Barker and Hedges Real Estate Blog

The Battle Creek, Highwood and Sunray neighborhoods occupy the southeast corner of the City of St. Paul. The borders are created by Minnehaha Avenue to the north, McKnight Road to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and Hazelwood Street, Birmingham Street and Warner Road to the west.

The Sunray-Battlecreek area was mostly undeveloped until after the end of World War II due to the steep, thickly wooded bluffs east of Highway 61 and the substantial expanses of marsh land surrounding Pig’s Eye Lake.  The exception to this was the Highwood area, where in the late 1880’s a fruitless effort was made to develop a commuter suburb.  There are still some unique Queen Anne and shingle style homes from this era along Point Douglas Road and East Howard Avenue.

For the most part, many of the houses within St. Paul’s Sunray-Battlecreek-Highwood neighborhoods were built during the 1970s or later.  The homes were built to house the employees of Minnesota’s largest employer, the large 3M Corporation factory and head quarters, located at Interstate 94 and McKnight Road.  The area is now filed with older citizens, families and single professionals alike.

One of the highlights of the Battle Creek and Highwood neighborhoods is the vast swaths of green spaces which can be found here.  Battle Creek Park and Pig’s Eye Lake Park are popular recreation areas for the locals. The parks offer biking and walking trails, as well as picnic areas.

The Sunray-Battle Creek-Highwood neighborhoods are close to the shopping centers along I-94, including the Sun Ray Shopping Center. Several big box retail stores and a grocery store can be found in a developed area across I-94 from Sunray.

Whether it’s single family or multi family dwellings, there is a variety of real estate available in the Sunray, Battle Creek and Highwood neighborhoods of St. Paul. Whether it’s an apartment, condominium, town home, split-level or rambler which is sought, there is sure to be a home to please any taste within the Sunray Battle Creek Highwood neighborhoods.  The housing density is fairly light, with the neighborhoods looking more like nearby Maplewood and Woodbury.  The northwestern corner of Sunray has many turn-of-the century bungalows and Midwestern squares, making it look more similar to the adjacent neighborhood of Dayton’s Bluff.

The houses in Battle Creek and Highwood are ample and affordable, with many of the homes offering great views of the Mississippi River.  Prices for the houses, condos, and townhouses are above average for St. Paul, but well below the most expensive neighborhoods.  In 2005, the median sales price of a single family homes, townhouses, or condos in the Sunray-Battlecreek-Highwood neighborhood was $208,450.

To browse homes in the Sunray-Battlecreek-Highwood neighborhood of St. Paul, click here.  To browse homes in other St. Paul neighborhoods, please click here.

The Minnesota State Fair began its annual 12-day run this morning at 6:00 AM and runs through September 1.  Even at that early hour, hundreds of fanatical fairgoers eager to be a part of the “Great Minnesota Get Together” had already lined up outside the gates.  As expected, since that time the turnstiles haven’t stopped spinning. 

Opening day is a good day to attend the Minnesota State Fair, as the crowds tend not to be as heavy as on weekends.  Another good reason to hit the fair today is that it is Thrifty Thursday. The price of admission today is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 5 to 12. Regular admission is $11 usually and $9 for ages 5 to 12.

During the 12 Best Days of Summer, fairgoers can consume a wide variety of foods on a stick, view music concerts and entertainment, exhibits, and more.  During 2007, the Minnesota State Fair was attended by nearly 1.7 million people.  Each year it progressively grows as one of the most widely attended state fairs in the United States.

This year, the fair has a new building.  The International Bazaar is a 14,000-square-foot facility on Judson Avenue, just south of the Agriculture and Horticulture building. It replaces an old wooden structure that was constructed in the early 1970s which was originally intended to be temporary.  35 years later in 2007, it was finally razed and the new International Bazaar was built.  The International Bazaar features more seating, more entertainment space and more room for vendors.

Entertainment at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair includes more than 100 acts at eight free venues, with a lineup of stars that include Toby Keith, the Backstreet Boys, and the Black Crowes.  The Great Minnesota Get-Together also features more than 450 food choices.  Don’t forget the hundreds of agricultural, educational and commercial exhibits and attractions.

