Resident Testimonials:
"We have always been people who didn't make quick decisions - boy did we blow that theory! We attended one informational meeting at 10 AM and by that afternoon, we had reserved our unit. We didn't even disagree, the "C" suited our needs.
If you are thinking of doing this, quit thinking and just do it! It's going to be great!"
Willis & Wanda, Village Cooperative of Fairmont
"My house was too big and my yard work got to be too much for me. I wanted something maintenance-free that was safe and secure. My family also feels better that I will be in a safe and healthy environment."
Colleen, Village Cooperative of Albert Lea
We like that everything is on one level and we don't have to go up and down stairs. We are ready for a change and have enjoyed meeting the members. They are already our new friends."
Neil & Lois, Village Cooperative of Red Wing
"We chose the Village Cooperative for the many activities available, the choice of nice floor plans, no more shoveling or mowing, and still have equity, but on a smaller scale. It's really nice."
Earl & Jolaine, Village Cooperative of Fergus Falls
In the News:
Asbury - Council approves zoning changes for Village Cooperative
Fergus Falls -Village Cooperative residents give had to kids
Wausau Daily Herald - Ground Breaking
Asbury The Suburban Times - Housing Coop comes to Asbury
Asbury Telegraph Herald - New senior apartments
Fergus Falls - Cooperative Charity Rummage Sale
Austin Daily Herald - Cooperative makes for easy living
Albert Lea Tribune - Cooperative opens its doors
Fergus Falls Journal - Cooperative Celebrates One Year Open
Fairmont Sentinel - You own where you live
Fergus Falls Journal - Boxes of Love
Village Cooperative of Wausau:
News Articles:
Asbury approves zoning changes
Council paves way for 55-and-older development and holds the line on property taxes
by Mary Rae Bragg | Feb 2008
Asbury, Iowa - The heart of Asbury will become home to a private community for people age 55 an older, following action Tuesday night by the Asbury City Council.
The Council unanimously agreed to zoning changes that will allow construction of townhomes and a senior cooperative apartment complex on the 25-acre filed abutting Asbury Road, just east of Asbury Park.
The property, owned by Luther Manor, will accommodate 54 townhomes located in 27 buildings, and a senior cooperative containing 50 apartments. The cooperative is being developed by St. Paul, MN- based Real Estate Equities.
Mark Noble, Luther Manor's executive director, said the project's first phase will contain eight two-twonhome units and the senior cooperative, which will lie adjacent to the park. All the townhomes will be pre-sold before building begins, Noble said, but they expect to open a marketing office for the units in March and begin grading in the spring. At least 35 of the cooperative's apartments already are spoken for.
The development will include a large pond of fountain, with views of the water from 20 of the townhomes. A feasibility study is underway to determine if the southernmost part of the property will be used for a a senior care facility, Noble said.
As approved, the development will have unrestricted access onto Asbury Road to the north, and Valley Forge Road to the south. Its streets will be limited to 24-foot-wide private drives, which will be maintained by Luther Manor.
Under the arrangement approved by the council, Luther Manor will have the right to restrict use of the property's drives to residents only.
The Fergus Falls Daily Journal
Gene Donley helps Madison Shjerve scrape her lunch tray at McKinley School.
Seniors give hand to kindergartners
By Tom Hintgen | The Daily Journal
Published Friday, September 7, 2007
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Starting kindergarten can be intimidating for many kids — including those attending McKinley School in Fergus Falls this year. With that in mind, arranging to have volunteers on hand to provide a grandmother’s or grandfather’s type of presence seemed appropriate.
That was the approach taken by School District 544 volunteer coordinator Peg Kalar.
She asked for volunteers from The Village senior housing complex in northwest Fergus Falls. Sixteen people volunteered — for different time slots — to help the kids on Thursday and today and Monday and Tuesday this coming week. Specifically, they helped kids acclimate themselves to the daily lunch line.
