’t need to throw a party to introduce yourself. Just start small whenever you come across your neighbours in the common areas.
Say hello when you come across someone in the corridor. Introduce yourself when you’re waiting for the elevator. If someone moves into the building, do say a nice ‘welcome to the building’.
These interactions may seem trivial, but they build familiarity. Eventually a series of casual chats can turn into real friendships.
Any way of getting to know your flatmates? Spend time in the communal areas. Read a book in the lounge or have your coffee out in the garden.
You can also go up to your neighbours who have similar interests and introduce yourself. Local sports, pets, cooking, the outdoors etc are all good conversation starters.
Organize Apartment Community Events
Here’s where it can get interesting. The apartment community events provide an opportunity for residents to get together and interact outside of the normal day to day routine.
You don’t need a big budget or a professional event planner. Start with something simple that gets people involved.
For example you could organize a monthly coffee from one of the best coffee shops in West Chester in the common area with people bringing their own coffee and introducing themselves. A weekend potluck would also be a good way of getting people to interact.
Other apartment community events could be board game nights, seasonal decorating or movie nights. Families may find value in events geared towards children and students may appreciate the opportunity to get together for study groups.
However you must always check the building’s policies prior to putting on any kind of event. Be mindful of shared spaces, noise levels and any applicable reservation requirements.
Keep the events optional and welcoming. No-one should feel pressured to take part.
Make Shared Spaces More Inviting
Common areas can quite easily become natural meeting places if the residents are at all comfortable using them. The problem is that some of the apartment lounges and the outdoor areas in particular get very little use.
A bit of creativity can make a difference. Get the residents involved in suggesting improvements to the shared areas. Nothing makes a shared space any more attractive than good seating, good lighting and a clean environment.
If your building has outdoor seating then consider putting on a fairly informal get together in the warmer months. People can get together and enjoy the fresh air.
Even the simplest of improvements will get people to interact more. People will spend time in a place that feels welcoming.
When people help to shape their environment they also tend to develop a greater sense of pride in their building.
Make Meeting Neighbors in Apartments a Habit
Building relationships takes time. You don’t just get on with everyone at one get together and suddenly be best mates.
Instead focus on the everyday, informal interactions. Get to know people’s names and ask how their week is going. Be prepared to offer a hand when you can, and do the little things to celebrate the small community moments.
For instance, congratulations on a new job, or just a simple welcome to a new neighbour. That sort of thing builds up a sense of familiarity without any real effort.
If you’re a student renting near West Chester University, getting in touch with your neighbours can be extremely useful. You may well find other students, study partners or people with similar interests.
Create a Place That Feels Like Home
Ultimately it’s about learning how to build community in an apartment block which means going the extra mile beyond just your front door.
You don’t need everyone in your building to become your best friend. A few faces you know and a bit of friendly chat is all it takes to make living in an apartment feel a world away.
West Chester also has a great deal to offer in terms of opportunities to get involved in the wider community. There’s plenty of opportunity to go out and meet people, check out the local restaurants, get involved in community events and so on.
When people get to know each other the building becomes more than just a place to sleep. It becomes a place you actually want to live in.