The Great Minnesota Get-Together has been in existence nearly as long as Minnesota has been a state.  After four years of territorial fairs, the first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859 near what became downtown Minneapolis.  That was just one year after Minnesota was granted statehood. Next year will see the celebration of the State Fair’s 150th anniversary!  During the fair’s early years, the site of the exposition rotated with stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Red Wing, Winona and Owatonna.  The Minnesota State Fair finally found a permanent home at its present location after the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners donated a 210-acre poor farm to the State Agricultural Society, which governed the State Fair at the time.

After setting down its roots, the Minnesota State Fair began to grow. The fairgrounds now sprawls over 320 acres. Architecturally, it is home for many historically-significant structures including the Arts Center, Progress Center, the famous Grandstand, and Coliseum (formerly known as the Hippodrome).

In early fairs, agricultural exhibits and competitions played heavil, reflecting its original purpose of encouraging farming within the state. While agriculture is still the main focus of the Minnesota State Fair, the spectrum of activities has broadened to include large-scale entertainment features, technological and industrial exhibits, and education and government institutions.

Random Fact:  Since it began, the Minnesota State Fair has been held every year without fail except for five occasions: in 1861 and 1862 due to the Civil War and Dakota Indian Conflict, in 1893 because of scheduling conflicts with the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in 1945 due to war-time fuel shortages, and in 1946 due to a polio epidemic.

Money magazine has named Plymouth one of the best places in the nation to live. In fact, the Twin Cities northwest suburb was named the No. 1 place to live among U.S. cities with populations of 50,000 to 300,000. Money ranks the communities based on financial data, housing, safety, crime rates, weather and similar factors.

Plymouth? Our little Plymouth? Really? But it’s truly no wonder why this city of about 71,000 made the list, let alone reign over the top. I really can’t sum it up any better than what Money magazine said about Plymouth, Minnesota:

Topnotch schools, good jobs, affordable housing, low crime, an active outdoor culture - yep, they’re pretty much all here. Plymouth could have become just another Twin Cities suburb, but more than 50,000 jobs keep residents working there.

Home prices are within reason: The typical three-bedroom, two-bath house goes for $350,000. The city’s main school district is ranked among the top three in the state, and for culture, Plymouth’s open-air amphitheater, the Hilde Performance Center, hosts numerous summer concerts. Residents are a quick drive from the Mall of America, the nation’s biggest mall.

And did we mention the outdoors? Plymouth boasts more than half a dozen sizable bodies of water. Of course, this being Minnesota, winter can be brutal: January’s average low temperature is about 13°F. But when the mercury plummets, the locals get busy. In February the city hosts a Fire & Ice Festival that includes mini-golf, bowling and basketball - all right on the ice.

And it was Plymouth’s first appearance on the list to boot!

Of course as the Star Tribune put it, this means that Plymouth has some serious bragging rights on which to market. And you can be certain that they will. A community that breaks the annual magazine’s top 10 usually advertises it. Like other cities before it, Plymouth plans to tout its No. 1 status on billboards, in its newsletter, at festivals and in the local media.

Have we heard something like this before? If it sounds like déjà vu, it probably is. In 2006, Eden Prairie made the top 10 and the city prominently displayed its ranking on its website and city literature for months. City politicians mentioned its No. 10 ranking often as an illustration of the city’s success.

Since 2006, Eden Prairie has dropped to 40th. A city’s ranking might rise or fall for many reasons. Changes in the housing market or nearby highways will definitely have an effect on a city’s standing. Some of the best towns become victims of their own excellence as they become overcrowded due to their desirability.

Though no other city in the state besides Plymouth made it to the top 10, Minnesota was certainly well represented in the top 100. Nine cities made the list: Eagan came in at No. 17, Apple Valley at 24, Lakeville at 26, Eden Prairie at 40, Maple Grove at 41, Burnsville at 43, Rochester at 70 and Blaine at 93.

Last year, the magazine ranked smaller cities - with populations between 7,500 and 50,000 — to come up with its list of 100. In that tally, Chaska, population 17,400, was No. 8 nationwide. Money didn’t rank cities in that size range this year.

To see the full list of the 100 best cities in which to live and how they compare to Plymouth, please click here.