The senior citizens assist the kindergarten students with things such as where to gather trays and silverware, take hold of milk cartons, find places to sit and — after the noon lunch — how to use the waste containers in the lunchroom.
This year fourth graders at McKinley School also will assist the kindergarten students with various classroom projects — the final year of this activity. That’s because, starting in 2008, McKinley School attendees will include only pre-schoolers and kindergarten students.
First and second graders will attend Adams School and third, fourth and fifth graders will attend school at Cleveland.
“We at The Village enjoy volunteering and doing community service,” Gene Donley said while assisting kindergarten students Thursday noon at McKinley School.
School secretary Joan Helgeson said she, Elementary Principal Scott Colbeck and McKinley teachers and staff all appreciate the assistance provided by the group of Fergus Falls senior citizens.
“They’ve been very helpful to the kids, and their warmth and love of children really shows through,” Helgeson said.
Wausau Daily Herald
A Minnesota real estate development company is working to meet the needs and wishes of Wausau's older residents.
St. Paul-based Real Estate Equities Development this morning was scheduled to break ground on a 72-unit retirement community for adults age 55 and older.
Construction of the four-story Village Cooperative of Wausau is expected to be completed by next summer. The housing complex will be built at 1508 Merrill ave. at the intersection of Highway U on Wausau's northwest side.
"It's a positive addition to the community," side Deb Hadley, president of the Wausau City Council. "With the aging population, it's probably lot a bad idea. It will do quite well."
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The cooperative will offer one- and two-bedroom homes ranging in size from 870 to 1,560 square feet of living space. Each until will have its own laundry room, storage area and private balcony.
In addition, the Village Cooperative will offer community features including party rooms, living rooms and game rooms, a fitness center, an outdoor deck with barbecue grills, two guest suits, a woodworking shop, a landscaped courtyard and walking paths, and an underground heated garage.
"Our company started developing cooperative communities in 2004 because we saw the desire for this type of dynamic lifestyle." said Keith Jans, president of development for Real Estate Equitites. "These communities give adults around the Midwest the option of hassle-free lifestyle in their home with the amenities they desire."
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The Wausau complex will be Rest Estate Equities' ninth such development and its fist in Wisconsin, according to the company's website. It has five Village Cooperatives in Minnesota and three in Iowa.
A year ago, two local investors announced plans for a retirement community in Wausau's east side that would include single-family homes, two-family condominiums and assisted-living units. The plan, however, is on hold at this time, Hadley said.
Real Estate Equities selected Ellis-Stone Construction Co. as the general contract for the Village Cooperative.
July, 2007 | Housing Cooperative Comes to Asbury
The Village Cooperative of Asbury will be building a new community housing facility in Asbury in the near future. Presently working out of a sales office, the actually housing facility will be located along Asbury Road just east of the city park.
Betty Apelian is the sales coordinator for the project. Village Cooperative is a housing option offered by Real Estate Equities Development, LLC, a St. Paul, MN real estate development and property management firm with over thirty-five years of experience.
REE has developed, owned and operated more than 9,000 residential housing units in the upper Midwest.
A Village Cooperative is a resident-member owned community that offers a comfortable lifestyle at a good financial value for active seniors. A cooperative member purchases a share in cooperative corporation.
There is one available share per unit. Monthly charges are based on costs required to operate the cooperative. The share prices and monthly carrying charges vary according to choice of unit.
The Village will have three floors with a centrally located elevator. It features a variety of different floor plans of one and two-bedroom styles. Each home comes with all kitchen appliances and full-sized washer and dryer.
The Village Cooperative is a secure building with controlled access and provides 24-hour monitoring and maintenance emergency services.
New senior apartments for Asbury?
Tri-State Telegraph Herald
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Developer targets a 50-unit senior cooperative apartment complex near the Asbury Park
Luther Manor officials are working with a specialized, St. Paul, MN-based developer to crate a planned 50-unit facility for senior cooperative apartments.
