Multi-story residential building with beige siding and front steps.

Elsworth-Bowie Cooperative

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Social
  • Urban

Founding year

  • 1971

What we do

Bowie House is one big family! We are all pretty good friends, and we always try to accommodate for each other’s needs so that everyone feels comfortable in their home. Each Bowian is unique, with different majors from STEM to the arts, and different interests from cooking to sports. We love to play video games, watch movies, and have dance parties together. We are a cleaner house and try to (nicely!) hold each other accountable for cleaning up after ourselves. We very strongly value consent at Bowie, and make consent (in all areas of life) a house norm. With Sunday – Thursday dinners, 20 parking spots, all singles, and wonderful people, Bowie House is where you will make great memories and become part of a new family!

Our Mission

Student Housing

  • Purpose
  • Social
  • Community type
  • Student Co-op
  • Activities
  • Education
  • Experiences
  • Networking

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1971
  • Started planning
  • January 1, 1971
  • Started living together
  • 21 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
21

How to join

Submit the application at http://www.msu.coop/apply/
Tour houses virtually on our website.
Once accepted, contact Membership Officers of the houses you’re interested in touring!
Tour the houses you’re interested in.
Go to a house dinner AND a house meeting at the houses you like.
Wait to hear from the house’s Membership Officer about the status of your approval.
If approved by a house, make an appointment with MSU SHC office to sign a contract for your favorite one!
Voila! You are a member-owner of the MSU SHC!

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Apply online at www.msu.coop, then email Elsworth’s Membership Officer for a tour at www.msu.coop/elsworth/

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

Decision-making process

  • Majority Vote

More than 50% agreement needed.

Governance structure

  • Representative/Democratic

Members elect leaders who make decisions within defined roles.

Economic model

  • Partial Income-Sharing

Members contribute a percentage of income to community funds.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a one-time fee, investment, or share purchase to join the community separate from accessing housing
  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Join fee: $405
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Yes (2 hrs/week)

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Internet

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Community activities and engagement

  • School, Educational Institute or Experience
  • Organization, Resource, or Network
  • Festivals, Conferences, Events

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure

Age demographics

  • Mixed adults (few or no children)

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Michigan, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
5 months ago

“Lots” of Goodness For Sale!

Are you seeking to live in a sustainable, wellness-oriented community that prioritizes nature and environmental conservation? Living Well Ecovillage offers the perfect opportunity to be part of a vibrant, self-sufficient community committed to holistic health and ecological harmony. Available lots are equipped with city utilities and fiber internet access. Located in a unique mixed-use community with a variety of land uses planned for the future, including small business/commercial spaces, tiny houses, cluster housing, and a 10-acre farm. Currently, there are still 7 lots available. The Ecovillage is home to a diverse range of homes, such as timber frame, Deltec, hempcrete, and Net-Zero energy designs—all built with green building principles in mind. This community prioritizes sustainability and wellness in every aspect of life. About the Living Well Ecovillage Spanning 126 acres, the Living Well Ecovillage is bordered by the Deep River and Sandy Creek, offering stunning natural beauty and a tranquil environment. The Ecovillage includes shared spaces like a community garden, a Greenway/Rail Trail, and a neighborhood park. Over 53 acres of natural land buffer the river and creek, preserving the area’s pristine beauty and offering residents a true connection to nature. Your Dream Home Awaits Find your ideal spot to build your sustainable home, surrounded by trees, rock outcroppings, and abundant wild edible plants. Experience breathtaking views and a peaceful setting, perfect for those seeking a slower, more connected way of life. A Community That Supports Wellness The Living Well Ecovillage is not just about space—it’s about community. With access to the Folk School, residents engage in hands-on learning, sustainable practices, and personal growth, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Perfectly Located Just
Offer
  • Communities with Openings
4 months ago

Rooms in Beautiful Location in downtown East Austin

Mountain Laurel House has upcoming room openings on August 1 and September 1 to share our house in central East Austin close to downtown. Rent is $925 per month with $75 to cover your share of the utilities and maintenance. You provide your own food. We enjoy sharing a meal at the dining table at least once a month for fun, to check in on our lives, and talk about housekeeping together. To apply, email donnaleehoffman@gmail.com with subject line Room at Mountain Laurel House. Request the brief application questions and we’ll provide more info and answer your questions. Mountain Laurel House is in a great location! It’s on a green cul de sac, with a wooded lot to the southwest and a green open space to the west. It’s close to the East 11th & Rosewood dining and entertainment district and right across from the Carver Library and a bus stop. We’re in walking distance to downtown Austin, the State Capitol, Huston-Tillotson University and a short bike or bus ride to the University of Texas; and, south or east of here, Lady Bird Lake and Boggy Creek hike and bike trails, park lands, swimming pools, pickleball and basketball courts. I kayak on Town Lake aka Lady Bird Lake or swim just across downtown at Deep Eddy or Barton Springs fresh-water, spring-fed swimming pools. We enjoy sharing a meal at the dining table at least once a month for fun, to check in on our lives, and plan housekeeping together. HEB is a short 5 minute drive east on 7th St. and Whole Foods is about a ten minute walk from here on 5th St. Amenities in the house include a dishwasher, utility room with a clothes washer-dryer and an optional clothesline, high-speed internet, a big dining room table for meals or activities, and a large screen TV for movie nights. The yard has beautiful native wildlife habitat gardens, veggie and herb pots, a large Cedar Elm, two Live Oaks, a fruit-bearing Fig, a Champenelle grape vine, and a Chili pequin. The cul de sac is a large park-like

Information

Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

Organizations

An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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