Monterey Cohousing

St. Louis Park, Minnesota, United States

  • Last updated: January 10, 2016 (1 year ago)
  • Listing created on: December 31, 1999

Mission Statement

A Cohousing Community

Community Description

We are a unique, small community located just outside Minneapolis near lakes and shopping. We value diversity, and have varying incomes. Our 15 households currently include people of ages 5 through 70, singles and couples, with and without children.

Occupations include computer programmers, artists, teachers, therapists, caregivers, scientists, architect, piano teacher, executive director, gardener, and more. Our traditions include parties, campfires, sing-alongs, game nights, house concerts, benefit auction, solstice celebration, etc. Community meals and “co-chats” (spontaneous conversations) are the glue that hold the community together. We self-manage, and value working together.

The community has an abundance of common space, including a large living room, library, kitchen, dining room, three-season porch, four working fireplaces, exercise room, wood shop, laundry room, children’s playroom, and office. Outdoor common space includes lawns with picnic areas, a play area, a vegetable garden, and an acre of woods. The grounds are lovingly landscaped; we often see deer and wild turkeys roaming through our property.

Homes include eight retrofit co-op apartments in an Edwardian mansion and seven townhomes built for the community. The two buildings are connected by a tunnel, which removes the weather as an obstacle to getting together. Home size ranges roughly from 400 to 1600 sq ft.

Our community grows from working together and shared experience.

About

  • Type(s): Cohousing (individual homes within group owned property)
  • Programs & Activities: Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner’s Association
  • Location: Suburban

Housing

  • Status: We have land we have developed on
  • Area: 2.5 acres
  • Current Residence Types: Single-family homes, Multi-family homes, Room(s) in a house or building
  • Current Number of Residences: 15
  • Housing Provided: Purchase
  • Land owned by: The community

Membership

  • Adult Members: 25
  • Child Members: 2
  • Non-member Residents: 9
  • Percent Women: 51-60%
  • Percent Men: 31-40%
  • Percent Transgender: 0%
  • Visitors accepted: Yes
  • Visitor Process:

    Please call our voicemail to arrange a visit. 952-479-0660

  • Open to new Members: Yes
  • Membership Process:

    In flux, as we are updating our process. In general we encourage people to get to know us by attending community meals, meetings, and other events before committing to purchasing a unit. Occasionally there are opportunities for renting, including renting with the option to buy. All potential residents, whether renting or buying must undergo a credit check and criminal background check.

  • Additional Comments:

    Our Mission is to live in a way that promotes community. We share facilities, decision-making, responsibility, and work, and thereby know our neighbors. We are dedicated to diversity, acceptance, listening, and conflict resolution, and having fun. We make communication with and participation in the community a priority, while supporting a balance between community and private life. We’re looking for people who share these values.

Government

  • Decision Making: Modified Consensus (everyone agrees, with some exceptions or fallbacks.)
  • Identified Leader: No
  • Leadership Core Group: No
  • Additional Comments:

    .

    We’re small enough for every adult member to be on the Board of Directors.

    We use consensus minus one. (It takes two to block.)

Economics

  • Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: Yes
  • Shared Income: None
  • Required Labor Contribution: Encouraged or suggested
  • Open to members with existing debt: Yes
  • Additional Comments:

    There’s lots to do to keep the community running. Everyone is expected to contribute.

    We have an annual budget, supported by membership dues that range from $318 to $764/month based on the size of the unit. In the co-op building these dues also cover the utilities and property tax.

    There is no “joining fee” other than the purchase price of the unit. For renters there is a $20/month maintenance fee on top of the rent.

Sustainability Practices

  • Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
  • Current renewable energy generation: 0%, or close to 0%
  • Planned renewable energy generation: Up to 25%
  • Current food produced: Up to 25%
  • Planned food produced: Up to 25%

Lifestyle

  • Common Facilities: Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Gym or sports area
  • Internet Available: Yes, individuals provide it
  • Internet Fast?: Yes, it’s fine.
  • Cell Phone Service: Good for most people.
  • Shared meals: 2-5 times per week
  • Dietary Practice: Omnivorous (plants and animals), Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers), Mostly Vegetarian, Mostly Vegan, Gluten-Free
  • Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No – people may eat however they wish.
  • Special Diets OK: Sometimes
  • Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
  • Tobacco Use: No, this community does not permit tobacco use.
  • Additional Diet Comments:

    We accommodate different needs at community meals

    Roughly 15% vegetarians

    No smoking in indoor common space.

  • Common Spiritual Practice(s): Ecumenical (accepts all religions or spiritual practices)
  • Education Style(s): Home Schooling, Private School off the property, Public Schooling, Up to each family or individual
  • Healthcare Options: Up to each family or individual

Additional Comments

Best of both worlds-(urban and suburban) -we’re just 1/2 mile outside Minneapolis, and yet we have our own woods.

Photo Gallery

Community Network or Organization Affiliations

The Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC), Coho/US

Keywords

cohousing,family friendly