By Erin Miller

Editor in chief

In better days, the Logan Street Covenant House - a mansion, really - was filled with more than 20 residents, all choosing to live in the intentional community instead of more traditional housing.

Founded in the early 1970s and described by some as a ``Christian commune,'' by the mid-'80s the house had already provided a home for over 150 students and residents of Grand Rapids.

But, perhaps as rules for students living off campus slackened, students found fewer reasons to move into community houses and, within the past few years, the number of inhabitants of the Logan Street House dwindled.

Recently the board - composed of former house members - voted to dissolve the co-op that supported the house and, in February, ownership of the house will pass to Inner City Christian Fellowship, a local charity that provides housing and services to the Grand Rapids community.

Dawn Bolt, a current resident of the house, said she is upset that the house is disbanding.

``It's really unfortunate that it's coming to an end,'' she said, listing the many advantages of community living. ``It's fun to have other people around. You learn a lot about other people. You're also accountable to other people. You have to get along with everybody.''

Another advantage, she added, was the cost of living at the house, just $195 in rent each month, plus the commitment to the community functions and upkeep of the house.

Those commitments may have been part of the downfall of the house, as some people go into communal living without putting their full effort into being a part of the community.

Even when Bolt moved into the house this past September, interest in the house seemed to be waning. A current Aquinas student, she advertised around Grand Rapids looking for new residents, but because posters were put up mid-semester, few people were even interested.

A current board member and one of the founders of the house, Dan Meeter, went to far as approaching John Witte, associate dean of Residence Life, asking for the Logan Street House to be purchased as a part of Calvin's Project Neighborhood program.

Calvin declined, Witte said, for several reasons. First, as Meeter told Witte, the house needed almost $100,000 of repair. Even though the house would be sold at a relatively low price, fixing the problems - including the need for a new roof - would cost the college more than they were able to spend. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the Project Neighborhood program is made up of three houses and are not yet full.

``The demand is not exceeding capacity,'' Witte said. However, he said, ``It was a fantastic opportunity.''

Looking at the house's past, despite the number of students who lived there and despite the faithful few - one current resident was born in the house when her parents lived there as a young married couple - Bolt said the communitywas not without its problems

``Through the years it wasn't working, it wasn't functioning the way a community should function,'' she said. ``When you have cheap rent, there's commitment to the house.''

Bolt said that the current residents of the house, despite the co-op and board being dissolved, are hoping to find a new house. The board has promised a down payment for a new house, but the house members wish the co-op had not been disbanded, as starting a new co-op is a lengthy and involved process

``We know we can find another place,'' she said. ``It's whether or not we have time to start another co-op.''

The original goal of the house, as stated in their charter, was to ``to live and grow together in love. To this end we pledge to lead lives of prayer, praise, mutual edification, and service, in response to God's love through Christ and in his dependence on the power of His Spirit. To further the witness of our life together, we will respect ourselves as temples of the Holy Spirit, love others as God's precious gifts to us, and honor the institutions upheld in God's Word.''

That charter came out more specifically with the covenant house members had to sign, agreeing to abstain from drugs, alcohol and extra-marital sex. Historically, the house members would come together on a regular basis for meals, devotions and shopping. At times, they experimented with more natural eating habits and lifestyle, as well as provided community outreach.

Of the original 17 inhabitants, 10 were full-time Calvin students, but the house has never been officially affiliated with Calvin.

Another disappointment in losing the house, Bolt said, is the loss of location. At 440 Logan Street, the house is in a part of Grand Rapids full of culture, she explained. The house was formerly called the Heritage Hill Mansion. Former residents of the house have come from all over the United States, Canada and South Africa.

Now, as time runs out for the Logan Street House, Bolt and the other residents, both current and former, must say good-bye.

``The sad thing is that it was a lack of people knowing about it,'' Bolt said. ``It's just awesome.''