Today we’d like to introduce you to Independence Place.
Hi Independence, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Independence Place is a housing cooperative for individuals 62 and better, who are independent and want to enjoy retirement without the hassles of owning a home. It’s the perfect way to keep the cost of living affordable for those who are aging wisely
It’s more like an investment. You buy a share of the cooperative, and it gains interest annually. There are monthly fees. The monthly Caring charges are to cover the operating costs (heat, Water, sewer, janitor, janitor supplies, garbage removal & common area electricity), Maintenance(Snow removal, lawncare, landscaping, HVAC maintenance & elevator maintenance), Administrative costs (Housing Director, legal & audit fees), Debt Service, Taxes and Insurance, Reserves, basic cable/WIFI and all other amenities.
There are many activities and outings planned. Games with neighbors. Coffee every day, Birthday parties, the best thing is you don’t have to leave the building to enjoy these activities, and you have the opportunity to be as involved as you would like.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the beginning, the obstacle was convincing people of the business plan and filling the units. Now, it is that everyone wants to move to Independence Place. The building is not big enough for the long waitlist.
The waitlist is really never a problem because some of the people who are on the waitlist are not ready when a unit is available. meaning you could be the last person on the list and get an available unit. It’s all about timing.
The main obstacles individuals face when moving to Independence Place are that there is a Board of Directors that oversees the operations of the building. People are moving here from their own place where they can do what they want when they want, because it is theirs. The board has to look out for the better interest of the community, and there are guidelines of what you can do to the building and the yard.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Everyone who lives here has their own interest. We have different committees you can volunteer for depending on your interests.
We do a lot of things for the community, like EMT appreciation, Fundraising for the food shelf, and the Willmar Cancer Center.
Others enjoy Gardening and share their bounty with the members of the building. Some just love living here so much that they are a talking billboard for the community.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You may be going through troubled waters, but if you step back and take a breath, the problem really is not as big as you see it. Take time to process the situation, create a plan, and follow through. Plans can change, so be ready to adapt to any situation and always roll with the punches. Having Patients is key.
Pricing:
- $48,406 for 726 sq. ft. MCC $1029
- $62,214 for 933 sq. ft. MCC $1293
- $70,838 for 1063 sq. ft. MCC $1457
- $76,126 for 1140 sq. ft. MCC $1554
- $95943 for 1424 sq. ft. MCC $1915
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ipwillmar.com
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/ipWillmar
