BRISTOL — Developers of Bristol Village Cohousing, a 14-unit eco-village neighborhood near the town center, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 16 North St.
The event will include tours of the project, refreshments and acoustic music by talented local players like John Dickason, Dan Wyman, and Becca Kodis. The a capella singing group Root 7 will perform at 3 p.m.
The new residents include families who have moved to Bristol from communities in Maine, Massachusetts, Brooklyn, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio. Others are from Vermont towns.
“I lived in Bristol for eight years, and then spent 30 years in Barre,” said one of the new residents, Rick Provost. “Bristol is such a warm and welcoming community I decided to move back with my wife Barbara.” 
Developers said 13 of the 14 units have closed or are under contract.
The BVCH community includes the renovation of three historic buildings on North Street and construction of five energy-efficient cottages on the two-and-a-half-acre site.
One of the historic buildings, the Peake house, will serve as a gathering place for cohousing residents. In this restored building, originally built in 1863, cohousing members will have the opportunity to take part in occasional shared meals and other social activities, as well as overnight accommodations for friends and family.  The spacious front rooms will be open to the public for BVCH-sponsored events, as well as for rental to local groups and individuals.
BVCH members had four goals in mind when considering the project design:
•  Preserving the historic streetscape of Bristol village by restoring the existing  buildings and transforming them into energy-efficient residences.
•  Constructing small, energy-efficient homes to minimize their carbon footprint.
•  Keeping home prices within an affordable range, with one or two offered at permanently affordable prices.
•  Creating a building environment that facilitated casual interactions between the members  of the cohousing community.