Riverton Community Housing is one of the Twin Cities’ most enduring cooperative housing communities, tracing its roots back to 1939, when The Chateau first formed as a student dining cooperative. The goal was to serve low cost meals to University of Minnesota students in Minneapolis whose rooming accommodations did not have cooking facilities.
A Cooperative Legacy in Minneapolis
The Chateau dining cooperative continued for 30 years, but by the early 1970s, student needs were changing as university-area housing modernized. So, the cooperative adapted to meet affordable housing needs. They began construction on what would become its current apartment building in 1972, and the cooperative welcomed its first student residents into the new space the following year—marking the start of Riverton’s long-standing commitment to affordable student housing through the cooperative model.
In 1991, The Chateau became its current leasehold cooperative and formed the nonprofit now known as Riverton Community Housing to own the property and support expansion. That investment in long-term stability has paid off: today, Riverton’s portfolio includes seven properties (nine buildings) totaling 605 units for students and non-students, created through building or acquiring additional properties and forming cooperatives within them across Minneapolis.
Riverton’s cooperative spirit is visible in everyday community life. Member cooperatives regularly organize social events—everything from game nights to Bob Ross paint-and-sips—alongside community care initiatives like shared meals, clothing swaps and supporting local food pantries. A few years ago, The Chateau secured a grant to create a community mural, and residents partnered with neighbors not only to guide the design through engagement sessions, but to come together and help paint it—leaving a lasting landmark that beautifies the neighborhood.
Concern for Community in Action
More recently, community life in the Twin Cities has been under attack. In response to ICE activity, cooperative members have stepped up to support neighbors and by serving as trusted hubs for information sharing, helping ensure safety and connection. Cooperative Principle 7, or “concern for community,” is an integral part of Riverton’s identity, and it has taken on new meaning in the current environment.
All of Riverton’s community engagement is a testament to its commitment to good governance. As Community Engagement Manager Gunnar Carlson puts it, “Riverton Community Housing provides the stability, technical support and institutional memory to allow our student cooperatives to continue to govern with a frequently changing membership. There’s something really special when everyone’s working together to support the cooperative’s goals! We really get to see democratic governance at its finest.”
A Voice for Student Housing
Cooperative housing advocacy is another core component of Riverton’s work. The organization represents member cooperatives in neighborhood groups and community development agencies, participates in state legislative advocacy, and has testified on behalf of cooperative members. Riverton is engaged with CoMinnesota and participates in the Minnesota Cooperative Summit, while also hosting tours for students, lawmakers and stakeholders to deepen understanding of the cooperative model’s benefits. Last year, Riverton advocates traveled to Washington, DC, joining student cooperatives nationwide to advocate for funding for student co-ops.
Expanding Affordable Cooperative Housing
Looking ahead, Riverton is focused on strengthening cooperative education, expanding engagement opportunities and building an alumni network. The organization is also exploring an innovative affordability strategy: a partnership with a community land trust—an important step toward long-term, community-centered affordability in the Twin Cities.
Affordable housing is an issue that the entire cooperative community is rallying around, and Riverton values its connection to the national cooperative movement through NCBA. “NCBA allows us to stay informed about what’s happening at the national level while allowing us to contribute through our involvement with the P6 volunteer council,” Carlson said. “It’s a great resource as well as a networking tool while also being a great community.”
And as Director of Housing Karyn Zwieg added, “Our cooperatives strengthen the very fabric of our community. With the support and guidance of NCBA, we’re able to cultivate spaces where collaboration, shared leadership, and mutual success aren’t just values—they’re lived experiences. When members come together to shape their own future, the entire community thrives.”
“With the support and guidance of NCBA, we’re able to cultivate spaces where collaboration, shared leadership, and mutual success aren’t just values—they’re lived experiences.” – Karyn Zwieg, Riverton Community Housing