Each member of the cooperative will purchase a share in the limited equity corporation. The shares provide the equity to secure a mortgage, and each membership has an equal voting status in electing a board of directors that monitors building operations.
"This is going to be pretty innovative," said Mark Noble, Luther Manor's executive director.
Luther manor owns a 25-acre field near Asbury Park. The non-profit organization conducted feasibility studies to determine what to do with the land.
"We heard about senior cooperatives," said Noble. "It is a new concept, and there are very few outside of Minnesota."
Durint the course of their research, Luther Manor officials determined that cooperatives have become popular among younger, active older adults. However, they also determined that non-profit organizations often struggle when attempting to create cooperative facilities.
"So we approached Real Estate Equities, out of St. Paul, MN," Noble Said
The developer has built senior cooperatives in its home state, and now is beginning to build such facilities in Iowa. Village Cooperative is the name of the planned Asbury development.
While the average age of residents at Luther Manor apartments is 89, Betty Apelian, of Real Estate Equities, said the average age of cooperative residents typically is 73.
Noble experts cooperative living to appeal to his fellow Baby Boomers.
"The Boomers I know what to have involvement in things," he said.
Share prices range from $34,000 to $65,000, depending on the unit size.
Members purchase a share in the cooperative corporation. If a member decides to move, the cooperative has the first option to buy the share, facilitates the sales process and returns the member's share cost plus accrued equity.
Members also pay monthly fees that cover operating expenses, including the mortgage principal and interest, real estate taxes, interior and exterior maintenance, water, sewer and trash removal.
Luther Manor officials will sell three acres of its Asbury project to Real Estate Equities, which is gathering reservations for the planned cooperative's 50 units. Once half the units have been spoken for, Real Estate Equities will move towards breaking ground.
"When it is filled, it will be owned by the residents," said Noble. "They will elect a board of directors internally, and Luther Manor and Real Estate Equities will provide supportive services, based on what the board of directors wants."
The first senior cooperative opened in 1978 in Edina, MN with 338 units.
"There are now 95-100 senior cooperatives in the country, with 70 of those in Minnesota," said Shane Wright, Real Estate Equities project manager. "It has been a really successful formula. It opens up a home for younger generates to move into."
Fergus Falls Charity Rummage Sale Took Place on June 9th, 2007
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The Village Cooperative Charity Rummage Sale was a huge success on Saturday, June 9th! The Village Cooperative raised $1,702.00 for Someplace Safe and Health Resources LifeCare Center. With perfect weather, the Rummage Sale traffic was steady all day! Thank you so much to our sponsors! They are: Service Food, SunMart, Sara Lee, Barrel of Fun, Viking Coke, Pepsi, Security State Bank, Ottertail Telecom, Daily Journal, Lakes Radio, PEG Access TV, Senior Perspectives, and the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce! Thank you to Leigh Lake from Someplace Safe and Erin Tysver from Health Resources LifeCare Center for their help with the event and also thank you to their volunteers! Also, A HUGE thank you to the Village Cooperative Marketing Committee and Members that organized the sale and made it an incredible success!
If you would like join the fun and learn more about Cooperative living, please call Jennifer Rogholt at 736-7880!
Pictured: L – R: Alice Thompson, Village Cooperative Marketing Committee Co-chair, Erin Tysver, Health Resources LifeCare Center, Leigh Lake, Someplace Safe, D.J. Lindholm, Village Cooperative Marketing Committee Co-Chair and Gene Donley, Village Cooperative Board of Directors President all pose together during the very successful Village Cooperative Charity Rummage Sale!
The Village Cooperative raised $1,702.00 for Someplace Safe and Health Resources LifeCare Center of Fergus Falls!