One of the hallmarks of Minneapolis’ quality of life is its urban forest, which covers more than 26 percent of the landscape. The natural canopy showcases many shades of green in the summer.  In the autumn, the vivid reds, oranges and yellows of the changing leaves contrast beautifully with the muted colors of concrete and metal in the city.

The urban forest of Minneapolis is an important resource for the health and well-being of the city’s environment and residents.  Trees lower heating and air conditioning costs, prevent erosion, provide wildlife habitats, and increase property values.

Doing its part to maintain and preserve our priceless urban forest, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Forestry Division is responsible for all City-owned trees. It monitors the planting, pruning and removal of trees on public property.  For Minneapolis, that adds up to 200,000 boulevard trees on 1,078 miles of streets, including 6,400 acres of park land, which need care.  Since 1974, the city has planted a total of 211,594 trees. 

Some things you might not have known about Minneapolis and its trees:

• Minneapolis has been nationally recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation since 1979.
• Minneapolis has won the Tree City USA Growth Award every year since 1994. 
• The city has also received National Arbor Day Foundation Arbor Day Awards of Excellence in advertising and celebration categories for 1981 and 2000 respectively.
• The Minnesota Society of Arboriculture bestowed the Award of Merit unto Minneapolis in the years 2006 and 2007.
• Minneapolis has won the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee Award nine times in the last 15 years: 1992, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007.
• Finally, Minneapolis won the Award of Excellence from the National Roadside Vegetation Management Association in 2005.

And now the MPRB is asking for your help as a Minneapolis resident.  Right now, it’s the time of year when hot July temperatures and lack of rainfall are stressing young trees.  Accordingly, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Forestry Division is urging residents to water their young trees (five years and under), especially those planted on boulevards this year.  As part of the Forestry Division’s maintenance of the 3,500 new trees, crews completed two waterings and placed wood chips at the base of each tree. They also provided property owners with information about continued tree care.

“We really need residents to step forward to help us maintain these new trees by watering them once or twice a week as we deal with dry conditions,” says Paul Domholt, Community Forestry Coordinator.

The Forestry Division has provided these watering tips to ensure new and young trees will stay green and healthy.

• Using a garden hose, turn on the water at a slow rate for two hours. If a garden hose is not available, 20 gallons of water will properly soak a new tree.
• The best time to water is from 10 p.m.-8 a.m. Trees relieve water deficits (refill) overnight. Watering at night allows effective use of applied water and less loss from evaporation, assuring more water moves into the soil and tree.
• Pour left-over ice or water from your picnic lunch or supper beneath a nearby tree.
• Continue watering your tree this fall until the ground freezes, which often occurs in mid-to-late November.

MPRB Forestry crews mulch newly-planted trees each year for five years as needed. Mulch helps preserve root health by holding moisture, reducing weeds and preventing damage from weed whips and lawn mowers.

For trees on private property, place a 4-inch layer of mulch, such as wood chips, around the tree. Young or newly planted trees should have a two-foot radius of mulch placed a few inches away from the trunk of the tree. MPRB provides woodchips at sites throughout Minneapolis.

Also, citizens should watch over their new trees by checking them once a week for any diseases or other problems. Report insect, fungal or other noticeable damage to the Forestry Division and the tree will be inspected.

For more information on caring for trees or locating a wood chip distribution site, visit Minneapolis’ Urban Forest page or call the Forestry Division at 612-370-4900.

This is one of the best times to visit Minneapolis’ popular public display gardens.  They are planted throughout the park system for education and enjoyment of Twin Cities’ residents and park visitors, in addition to their obvious beauty.   Maintained through the efforts of MPRB staff and volunteers, the garden displays range from traditional roses to native prairie grasses.  Admission to all gardens is free and they are open from dawn to dusk seven days a week.

In addition to an arboretum, the Lyndale Park Rose Garden complex has four gardens.  It is located at 4124 Roseway Road in southwest Minneapolis. 

• Rose Garden – This 1.5-acre plot is actually the second oldest public rose garden in the U.S., visitors can enjoy the color and fragrance of thousands of roses, the “Queen of Flowers.”
• Peace (Rock) Garden – Hardy alpine plants and dwarf conifers are featured in this 2-acre garden. It also showcases peace stones from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and the Spirit of Peace sculpture.
• Annual-Perennial Garden – Look for a wide variety of annuals and perennials blooming in these gardens, which are located on 1-acre between the Phelps and Heffelfinger fountains.
• Perennial Trial Garden, Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden – The garden is one of five perennial trial gardens in the state. Plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies can be seen in another section of the border.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lyndale Park Garden on the northeast corner of Lake Harriet. It’s in full bloom just in time for the centennial celebration, which will occur on Sunday, July 27.

