By Adam Hammer, staff writer
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 62 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.