Austin Daily Herald - Cooperative makes for easy living
Senior housing construction begins
By Kristen Berns/Austin Daily Herald
Austin Chamber of Commerce executive director Sandy Forstner waits to take a picture during a ground-breaking for the Village Cooperative senior housing complex held outside the Holiday Inn. Ceremonies were held at the hotel because of cold weather and unforeseeable terrain at the site of the complex.
Austin's newest pioneers won't have to worry about shoveling snow in the winter or mowing the lawn in the summer thanks to a multi-housing senior complex to be built soon.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were held Tuesday for the newest residents of Village Cooperative of Austin.
Held outdoors at the Holiday Inn of Austin due to cold weather and unforeseeable terrain at the future site of the housing complex, community leaders and builders were on-hand to greet the residents of Austin's newest housing complex.
“The city helped us get started and moving the process,” Keith Jans, president of Real Estate Equities, said. “This is a great opportunity.”
He went on to thank the city leaders for help in bringing the 62-unit senior housing complex planned for northwest Austin.
The three-story complex will be finished by November 2007 and located north of land reserved for the Wal-Mart supercenter. The land was chosen for the area's natural beauty.
The housing complex had to pass a few hurdles before the Austin City Council approved the rezoning and preliminary plat for the complex.
Real Estate Equities agreed to plant 8-foot coniferous trees as a buffer between the north side of its building and adjacent single-family homes in Murphy Creek. Also, the drive access to the north of the development will be for emergency vehicles only.
Residents near the planned site of complex came before the council and planning commission in early developments of the complex to try and keep it out of their neighborhood with failed efforts.
The plat includes a requirement to redesignate the wetland portion of the 15.5 acres as an outlot with a conservation easement, meaning it cannot be developed.
“I think everyone will be proud of the outcome,” Jans said.
Albert Lea Tribune - Cooperative opens its doors
click here to visit site
Village Cooperative opens its doors
By Adam Hammer, staff writer
Friday, August 25, 2006 9:32 AM CDT
If you ask Rev. Allen Stoa about Village Cooperative in Albert Lea where he lives, he'll tell you it is more than just a housing community for people 55 and older.
“The fellowship here is just tremendous,” Stoa said during a presentation at the Village Cooperative grand opening Thursday.
The housing community officially welcomed its first residents on June 13 and only has four more living spaces left to sell, Joan Anderson, resident service coordinator, said. More residents are expected to move in throughout the end of the month and into September.
Each member of Village Cooperative owns a share in a not-for-profit cooperative corporation. The corporation holds the title to the entire property, relieving members from any individual liability for their units.
Speakers at the grand opening included project manager Shane Wright, Stoa, City Administrator Victoria Simonsen, Real Estate Equities Development, LLC president Keith Jans and Village Cooperative resident Paul Peterson.
“It probably felt longer to you than me, but in the blink of an eye this gorgeous building went up,” Simonsen said.
She also welcomed all the new residents from outside of Albert Lea to the city and noted that establishing the community will help the city move forward with other housing developments.
“This will be the impetus to some new residential properties,” Simonsen said.
Other city officials at the event included council members Randy Erdman and George Marin and Mayor Aaron Summers.
Erdman is a candidate for mayor who is running against George Gillespie, John Cook, Chad Hayson, Rex Stotts and Kyle Katzenmeyer. Marin is a candidate for state senator against Sen. Dan Sparks.
Jans recognized all of the builders, contractors, architects and the city of Albert Lea for all of their work and cooperation.
Jans also thanked all of the members of Village Cooperative for their foresight and taking a leap of faith to help fund the community.
Peterson was quick in his presentation to acknowledge the amenities at Village Cooperative. He noted they have wireless Internet, security, a welcoming commons area, a workshop and an indoor car wash in the covered parking area, some the most enticing features is that residents don't have to mow the lawns or shovel snow.
Peterson is originally from Albert Lea, but was living in Arizona before moving to the Village Cooperative. He said he likes to attend coffee time in the commons area and has enjoyed seeing new and familiar faces.
