Breaking Ground on the Good Counsel Meadows

A major milestone has been reached in the transformation of the historic Good Counsel campus in Mankato. On July 7, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP), project partners, community leaders, and supporters gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of Good Counsel Meadows—the first phase of the property’s long-term redevelopment.

Construction is now underway on eight newly built, affordable single-family homes located in the meadow below the historic Good Counsel campus, across from Tourtellotte Park. The homes, expected to be completed later this year, will become part of the Partnership Community Land Trust (PCLT), providing long-term affordable homeownership opportunities for income-qualified households.

The three- and four-bedroom homes have been intentionally designed to complement the surrounding neighborhood, with modest footprints, traditional architectural styles, and lot sizes that reflect the character of the existing Tourtellotte Park community.

“This is just one step of many steps on this property,” said James Arentson, architect with Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, during the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Good Counsel redevelopment has been years in the making. Following the School Sisters of Notre Dame’s departure from the campus in 2022, SWMHP purchased 56 acres of the property in late 2025 with a vision of preserving its legacy while addressing one of the region’s most pressing needs: affordable housing.

“Everything we do in terms of housing development has a really long runway,” said Jen Theneman, SWMHP’s Director of Housing Development. “It’s exciting to finally see this project take shape because it means more families will have the opportunity to achieve stable, affordable homeownership.”

Sister Mary Kay Brooks of the School Sisters of Notre Dame reflected on the partnership during the event, noting that providing affordable housing aligns with the congregation’s longstanding commitment to serving urgent community needs.

The groundbreaking marks the beginning of a larger, multi-year redevelopment effort for the Good Counsel campus. Future plans include additional housing, restoration of the historic buildings, assisted living, nonprofit office space, and community gathering and event spaces that will preserve the site’s legacy while creating new opportunities for generations to come.

For more coverage of the groundbreaking, read the articles from the Mankato Free Press and KEYC News, which highlight the significance of the project and the community partnerships making it possible.