Karwick Village is moving ahead with the key elements of La Porte County’s first rental cooperative community. Two of our residential buildings are moving closer to completion, our first year Karwick Village Cooperative Board has formed, and our resident information sessions have been happening as we get ready to open our application process. As all of these wonderful components come together in support of the cooperative rental community at Karwick Village, we feel the immense importance of the need to have our community center at Karwick Village move forward.
What is the Importance of Community Building?
Karwick Village is a cooperative community, meaning that the residents will make up the cooperative board that will make decisions collectively for the betterment and future of the community. Fostering and supporting this board is everything to the success of the cooperative-style community. From the orientation of the homes at Karwick Village facing in towards a shared lawn, to the community center, we’ve intentionally designed spaces to foster community, build support networks, and support the Karwick Village board.
What is the Function of the Community Center At Karwick Village?
The community center at Karwick Village is where community members are welcome to gather for important meetings, board meetings, and community gatherings. While this is true, this building is so much more to our community. The community center is essentially the community’s shared living room, a place to gather, play, learn, and commune as a community. This is also a shared space where classes can take place, and where the community welcomes groups in to speak or teach.
This building will house a large kitchen where community members can gather for a weekly meal if they wish. This space can also be utilized for resident celebrations such as birthday parties and anniversaries. Residents will also be able to access laundry facilities in the community center. This building provides comfort, friendship, and function for Karwick Village residents. This building is the beating heart of the community.
Broader Connections Housed Here
The community center represents something special about cooperative living and community resilience. We know that individuals who are isolated face greater health issues and are more at risk of becoming unhoused. The community center is where relationships will be made and support networks will be built for all of the residents at Karwick Village. At Karwick Village, we envision a diverse community of young and old with different backgrounds, so that the support network built is robust and inclusive.
We know from years of research, and a concept that was reinforced when we toured cooperative communities in Bloomington earlier this year, that the shared communal space is essential to a healthy, happy, and functioning cooperative community. This shared space is key to coming together as a community. Friendships and support networks are born in this building and will continue to thrive for years to come.
A Center for the Future of Our Community
A dedicated community center holds the collective memory of Karwick Village. The center is a physical anchor that helps preserve the values, traditions, and knowledge as residents of Karwick Village come and go. New members will have a clear gathering place to learn the community’s history, participate in decision-making processes, and understand what cooperative living truly means. Without this space, that cultural knowledge risks being lost or diluted over time.
This center is where community grows through affordable housing, where Homeward Bound Villages lives our mission, and where the fabric of the Karwick Village Co-op community is woven together. The community center is the shared living room, kitchen, and utility space for vital needs such as laundry facilities for the community. This is where the Karwick Village Co-Op board will gather, grow, and govern as a community. Friendships, support networks, and the future of Karwick Village will be made in this space. We are so excited to see the next part of Karwick Village come together.
