Summit Avenue Cooperative

Summit Ave Co-op is one of Madison’s historic homes in University Heights, designed by the architect Frank M. Riley. It was built in 1921 as a single-family home by Alex Jordan Sr., father of the man who built the House on the Rock. Jordan lived here for a year or two before it became home to the Zeta Psi Fraternity.

Later, the house was owned by the Alpha Gamma Rho (agricultural-focused) fraternity, which occupied the home from 1940-1969, except for 1943-1946 during WWII. When the fraternity vacated the building during WWII, the United States Women’s Naval Reserve, WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), rented it for a time.

In 1969, Alpha Gamma Rho moved to join fraternity row on Langdon St. and sold the building to the Summit Avenue Cooperative, which began operating in 1970.

In 1976, cooperative members (Bill Limbach, Ronni Freeman, Doris Lambert, Kevin Carlson, and Frank Nick) signed for a mortgage on the house, and the Summit Avenue Cooperative became the official owners of the property.

Nora, our resident housecat, adopted us in August 2022.

In June 2025, we celebrated our 55th year anniversary as a co-op!

How long are your leases? We have year-long leases, ending on either May 31st or August 31st. We prefer members who plan to stay long-term, for at least a year or more. There is no specific period you have to stay here. However, there is a fee for breaking your lease before the lease end date.

hat is the bathroom situation? We have three bathrooms that are all shared amongst the community. There are two showers and four toilets, most of them with a bidet. We do not have any rooms with their own private bathroom. Everyone is expected to contribute to bathroom cleaning on a rotational schedule.

I’m unfamiliar with the workjob system! Do I need any background info on how to get these tasks done? No one is expected to have background knowledge on any of the work jobs in order to complete them. We will offer guidance on completion of your work jobs, and you are always encouraged to ask someone if you need further assistance. Members are encouraged to take initiative in whatever way they can to improve upon the maintenance and appearance of our house!

Since Summit is our beloved home and we like to see it well cared for and maintained, we hope for and expect a reliable commitment to one's workjobs. However, because life happens, if you're struggling to complete them, please don't hesitate to let us know and we'll be happy to figure it out together.

What are the total costs involved in living at Summit Ave Co-op? Are there extra costs for utilities? Total rent consists of a room rate, a food rate, and a house fee rate. There are no other costs associated with living at Summit Avenue Co-op. Cleaning supplies and utilities such as Wi-Fi, water, electricity, and heating are included in the monthly rent rate.

Are there laundry facilities in the house? Yes. The drying machine requires a quarter to use. The washing machine and non-scented detergent are freely available for use. We also have drying racks to hang clothes indoors and a clothesline outside.

Is there a policy for noise levels? We are generally a reasonably quiet house. Many people work from home and don't have issues with noise levels. If you need privacy in a common space, members will know to avoid that area or be quieter if you inform them ahead of time.

We have quiet hours from approximately 10pm - 10am, with some exceptions for parties/events. Everyone is usually conscious of noise levels during quiet hours. If members are too loud during those times, someone will typically ask them to be quieter, and their request will be respected.

Summit Avenue Co-op is committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion a core aspect of our membership. As a cooperative community, our strength lies in our commitment to include and respect all house members.

We do NOT tolerate any discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, familial status, disability, or any other identity. Our house culture does NOT tolerate bigotry. We are intent on creating a safe and supportive living environment and community for every member.

We believe in the unique strengths of every individual and value the visible and invisible qualities that make you who you are. By embracing diversity, we benefit from a rich mix of ideas and perspectives that enhance communal living.

We passionately strive to foster a healthy, enriching, diverse community for all as we endeavor to offer affordable, equitable housing in Madison.

*Unfortunately, our house is NOT currently wheelchair accessible. However, we are committed to improving accessibility and will work to provide reasonable accommodations for current and future members whenever possible.