New Community (Co-op)

New Community (New Comm) is a student housing cooperative located in East Lansing, Michigan and a member house of the Michigan State University Student Housing Cooperative. After having been founded as an independent cooperative in the 1960s, New Community has undergone a series of changes and remains a staple of progressive living in the region.

History

In 1969, a group of East Lansing cooperators calling themselves New Community established an independent cooperative with the goal of creating a less structured, counter-cultural living experience. After running independent cooperative houses for three years, New Community joined the newly formed MSU SHC.

The location of New Community moved several times during the 1970s and 1980s, after the original house was initially moved from its location on Albert Avenue to M.A.C. The location moved once again, after using money procured from a loan from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the SHC was able to purchase 415 and 425 Ann Street. New Community existed as a two house cooperative, until 1981 when the properties were split and New Community became exclusively located at its current location at 425 Ann Street. The property at 415 Ann Street was split into a separate Cooperative in 1995, Toad Lane. However, despite the split, the two houses still retain close relations.

For a short time, from 1997 until 2004, the house operated as the official honors cooperative. In 2010 and 2011, the house underwent a series of home improvement projects.

Current House

The house is currently located at 425 Ann St. on the corner of DIvision St, two blocks north of Michigan State University's campus. There are currently 15 residents in the house's seven single and four double bedrooms. The culture in New Community is one of bemused indifference. The house is most commonly referred to as "new comm". Residents of the co-op generally seek counter culture and enjoy the strange absurdities that frequent the house.

References

• Student Housing Cooperative, Inc. (2010). "New Community Cooperative" http://msu.coop/new-community