Spirit on Lake Captures the Spirit of LIving Out

Entrance to Spirit on Lake

I'm a Midwest girl so I couldn't drive through Minnesota without visiting "Spirit on Lake" in Minneapolis, urban apartments on the corner of Lake Street and 13th Avenue South.  This place meets my definition of utopia.  They have carefully defined the community as "open to all in a setting where the GLBT elder community can feel fully welcome and secure."  This community is, by design, affordable and diverse.  What an ideal community!

We met with Kathleen Tully, the wonderfully welcoming property manager.  Kathleen calls this an "intentional community" and said that they think of themselves as a "laboratory."  The community opened on September 1st, 2013.  Approximately 70% of the residents are GLBT.  Most of the non-GLBT are Somali. There are four stories and 46 one and two-bedroom apartments here.  Seven units are reserved for CLARE Housing, providing housing and services for HIV positive individuals.  We had the opportunity to tour a one-bedroom apartment.  The proud resident was happy to show us his well-designed space with a wide entryway, beautiful kitchen with high-end finishes and bedroom with a large walk-in closet.  Besides a meeting space, the first floor also houses the the Q (Quatrefoil) Library, the GLBT community library with a large collection of over 10,000 books as well as DVDs, periodicals and sound recordings. 

The Quatrefoil Library

A Poster in the Q Library

Two residents are quite well-known.  Harvey Hertz, is a long-time gay activist and was the owner of the first gay bookstore in Minneapolis.  Barbara Satin, a transgender activist whom Kathleen describes as the matriarch of Spirit on Lake,  can be seen in this video produced by the BBC:  http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26533045

One of the things that makes Spirit on Lake a unique community, besides the fact that it is open to all, is that it was funded by a development group of investors who are dedicated to the ideals represented by Spirit on Lake.  This is a "for profit" enterprise but those who put up the funding must comply with the tax credit requirements.  The community also has the community support of the Living Table United Church of Christ fellowship that is "boldly inclusive." 

Spirit on Lake just received a great honor, Pride Twin Cities recently announced that the Community Champion of Pride award will be given to Spirit on Lake.  The representatives of the community will receive the award at the Grand Marshall Reception in June 13th.  

After we left the building and were heading back to the RV parked on the street just outside the entrance, we were stopped by two residents, (now they feel like friends) Judith and Joleen.  They were on their way out to Judith's storage unit (do we ever have enough room for all our earthly goods?).  What great women!  We talked about all kinds of things, including what it was like to live at Spirit on the Lake.  Both of these 70-somethings are very happy living there and we can understand why.

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