Special Interest Housing near the U?

January 17, 2016 9:12 AM

I'm looking for a room to rent in a long term, stable house with an orientation towards social justice and vegetarian living. Is anyone familiar with a house like this in Minneapolis/Saint Paul?

This is for my daughter who will be a third year student next year.

Also: Is there a co-op or natural food store that serves as community bulletin board?

posted by ohshenandoah to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Best answer: Here are some Minneapolis food co-ops I found when I did a search. Pretty much every food co-op I've ever been to has a community bulletin board, though admittedly I may have never been to a food co-op in MN.

- http://www.wedge.coop/

- http://seward.coop/

- http://www.eastsidefood.coop/ (coming soon)

- http://lindenhills.coop/

and St. Paul:

- http://msmarket.coop/connect/locations/

- http://www.hampdenpark.coop/
posted by aniola at 9:56 AM on January 17, 2016

Best answer: I just skimmed the directory of intentional communities at ic.org real quick and found this one, this one, and this one which look pretty close to what you want.
posted by clavicle at 10:18 AM on January 17, 2016

Is there a reason you're not asking your daughter these questions? She is in a better position to assist, and as a college sophomore, is quite capable of finding her own housing. In fact, I think it's a great life experience for someone that age.
posted by hydra77 at 10:34 AM on January 17, 2016 [8 favorites]

Best answer: It depends what "near the U" means. Most of the co-ops I know of (including Omega House that clavicle linked to) are in Whittier, Powerderhorn or Phillips, which are all neighborhoods grad students live in, but are likely considered the great unknown by the undergrad population generally. There are probably a few in Seward/Longfellow as well, which is closer, but I don't happen to know any. As far as I know, Riverton's co-ops are basically just apartment buildings and not what she's looking for.

Co-op groceries in Minnesota are aimed at a more upscale crowd than the sort of people who form co-op houses, though co-op houses shop there--I'm not actually sure the Wedge has a bulletin board. Seward does, I think. I'd check Hard Times and the Seward Cafe.

I do know someone living in a co-op and a few more in that general social circle, so me-mail me if you want me to pass on an email.
posted by hoyland at 4:14 PM on January 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Regarding aniola's post above: the Eastside coop is under construction, but it is open :-)
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:32 PM on January 17, 2016