“We all get along,” he said, “and I've gotten acquainted with people I didn't previously know.”
The community offers nine floor plans for residents to choose from. Some residents also had their living spaces modified by knocking out walls to provide for extra open space.
The view offers residents a look at nature with few visible neighbors. Wright said some residents have seen deer and geese on the property that overlooks U.S. Fish and Wildlife lands and water.
“This is going to be something around the state and cooperative community that will be seen as a success,” Jans said.
Fergus Falls Journal - Cooperative Celebrates One Year Open
Cooperative to celebrate one year
Gene Donley is proud of his home. He shares it with 48 other families at the Village Cooperative in Fergus Falls.
Published Tuesday, May 2, 2006
The cooperative celebrates its first anniversary on May 7. “I prefer to think of it as our first birthday here,” he said. In honor of this birthday, the cooperative is hosting an open house on May 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jennifer Rogholt, Resident Services Coordinator, is planning tours of the facilities, free door prizes, coffee and, of course, birthday cake. “Village Cooperative is like 49 families getting together and buying a mansion,” she said. Groups with shared interests will meet, including the knitting and crocheting group (Knit Pickers and Hookers), and the painting group. The cooperative concept originated in the mid-1970s in which individuals buy a living unit, or share. Village living units range in price from $26,000 to $42,000. Typical floor-plans include a two-bedroom unit with kitchen and a single-bedroom unit with a den. A monthly fee is paid into a cooperative account which is used to pay property taxes, maintenance and repairs, as well as water, sewer and garbage collection. The Village Cooperative boasts such amenities as a great room, exercise room, guest suite and a tuck-under heated garage and workshop. There is a quarter-mile paved walking path surrounding the complex, with raised planting beds for residents to plant whatever they wish. Free parking will be provided at the Bigwood Event Center, with free shuttle service to the Village Cooperative. For more information, contact Jennifer Rogholt at 218-736-7880.
Sentinel of Fairmont - You own where you live
By Megan Feddersen
Sentinel of Fairmont, Minn.
Describing the Village Cooperative isn't easy: Living with your peers in a maintenance-free setting sounds like both a nursing home and a college dormitory, but it's a far shot from either.
"Each person who moves in there will own 1/36 of the building," explained Jodie Whitmore, sales and marketing coordinator for the Village Cooperative. The three-story facility being constructed behind Shopko should be ready for residents by the first of October. Cooperative living isn't anything radically new, but it is strange to this area. The idea was conceived in Edina about 30 years ago when the community had a large group of retirees in good health with money to spend - but cooperative living isn't just for the wealthy, according to Whitmore. "There's still an education process," Whitmore said. "This is a whole new concept for people."
A lot of misconceptions about the Village Co-op are floating around town, especially about the price, said Jim Swanson, one of the co-op's shareholders. "Everyone thinks it's so expensive. Wherever you go there's people who say, "I can¹t afford to live there,¹" he said. "But I say people can't afford not to live there." "You can say that again," piped in Roger Isenberg, another shareholder with the co-op.
Residents of the cooperative will be shareholders age 55 and up belonging to a corporation that owns the property. One purchased unit equals one share of the corporation. The cost of the shares generally depends on the size of the unit, with the cheapest at $27,810 and the most expensive at $50,985, with an estimated 3 percent payback per year during the life of the contract.
Residents also pay a monthly fee of $650 to $1,160 to cover the cost of operations, utilities, insurance, taxes and mortgage. Swanson acknowledged he had some misgivings in the beginning with who would construct and own the building, "but then you realize it's going to be owned by us," he said.
The Village will offer its residents a community room with kitchen, reading areas, planting areas, a woodworking shop and exercise room, plus underground, heated parking. Appliances are furnished for the units, and each will have its own laundry room, storage areas and private balcony. Only 10 of 36 units remain unsold.
"These are not small little apartments," Whitmore said. The units vary in size from 870 square feet with one bedroom and one bathroom, to 1,391-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath residences.
