Gracewin Living Offers New Living Option in the Lakes Area

BRAINERD DISPATCH

December 1, 2023

Renee Richardson, Managing Editor/Reporter (www.brainerddispatch.com)

Residents are owners in the cooperative living development, which recently notes it was 70% full with 14 units left in Baxter.

A water theme is visible throughout the three-story building with artwork and colors that tap into the lakes area. Gracewin Living hosted a grand opening this summer in Baxter. The facility is now 70% full with sold units in the cooperative living development. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The Sunset Lounge at Gracewin Living offers a third floor view of the natural surroundings of the facility and includes outside deck seating as well as a pool table and golf simulator. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

At the end of November, Lisa Anteau, head of sales and marketing, said there were 14 units left in Baxter and the development’s occupancy was at 70% with 32 units sold. Anteau said no two units in the facility are exactly the same so people visiting each other won’t see the exact same design in their neighbor’s home with different treatments for bathroom tile or kitchen backsplashes.

Gracewin Living is on Glory Road, not far from Walmart. It has multiple design options in its cooperative living, allowing residents to choose their living space. Floor plans are named for birds. Gracewin reports units Wren, Cardinal, Starling and Warbler are sold out with a couple to a few units left of the Sparrow, Bluebird and Chickadee, which range from about 1,000 square feet to 1,251 square feet. The cost of the Chickadee is $154,000 and the cost of the Sparrow is $306,500. The largest style of units remaining, listed recently as six on the Gracewin website, had six units left of the Goldfinch, with two bedrooms and two baths for 1,191 square feet.

A kitchen in one of the Gracewin Living spaces. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Anteau stated the monthly fees range between $1,142 and $2,074 and include all of their living expenses like master mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, high-speed WiFi, management, maintenance, and reserve — everything except landline phone and cable TV, if that is desired by the occupant.

A Gracewin Living back deck includes a grilling space, louge area and fire pit along with additional seating nearby. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Units have walk-in closets, washers and dryers, dishwashers, balcony or patio with Gracewin members having the option to customize residences. Gracewin has an online map to show prospective buyers where units are still available. There is one guest unit which Gracewin members can utilize for visitors. Pets are allowed, up to two per unit with each weighing up to 25 pounds.

Beyond the individual housing, owners have multiple shared spaces, including a meeting room with conference table, a room for hobbies they call a Creator’s Space, a spacious fitness center and trash/recycling chutes on each floor of the three-story building. Members can reserve the conference room. There is also an outdoor pickleball court.

A third floor Sunset Lounge has a rooftop terrace, a lounge, pool table and a golf simulator.

Gracewin Living includes a golf simulator in its Sunset Lounge area.Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The underground heated parking area includes the car wash and a woodworking shop. Owners have a parking space and there are storage units there as well. A back patio overlooks the natural landscape, and provides a large space for gathering or grilling along with a fire pit and two seating areas, including a lawn swing.

On the first floor, there is a fireside lobby and then a larger fireside lounge with a puzzle table and library. Another patio is at the front of the building near the main entrance. Just past the main entrance there is a community room with kitchen and dining area that leads out to the large back patio space. Gracewin notes a lot of people downsized from substantial homes to make the move, so the extra community spaces provide more room and gathering places for the book or wine club as well.

An office for the property manager is just off the main entrance by the lobby. The facility is managed by Ebenezer.

People tour Gracewin Living during its summer open house. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

People who buy in are owners in the cooperative and have a voice in how the facility operates. They have a board of directors and members vote, needing two-thirds to pass. Gracewin reports cooperative members have the tax benefits that come with ownership and have guaranteed earned equity for each year they live in the cooperative. The unit and grounds maintenance is handled by property managers. The monthly fee residents pay includes their mortgage, tax, utilities, building repair and grounds maintenance. A barcode on the windshield opens the doors for the underground parking with one way to enter and one to exit.

If a person wishes to sell, Gracewin’s goal is to have a substantial number of people on a reservation list to make that an easy process, giving first options to existing owners in the facility.

The underground parking includes a car wash and grocery carts to transport items from vehicles. Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Anteau said they loved building in Baxter and Mayor Darrel Olson was supportive along with city staff including Josh Doty, community development director, and Brad Chapulis, city administrator. Anteau said Baxter stands out to the company for construction. With Baxter’s design and landscaping standards, Anteau said they built on 25% of the site with 75% left, so it turned out to be a beautiful location.