Case Study: Common Grounds and Multi-Use Communities

Project Overview

Common Grounds Cooperative is a prime example of a multi-use community in the MDU (Multi-Dwelling Unit) space, integrating multiple property types and functions within one development. This model is increasingly popular due to its ability to blend:

• Residential spaces – Workforce housing and short-term guest stays.

• Commercial & retail spaces – Businesses, co-working environments, and event venues.

• Hospitality elements – Shared meeting spaces and community-driven environments.

• Recreational & lifestyle amenities – Live entertainment, dining options, and wellness spaces.

• Smart technology & connectivity – High-speed internet, cloud-based access control, and automation.

Multi-use communities like Common Grounds are redefining how people live, work, and connect in shared spaces. Seamless, secure, and high-performance connectivity is essential in these environments, which is why Spot On Networks’ managed Wi-Fi and access control solutions played a crucial role in enabling its success.

The Challenge

Common Grounds Cooperative, a community-owned real estate nonprofit in Traverse City, Michigan, was developed to meet diverse community needs through a 47,000-square-foot mixed-use space. The cooperative houses workforce housing, short-term guest stays, commercial businesses like a Montessori daycare, co-working spaces, a state-of-the-art live music venue, nonprofits, and event spaces. 

However, ensuring high-speed internet and secure access control for such a multi-use facility posed a significant challenge. Property managers needed a solution that could support live streaming for performances, seamless connectivity for businesses, and secure access control for various users while maintaining affordability. The pandemic further complicated these challenges, delaying construction by 12 months and adding over $1 million in additional costs.

“The pandemic made us lean into technology. We had to ensure our systems were as robust as possible, not just for security, but also for access control and connectivity. We had to rethink how to bring people together safely, and now, looking back, we were lucky to have solved for that early on because it unlocked every square foot of our building and made it extremely usable and accessible to everyone.”

The Solution

To address these challenges, Spot On Networks provided a comprehensive managed Wi-Fi solution tailored to the unique needs of Common Grounds Cooperative. 

This included advanced access control for secure entry across various business and residential units, high-speed internet to support live streaming events and conferences, and reliable connectivity for tenants, staff, and visitors. Spot On Networks also implemented a cloud-based key access system, allowing controlled building access for residents, businesses, and event attendees. 

This combination of high-performance Wi-Fi and smart access control created a flexible, technology-driven infrastructure that enabled seamless operations across the cooperative’s diverse spaces.

“The ability for the music venue and the conferencing center to live stream anything seamlessly in really high quality was important to us. Access control was very important to us. Understanding all our different use cases for people coming to the building and using this sort of community hub as a literal and figurative platform—those pieces were really important.”

The Outcome

By integrating Spot On Networks’ managed Wi-Fi and access control solutions, Common Grounds achieved significant operational and community benefits. 

Live streaming capabilities enhanced entertainment and educational offerings, flexible meeting spaces became more accessible for businesses and nonprofits, and residents enjoyed affordable, high-speed internet with seamless connectivity throughout the property. 

The technology infrastructure also fostered a vibrant, engaged community, where businesses, residents, and visitors could interact both in person and online.

“One of the biggest things we learned is that technology is a powerful tool for compounding social capital. We didn’t want a situation where everyone was ‘chained to their router’ in isolation. Instead, people spill out, share stories, meals, and workloads with one another—it creates a value that we now want to measure and report back to our owners.”

Strategic Impact

The implementation of Spot On Networks’ managed Wi-Fi and access control system transformed Common Grounds into a fully connected, highly functional community hub. 

By combining advanced technology with strategic design, the cooperative now offers an environment that supports businesses, nonprofits, and residents in a way that enhances usability, accessibility, and engagement. Spot On Networks’ role in this transformation has solidified its position as a leader in providing scalable, high-performance wireless solutions tailored to mixed-use properties.

“You have to come all the way into the building to get to each business. There’s a sense of in-person interaction that is necessary for Common Grounds to be successful. It’s social infrastructure that you don’t often find outside of a public library or a local watering hole.”

Future Projects

Looking ahead, Common Grounds plans to expand its cooperative model to new developments, incorporating the lessons learned from this project. 

Spot On Networks and White Space Building Technologies will continue to play a key role in future expansions, ensuring that each new property maintains seamless connectivity, secure access control, and a high-quality digital infrastructure for businesses, residents, and community programs.

“We’re going to take everything we learned here and make it even better in our next projects. And we’re bringing Spot On with us.”

Spot On Networks specializes in managed Wi-Fi solutions for multi-dwelling units (MDUs), offering scalable, secure, and high-performance wireless networks designed to meet the unique needs of each property.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to deliver unparalleled managed Wi-Fi solutions to MDU ownersand developers, ensuring every tenant enjoys seamless connectivity that turns apartments into smart homes.