"They have all designed their own homes at this point," Whitmore said, adding that fewer decorating options will be available to anyone waiting to sign up. So far Whitmore has seen people of all walks of life signing on, from farmers comimg into town to renters to people who are just tired of taking care of their homes and want to relax. Most are retired, but not all, she said.
"They all wish it was done and they could move in now," she said. As far as Swanson is concerned, the Village Cooperative is one of the best things to happen in Fairmont for people in his age group. "We have everything else - nursing homes, assisted living - but we're lacking this," said Swanson.
Swanson signed up for the co-op last summer, shortly before losing his wife. "We both decided that this would be for us," he said. Now that he's living alone, he's even more certain of his decision. "I need to be around people," he said, "maybe because of losing my wife." The shareholders gathered Wednesday during an open house at the Village Co-op's sales office on Downtown Plaza.
"This is a great group of people moving in there," said Merlin Waterbury. The location was the main draw for Waterbury and his wife, plus the in-house laundry, heated garage and elevator - things they've gone without in their past five years of apartment living. "Also the security," said Waterbury. "... If you don't have security, anyone can come in your building." "And we don't have any upkeep on anything," he added.
The upkeep was what attracted Frank and Velda Simon to the Village. Maintaining their lawn and lakeside home on Shoreacres Drive is too much for them, Velda explained. "We're probably the oldest couple in the deal," she said. Whitmore estimated the median age of the Village residents is about 75.
Boxes of love
Girl Scouts, others make Valentines for soldiers
By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal
Published Monday, January 15, 2007
Shortly before Christmas residents of the Village senior housing unit in northwest Fergus Falls started collecting items to ship to members of the Fergus Falls National Guard stationed in Iraq.
Later on, the Village’s marketing and welcoming committees thought of one way to give each package something extra special — personal valentines created by residents and Girl Scouts.
Those valentines were made Saturday afternoon at the Village activity room — much to the delight of the senior citizens and the young people who felt good about what they were doing for the troops.
Joining residents of the Village for this special project were members of Girl Scout Brownie Troop 614, Girl Scout Brownie Troop 899 and Girls Scout Junior Troop 964.
The valentines were placed atop the contents in each box that consisted of snacks, playing cards, lip balm, lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, t-shirts, CDs and other items. The local National Guard will ship the boxes to the members stationed in Iraq.
“Receiving these special boxes will be like Christmas all over again for the soldiers,” Family Readiness Group leader Sharon Casey said. “This will give them a really needed boost.”
That’s especially true since Minnesota Guard members recently learned the end of their deployment will extend from March to July 2007.
“It’s great to see our residents having such a good time with these girls while doing something we know the Guard members will really appreciate,” Village Board President Gene Donley said. “This valentine project is indeed something special.”
Doing much of the coordination for the resident-troop joint effort was Jennifer Rogholt, resident services coordinator for the Village.
“It’s great to see these 25 girls represent their Girls Scout troops in this special way,” Rogholt said, “working with our residents in making valentines for the Guard members.”
Mark Sjostrom, Fergus Falls National Guard Readiness NCO, has himself served overseas and knows how much packages mean to the soldiers.
“Getting a package from home really brightens up your day,” Sjostrom said. “That’s the way I felt and I know it will be the same for our men in Iraq when they open the packages, read the valentines, and take a look at the other items sent from home.”
Following are two hand-written valentines that will be among the many being sent to the Fergus Falls Guard members serving in Iraq.
“I hope you have a very Happy Valentine’s Day. I will be red, white and blue for you. I support you. Your friend, Alicia.”
“I hope you return home safe. Thank you for fighting for me. Love, Amy.”
Village Cooperative senior housing retirement communities are created with active independent adults in mind. Seniors can live in a comfortable and secured community maintenance-free. Senior Living is at its best at Village Cooperative.
Village Cooperative is a division of Real Estate Equities
