Village Cooperative

New Life for Old School

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:30:10 +0000

By: Jill Johnson

Village Cooperative groundbreaking celebrated

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:07:04 +0000

3-30-12

CLINTON — Community leaders and future residents of the Village Cooperative gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the community living complex for active adults, 55 or older.

Future residents were each supplied a small shovel to dig into the dirt at the site of the future 44-home complex at the ceremony, which was followed by a celebration at the Eagle Point Park Lodge. Construction is set to begin next week.

“It has been a fun, exciting and agonizing process, but I am very excited to be here to tell you that we will be starting construction,” Shane Wright, project manager of Real Estate Equities Development, said.

The project has been delayed several times since the start. Construction was originally planned to begin last fall.

“This has been a long drawn-out process,” Real Estate Equities President Keith Jans said. “We thank you for your patience.”

Mayor Mark Vulich showed his support for the project along with several city councilmen and the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“From a city standpoint this is a major investment,” Vulich said. “This is a huge economic development for Clinton. It will create jobs and get more people to stay here and support our businesses.”

The project has brought in residents from Missouri, Tennessee and surrounding towns. There has also been interest in the project from multiple locations throughout the Midwest, according to Sales Coordinator Tracey Minnick.

At the lodge, residents gathered for a formal ceremony celebrating the building of their new home. Wright opened the ceremony that featured several speakers such as Vulich, Jans, and residents Sue Raaymakers and Bill and Phyllis Warren. Following the speakers, all the members participated in the blending of soils, each bringing in a bag of dirt from their home to put in a pot that will be placed in their future home. Pastor Paul Homer of Immanuel Lutheran Church closed the ceremony with a blessing for the new home and residents. The $5 million project will be a three-story building housing one, two and two-plus bedroom, single-level homes that range from 879 to 1,475 square feet.

Village Co-op can be a good alternative to owning a condo

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:31:02 +0000

Hiawatha Gazette

March 12th, 2012

Village Cooperative, a new housing development for those 55 or older, is coming to N.E. Cedar Rapids.

Located in the Creekside Development on Boyson Road, the housing development will give seniors the opportunity to stay in their own homes, without all the hassles that normally comes with home ownership.

According to Penny Shedek, Sales and Marketing Coordinator of Village Cooperative of Cedar Rapids, cooperative housing is the joint ownership and operation of a housing development by those who live in it. Each member (home) purchases a share in the limited equity corporation. These shares provide the equity to secure a mortgage. Each membership also has an equal voting status in electing the Board of Directors.

Shedek said that only 65 homes will be available in the cooperative and added that the homes will be available to move in next fall.

Prospective buyer, Darlene Hartkemeyer, of Walker, lost her husband, Bill, to cancer last year. She said that she doesn’t like living alone and the upkeep of the house and everything else it takes to maintain a home is becoming burdensome.

“Living in Walker just isn’t working out for me because everything I do is in Cedar Rapids,” said Hartkemeyer. “Some days I make two trips a day–that’s 100 miles a day on my car, plus the gas back and forth, and the wear and tear on the car. It’s time to move on with my life.”

Hartkemeyer said that she is looking forward to having other adults around that she can communicate with, enjoy activities with, or even eat a meal with.

“I’m very excited to have new friends and very much looking forward to the adult companionship,” she said. “I can’t say enough good things about the co-op.”

Shedek said that this is a one of a kind senior development for the active senior who wants maintenance-free living, with a community of peers. “I don’t believe Cedar Rapids has anything like this development because it applies to the active senior, not assisted living. It has home ownership benefits, and large square footage with a lot of closet and storage space at a price that can’t be beat.”

Shedek said that so many senior can’t do the shoveling and mowing and the cooperative gives them time to enjoy life.

“But yet, so many people 55-plus don’t know their own neighbors anymore, so it also gives them a community around them when they want, to enjoy a game of cards or do crafts,” said Shedek.

“What’s better than a poker game on a snowy day, or conquering all the world’s problems over a cup of coffee in the morning? It’s like being a senior back in college.

For more information, visit Village Cooperative’s website at www.villagecooperative.com or call Shedek at 378-7400.

Angie Wedekind Joins Village Cooperative as Sales Coordinator

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:58:47 +0000

Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Publication: Pearl City Progress

February 2012

By: Greg Kistler

Senior housing eyed at Pinnacle Prairie

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:34:24 +0000

Thursday, January 12th

By: Tina Hinz - tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com

Senior Living Community Opens in Alexandria

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:53:11 +0000

By: Emily Reppert – KSAX-TV

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (KSAX) – The Village Cooperative in Alexandria held its grand opening on Thursday.

The former elementary school has been transformed into 28 homes for seniors. Sales Coordinator Hugh Myers said The Village is a community for people 55 and older looking to start the next phase of their lives.

“The cooperative is very, very community oriented,” Myers said, “People are living here because of a change in their life, but they’re living here because they like the people they live with.”

Myers said the convenient, maintenance free lifestyle and tight-knit community has already attracted 22 buyers, which he said is a great investment.

“You actually gain equity on your home,” Myers said, “For each year that you live in the Village Cooperative your home actually goes up in value.”

Mayor Dan Ness said the city is also gaining from the cooperative. He said it’s a boost for the local economy, bringing more residents into the city to take advantage of downtown Alexandria.

“I just hope we have more coming just like it because we love having people coming back to town, it’s great,” Ness said.

For more information about the Village Cooperative visit: www.villagecooperative.com/locations/251/alexandria/

Bringing the Service to the Veterans

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:06:56 +0000

By: Kurt Ullrich

November 12th, 2011 – Marine Corps League conducts a Veterans Day ceremony at the Village Cooperative of Asbury.

Earth is Moving at the Village Cooperative of Cedar Falls!

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:16:53 +0000

They may only be doing soil samples, but there is still earth being moved for The Village Cooperative of Cedar Falls and that’s all that matters! For more information call Diane at (319) 266-1111 or email cedarfalls@reeliving.com .

Cooperative celebrates year in Asbury

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:53:37 +0000

Residents own shares in and govern the 50-unit senior housing complex in Asbury, IA.

Earth is Moving at the Village Cooperative of Clinton!

jtravalent@reeliving.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:22:16 +0000

If you feel the earth moving, it’s not an earthquake… It’s everyone in Clinton doing a happy dance all at the same time! They may only be doing soil samples, but there is still earth being moved for The Village Cooperative of Clinton and that’s all that matters! For more information call Tracey at (563) 242-9000 or email clinton@reeliving.com