But wait!  There’s more! 

The Loring Park Garden of the Seasons adds a splash of color to downtown Minneapolis.  The gardens are located at 1382 Willow St. on the north side of the Loring Pond bridge.  Designed by a team of Loring Park neighbors, the garden design features wedges of color gardens around a central spoke. Planted with hardy Minnesota perennials, ornamental grasses and annuals, the garden is a delight throughout the growing season. Visitors can relax on benches that surround the garden to best enjoy the display.

Minnehaha Falls Park is home to the varied Longfellow, Pergola and Hiawatha gardens.

• Longfellow Gardens – The display garden in the park system features annuals and perennials that thrive in bright sunlight and windy conditions. The garden is located on East Minnehaha Parkway between Minnehaha Ave. and 38th Ave. S, above the Highway 55/Hiawatha Ave. tunnel.
• Minnehaha Pergola Garden – The garden displays plants native to the Midwest. The sunny runway features primarily prairie plants. The shady areas beneath the pergola showcase native woodland plants. Nearby beneath the sculpture, “Through the Eyes of Taoyateduta,” prairie plants have been installed to provide a great backdrop for the view of Minnehaha Falls. The garden is located just east of Minnehaha Ave. near the Princess Railroad Station.
• Song of Hiawatha Garden – The garden features a circular stone inscription of a portion of Longfellow’s famous poem “The Song of Hiawatha.” Sunny perennials and annuals accent this garden, located on the east side of Minnehaha Falls near the refectory.

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is an urban wilderness in Theodore Wirth Park.

The 15-acre Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden is abloom with wilderness beauty, including Turk’s-cap Lily, Clustered Bellflower, Wild Bergamot, and Partridge Pea. The Wildflower Garden is located at Theodore Wirth Parkway and Glenwood Ave.

For more information on the gardens in the Minneapolis park system visit the official garden website.

According to a newly released report from the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, Saint Paul and Minneapolis parks are ranked at or near the top in the country.  This report is just confirming what we’ve already known around here for a while:  The Minneapolis and St. Paul park systems are a cut above the rest! 

When it comes to the amount of land dedicated to parks, 16.6 percent of Minneapolis is parkland, first among cities with immediate-high population densities. St. Paul came in at second in the same density category with 14.7 percent.

The Trust for Public Land reports the following ranks for Minneapolis and Saint Paul when compared to a total of 60 of America’s largest cities:

• Recreation centers per 20,000 residents: St. Paul, 1st, 3.0; Minneapolis, 2nd, 2.6.
• Tennis courts per 10,000 residents: Minneapolis, 1st, 4.9; St. Paul, tied for 3rd, 3.7.
• Ball diamonds per 10,000 residents: St. Paul, 1st, 5.6; Minneapolis, 2nd, 5.3.
• Skateboard parks per 100,000 residents: Minneapolis, 3rd, 1.6; St. Paul, 16th, 0.7.
• Park-related spending per resident: St. Paul, 3rd, $224; Minneapolis, 8th, $151.
• Non-seasonal municipal park employees per 1,000 residents: Minneapolis , 5th, 1.56; St. Paul, 14th, 1.08.

The Twin Cities also landed one of its park destinations among the most visited in the nation. The Lake Harriet/Lyndale Park area in Minneapolis receives about 2.25 million visitors a year, placing it 30th.

Finally, Saint Paul was also mentioned in the report as having one of the oldest parks in the nation.  Rice Park was first dedicated 1849.  For those who are interested, the oldest existing park in the nation is Boston Common in Boston, Mass. 

As a whole, the 60 biggest cities of the U.S. added 5,375 new acres of parkland in 2007.  That brings their combined total of public urban green spaces serving urban America to over 1.3 million acres. The total is larger than Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, and Shenandoah National Parks combined.

The Trust for Public Land is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization. It describes its mission as conserving land “for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.”

