Laker Apartments to open up complex next Sunday to celebrate special anniversary
It was a quiet night for Gladys Green and her daughter on February 4, 1971, the first night Gladys spent in her new home – the Laker Apartments. At that time, she was the only occupant of the four-floor 42-unit apartment complex.
She was soon joined by Herman Coners and Mrs. Henry D. Esau – and more and more until the 14 two-party apartments (480 square feet) and 28 one-party apartments ( 370 square feet) were filled.
The Laker Apartments, standing along 3rd Avenue, close to the downtown business district – known affectionately by the locals as the “high rise” – celebrated its official 45th anniversary back in February, but, next Sunday, September 25, will welcome guests to the tiny “community” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
On Monday, September 12, residents of the apartments held an anniversary dinner – on the same date as the building’s 1971 Sunday dedication and open house. At that 1971 event, the highlight was the “turnkey” process as the keys to building were turned over to the Mountain Lake Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Master of Ceremonies for the dedication was former Minnesota State Senator, and Mountain Lake native, Walter J. Franz.
The Laker Apartments is a federally-funded low-rent facility originally designated for senior living (age 62 and older or those with disabilities, but can yet manage their own affairs and apartment maintenance). It was one of the first of its kind in Minnesota, built when HUD (Housing and Urban Development) began its campaign to help provide affordable apartments for people on fixed incomes. The HUD grant for the dwelling was $677,241.
It is owned by the federal government, but is managed by the Mountain Lake Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The group sets policy and watches over the expenditure of funds.
The Mountain Lake Housing and Redevelopment Authority dates back to May 1967, when the project was begun by the City Council of the Village of Mountain Lake. Village Council members were Mountain Lake Mayor Henry J. Brown, Mountain Lake City Clerk Leonard A. Schroeder, and Mountain Lake Council Members Edward Quiring, James Lohrenz and Robert McDonald. Original members of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority at the opening of the apartments were Chair Jacob F. Eitzen, Director Dr. Jim Fleming, Director Leando “Al” M. Jungas and, following his death, John Jungas, Vice-Chair Henry C. Kliewer and Secretary Dorothy Tweet. It took these two groups of individuals three-and-one-half years of planning, budgeting, decision-making and communication with HUD people in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Illinois, to bring the project to fruition.
Current Board members include Board Chair Clara Johnson, Board Vice-Chair Stan Schroeder and Board Directors Jim Crawford, Merv Rempel and Laker Apartments resident Yvonne Hildebrandt.
The building’s architects were Miller, Melby, Hanson Architects, Inc.; its developer was Bor-Son Building Corporation, with Bosshart Construction Company the general contractor.
Perks of the facility include a large ground-floor courtyard in the center of the building, the other floors rising above it, along with a craft room, meeting room and an adjoining kitchen also on that level.
Dorothy Osland was the director of the Laker Apartments when it opened, and served into 1973. Edie Barber held the position from 1973-1976, Irma Harder from 1976-1980, Pat Loewen from 1980 to 1983, and, since 1983, Wendy Fast has filled the post.
Over its 45 years as an apartment complex, 320 residents have called it home. Winifred Quiring is the resident who has lived in the Laker Apartments the longest over the course of four-and-one-half decades – 27 years.
About 10 years ago, HUD changed the rules for resident admission to include anyone 18-years-old and older. Today, the Laker Apartments serves residents age 18 to 102.