The Park Plaza Story...
Want to know more about Park Plaza? Just ask someone who lives here.
Park Plaza opened in the early 1960s and has grown over the years into a 90-site, resident-owned manufactured home community.
But that transition didn't happen overnight. We began the move toward controlling our own destiny in 2010. That's when, with the help of Northcountry Cooperative Foundation and ROC USA®, we formed the Park Plaza Cooperative that would, on Feb. 15, 2011, purchase and take control of our community.
Now, the ROC is not only a successful business, but also a thriving neighborhood. The process of the cooperative buying the land beneath our homes brought this community closer together. Not only do we know far more of our neighbors than ever before, but we look out for one another, too. And with no outside landlord to report to, we're the envy of other nearby manufactured home communities.
Our member households elect our board of directors, which works with a property management firm and also appoints various volunteer committees to help with special projects, celebrations, community improvements and more. The board submits a budget every year, and the entire membership votes on it and any changes to the rent before the budget becomes official. Our rent has stabilized since becoming a ROC – something about which we're not only happy, but also proud. We're running the multi-million dollar business that is our community on our terms, by our rules, for the betterment of ourselves and our neighbors.
Park Plaza couldn't be better situated. The commute to the Twin Cities is a breeze, and we're just minutes from great schools, all kinds of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, churches and more. There's also plenty of employment opportunities nearby -- some even within walking distance. School buses come right into our community and we're three miles from the Metro, which is a 20-minute ride to downtown.
Since we voted to become a resident-owned community, we have worked hard to improve our community. We've put up new signs, planted flowers, upgraded our office and more. Our social committee holds events throughout the year, which always include the chance to win prizes and have fun. We even give away a free month's rent once a year.
Ask anyone who lives in Park Plaza Cooperative, and we're sure they'll tell you it's a little slice of heaven.
But that transition didn't happen overnight. We began the move toward controlling our own destiny in 2010. That's when, with the help of Northcountry Cooperative Foundation and ROC USA®, we formed the Park Plaza Cooperative that would, on Feb. 15, 2011, purchase and take control of our community.
Now, the ROC is not only a successful business, but also a thriving neighborhood. The process of the cooperative buying the land beneath our homes brought this community closer together. Not only do we know far more of our neighbors than ever before, but we look out for one another, too. And with no outside landlord to report to, we're the envy of other nearby manufactured home communities.
Our member households elect our board of directors, which works with a property management firm and also appoints various volunteer committees to help with special projects, celebrations, community improvements and more. The board submits a budget every year, and the entire membership votes on it and any changes to the rent before the budget becomes official. Our rent has stabilized since becoming a ROC – something about which we're not only happy, but also proud. We're running the multi-million dollar business that is our community on our terms, by our rules, for the betterment of ourselves and our neighbors.
Park Plaza couldn't be better situated. The commute to the Twin Cities is a breeze, and we're just minutes from great schools, all kinds of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, churches and more. There's also plenty of employment opportunities nearby -- some even within walking distance. School buses come right into our community and we're three miles from the Metro, which is a 20-minute ride to downtown.
Since we voted to become a resident-owned community, we have worked hard to improve our community. We've put up new signs, planted flowers, upgraded our office and more. Our social committee holds events throughout the year, which always include the chance to win prizes and have fun. We even give away a free month's rent once a year.
Ask anyone who lives in Park Plaza Cooperative, and we're sure they'll tell you it's a little slice of heaven.