For their website, click here.  For the extensive and full report on city park stats, please click here. 

The “Ten Best Days of Summer” are nearly upon us! Celebrated in locations and venues across the city, the Minneapolis Aquatennial is the largest parade and free outdoor concert in Minnesota. The event also boasts one of the largest fireworks displays in the U.S.! This celebration always attracts huge crowds. In fact, the festival is attended by nearly 800,000 people over the 10 days of the Aquatennial!

The Aquatennial is always held the third full week of July. The festival’s founding fathers consulted weather forecasters who said that was traditionally the driest, warmest week of the year. This year, the event will be held July 18–27, 2008.

Just as Minneapolis celebrated its centennial in conjunction with the Aquatennial in 1956, this year the event will celebrate the year Minnesota achieves 150 years of statehood.

The very first Minneaplis Aquatennial celebration occurred in 1940. At the time, the entire Minneapolis police department worked twelve hours each day of the new festival. 92-year-old Chief One Bull, last of the great Sioux warriors and famous for his defeat of General Custer, was at the festivities. Celebrity Gene Autry was also an honored guest, broadcasting his “Melody Ranch” programs from WCCO Radio. In 1941, just one year after its inception, the Aquatennial was proclaimed to be the Northwest’s greatest summer festival, one that should not be missed!

Back when the Aquatennial began, there were nearly 200 events. Today that number has been scaled back to just over 70 events. The goal is to make each event as spectacular as it can be.

Some of the other attractions and events include boat races, a sandcastle building competition, a beachside art fair, numerous neighborhood park BBQs, athletics competitions, live music, and entertainment. The first Torchlight Parade was held during the very first Aquatennial in 1940, but back then, it was called the “Illuminated Evening Parade”. One of the more novel and memorable events is the annual “Milk Carton Boat Races,” in which participants in various divisions race boats they have constructed from milk cartons.

So where does the most unique event at the Aquatennial, the Milk Carton Boat Race, have its roots? It began in 1971 with a local advertising agency trying to increase sales for its client, a milk distributor. Ad executives tried to think up the most outrageous idea and came up with milk carton boat races. The Aquatennial, a festival with a nautical theme, was the logical venue for the race. In 1993, Tetra Pak, a Minneapolis packager, used 25,000 milk cartons to make a one-hundred-foot boat in the shape of an aircraft carrier. This was to honor those who had served in Operation Desert Storm. Nearly 150 people rode on the boat.

The festival’s relationship with Minnesota communities is apparent in the Aquatennial’s Queen of the Lakes Program. Each year, 50 young women from around Minnesota are chosen by their communities to compete for the Queen of the Lakes and two Princess titles. These three young women will travel around the state, country, and globe to participate in festivals in San Antonio, Texas, Macon, Georgia, and Osaka, Japan.

One of the Aquatennial’s most popular events, the Aqua Follies, ended in 1964. This event began in 1940 at Cedar Lake and eventually moved to Theodore Wirth Lake Park. The main attractions of the Follies were the “Aqua Darlings,” a variety group, and the “Aqua Dears,” a team of 25 synchronized swimmers. Also featured at the Aqua Follies were Olympic divers, comedians, acrobats, singers, dancers and a sound and light show unrivaled in its time. Aquatennial officials ended the Follies because the cost to replace the deteriorating staging area, bleachers and diving area would have been astronomical.

Throughout the years, the Minneapolis Aquatennial has been attended by many famous guests:

1951 - The Lone Ranger attended Children’s Day events at the new Parade Stadium

1957 - Bob Barker hosted the TV game show “Truth or Consequences” with a live broadcast at the Southdale Shopping Mall in Edina, Minnesota

1958 - Vice President Richard Nixon served as the Aquatennial’s Grand Marshal

1967 - The Aquatennial had its own Woodstock with “Happening ‘67″ a three-day psychedelic band concert featuring rock stars like Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield.

1978 - Millionaire and philanthropist, Percy Ross, rode in the Torchlight Parade and threw $16,500 worth of silver dollars into the crowd (by the way, throwing things from a float is now illegal in Minneapolis).

1989 - Phyllis George, the former sportscaster, morning television show anchor, and Miss America was Torchlight Parade Grand Marshal

You can check out the full schedule of activities at the official Minneapolis Aquatennial website!

