
Our Story. Designed to Empower.
In 1978, Ebenezer Development opened the doors of 7500 York Cooperative in Edina, Minnesota — the nation’s first senior housing cooperative. Designed to allow its member residents to age in place, 7500 York was a 100% accessible, member-owned cooperative that provided a unique platform and home for independent-minded seniors who wanted a voice in the management and operation of their community.
The very first age-restricted cooperative community was the brainchild of Ebenezer’s visionary president Allen Luther “Lute” Molberg, who served as President of Ebenezer from 1960 to 1981. Molberg’s vision provided the blueprint and driving force behind the project. The concept was an immediate hit with like-minded adults, and the dream of senior cooperative housing became a popular reality.


Valued Experience. Trusted Partnerships.
As experts in the field of senior living cooperatives, Ebenezer approaches each new project like Estoria Cooperatives with the knowledge and experience earned over 40 years of managing cooperatives. That knowledge and experience is the foundation that guides every development decision. Ebenezer understands the operations of a cooperative, the needs of member-owners, the importance of community engagement, and the value of forward-thinking design.
For years, Ebenezer has developed relationships with many trusted partners in the industry. Our partnerships provide the experience, guidance, and resources to ensure that each project is as successful as possible.
Ebenezer Development and Partnerships
- Land Development Solutions
- Development, Product Design, and Unit Mix Analysis
- Architectural Design Services
- Construction and Project Management
- FHA/HUD-Insured Lending Services
- Project Pro Forma and Development Budget
- Market Feasibility Analysis
- Marketing and Branding
- Collateral Design and Development
- Sales Initiatives
- Member Relations and Community Development
- Networking and Public Relations


Ebenezer Operational Management Services
- Property Management
- Property Maintenance
- Administration and Human Resources
- Financial Accounting
- Marketing Support
- State and HUD Regulation Oversight
- Reserve Study
Who We Are

Mission
Ebenezer works to heal, discover, and educate, leading to longer, healthier, and more meaningful lives.

Vision
Ebenezer is realizing a healthier future by innovating and providing new choices for vibrant senior living.

Core Values
Ebenezer’s work in senior housing embodies our core values: dignity, integrity, service, compassion, and innovation.
Guiding Principles
Senior housing cooperatives have proven to be distinctly different from other forms of housing for senior adults. Some like to say, “It’s more than just a building.” The guiding principles of cooperative living are based on the concept that member-residents as owners can make the decisions for their community and determine their own destiny. These principles have provided the foundation for Ebenezer’s work in the years since and in the growth of the senior housing cooperative concept.

Ethos Principles
Ebenezer follows the guiding Ethos Principles, some of which date back to the 1970s, have been developed by many individuals working with, and living in, senior housing cooperatives. They include members, developers, architects, managers, lenders, educators, government officials, and cooperative leaders throughout the U.S. With their collected input, the Senior Cooperative Foundation identified the following essential principles that guide our work:

Community
The dedication of the individual to the cooperative creates a community vibrant enough to fulfill financial, physical, and social needs.

Ownership
Members collectively own all aspects of the cooperative and run it in their own best interests, both as a community and as individuals.

Caring
The underlying basis for senior housing cooperatives should be an ethic of caring, which puts the well-being of the members above all considerations.

Education
Every member and everyone involved in the development and marketing of the cooperative should know cooperatives and be committed to what they do and how.

Communication
Successful cooperatives have strong communication. It is both a structure and process that is consistently cultivated.

Fair
Cooperatives must be fair and transparent. It is up to the members and managers to maintain this ethic and develop it further.

Shared Responsibilities, Especially Financially
A financial structure enhances community and stability by all members having a comparable interest in the well-being
of the cooperative and working together to ensure it.

Participation and Involvement
Senior cooperatives rely on involvement by members. Strong boards facilitate participation.

Good Design
Cooperatives facilitate community through barrier-free design and an abundance of common areas.

People First
Meeting the varied needs of members allows for true responsiveness to the individual.

Dedication
Cooperation needs to be cultivated and nurtured over time, and that requires patience, energy, and understanding. The returns are invaluable.

Empowerment
Members have diverse and extensive expertise in many areas. The cooperative thrives on cultivating and using this wealth of knowledge.
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