The community is invited to come together for a centennial celebration of the former Star of Bethlehem Home in St. Louis Park.
The four-story brick mansion at 2925 Monterey Ave. was designed in the American Colonial style by Frederick Mann, founder of the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. According to the St. Louis Park Historical Society, the home would have been clearly visible to drivers and streetcar riders traveling east or west along Minnetonka Boulevard.
The site at the top of Fern Hill also meant clear views of St. Louis Park and well beyond. Today, the view is best experienced on the top floor or from the mansion’s rooftop, where a clear view of the Minneapolis skyline is on display to the east.
The home, named the Star of Bethlehem, was originally commissioned by the Christian Science community to serve as a place of rest and comfort for Christian Scientists.
In 1965, the property was sold to Jack and Dorothy Winter, who along with other Martinsville, Indiana residents formally incorporated Daystar Ministries in Minnesota in 1975 and provided a Christian communal living space.
According to the St. Louis Park Historical Society, Daystar eventually lost the property to a bank in foreclosure. American Youth Hostels had a purchase agreement in 1992 to buy it and turn it into a 100-bed youth hostel, but the plans ultimately did not move forward.
The building and more than two acres of land were sold to Monterey Cohousing Community in late 1992 and the property today still functions as a collaborative cohousing community.
“A lot of people talk about living in a community. … But when you live in proximity, that’s a different animal,” said Rick Gravrok, a former preschool teacher who has lived at Monterey Cohousing since it opened. “We have good reason to get along with each other because we live together.”
After purchasing the property, Monterey Cohousing began the process of remodeling the mansion into eight private residences with 6,000 square feet of common space. In 1996, the cohousing community expanded when seven townhomes — connected to the mansion by an underground tunnel — were constructed on the property.
Today, the community’s 15 units currently house around 30 people of all ages.
“There are a number of singles. There are quite a few couples, and there are three families with children,” said Monterey Cohousing resident Ian Thomas.
According to the Cohousing Association of the United States, cohousing is an intentional, collaborative neighborhood that combines private homes with shared indoor and outdoor spaces designed to support an active and interdependent community life.
And there is plenty of room to share in the 100-year-old home. The mansion includes a community kitchen and dining area, three-season porch, living room, library/media room, woodworking shop, children’s playroom and an office.
“And we have an online communication system, so if somebody has a problem or an urgent need they can post it there and somebody will respond very quickly and provide whatever assistance they need,” Thomas said.
The concept of cohousing originated in Denmark and was promoted in the U.S. by architects Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett in the 1980s. Today, there are around 160 cohousing communities in the U.S.
The mission at Monterey Cohousing is to live in a way that promotes community. Residents share facilities, decision-making and responsibility —all with a dedication to diversity, acceptance, listening and conflict resolution.
“We do consensus decision-making. … The idea is to resolve issues and to talk with each other and work things out,” Gravrok said.
Gravrok and Thomas said they hope to share with the public more about the concept of cohousing during a centennial celebration at the mansion. The public event is planned for 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. The event will include tours of the mansion, remarks from local officials, live music by the TaTa Quartet, refreshments and games.
To learn more about the Monterey Cohousing Community, visit montereycohousing.com.
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