Dayton’s Bluff is a neighborhood located on the east side of the Mississippi in the southeast part of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. The northern border of the neighborhood is Grove Street and the Burlington Northern Railroad. The southern border is Warner Road. To the west is Lafayette Road and Highway 3, and to the east is Highway 61.

Dayton’s Bluff contains one of the widest varieties of history of any Twin Cities’ neighborhood. The history of the area goes back over 1,000 years when the Hopewell Native Americans used the area as a sacred burial ground. On the edge of the southern and highest part of Dayton’s Bluff today, a series of seven large aboriginal burial mounds remain in Indian Mounds Park, overlooking the Mississippi River and the central part of the city. The park features walking paths, playgrounds and a picnic area.

In 1857, Lyman Dayton, a well-known land and railroad speculator from Vermont, platted an “addition to St. Paul” on the Eastern border of the city. The area was separated from the early settlement along the river by a ravine, but this inaccessibility did not deter Dayton. A handful of other businessmen also built large and costly houses in the area. Farther to the south, beyond present day I-94 in the Mounds Park area, river-oriented residential development was also occurring. The earliest settlers had a spectacular view of the growth of the city at the Lower Levee and along E. Seventh Street. The area has since been referred to as Dayton’ Bluff, named after the man who built the first large home here.

Located on the east side of St. Paul, Dayton’s Bluff has a particularly high concentration of 19th century homes within its boarders. In the early 1800’s, Dayton’s Bluff was one of St. Paul’s first affluent suburbs, as is evidenced by the many Victorian, Italianate and Queen Anne styles of architecture. Overall, most of the homes in Dayton’s Bluff were built in the 50s and before. Because of the deep and varied history, each block tends to have a great variety of housing styles and types. It is not uncommon to find a large three-story mansion anchoring a block with a collection of simple one- and two-story houses. The house prices in this neighborhood reasonable against the soaring prices of other communities.

There is plenty of real estate available around Dayton’s Bluff. Primarily the properties are single family homes, but there are multi family dwellings that house a few families each as well. Homes are setback from the street in a quite uniform manner and most houses have a small yard at the front. The steep slopes have required the construction of a variety of many retaining walls. Some handsome older walls are built of limestone or brick.

Dayton’s Bluff homes have been undergoing renovations and restorations in past years. Many of the original homes still stand and have celebrated their one-hundredth year of existence. The current interest in the revitalization of Dayton’s Bluff focuses largely on the fine older buildings which are the record of the area’s long history.

The Dayton’s Bluff Historic District was approved by the St. Paul City Council in August, 1992. The creation of the Historic District recognizes the historical and architectural significance of this early St. Paul neighborhood and is an important part of neighborhood revitalization in St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff.

Exterior alterations, new construction, and demolition of buildings within the Historic District boundaries are reviewed by the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission according to strict guidelines. A handbook intended for Dayton’s Bluff residents and potential residents which explains the criteria can be sent to you by calling 651-772-2075.

The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council and The East Side Neighborhood Development Company are active in the area’s revitalization. The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service assists buyers financially with purchasing a home in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood.

Browse homes in the Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Browse homes in other neighborhoods of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Northeast community of Minneapolis is composed of 13 smaller neighborhoods. The Northeast community blends old architecture, classic housing, bustling commercial districts, and industrial work centers as well as new residential high-rises, suburban cul-de-sacs, and a popular art scene. The Northeast community is part bedroom neighborhood and part job center for the City of Minneapolis. The prominent features of Northeast include ornate churches and massive grain silos and mills, both of which help to create a unique skyline. Formerly known as the City of Saint Anthony before it was annexed into Minneapolis, Northeast is sometimes referred to as Nordeast, reflecting the history of northern and eastern European immigrants and their language influence.

Columbia Park - The Columbia Park neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis is bound on the north by 37th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Central Avenue Northeast, on the south by 27th Avenue Northeast and St. Anthony Boulevard, and on the west by University Avenue Northeast, 4th Street Northeast and the Mississippi River. Phew! The Columbia Park neighborhood received its name for three reasons. The first has to do with the actual Columbia Park, an area park which has a challenging 18 hole golf course, playground area, walking trails, archery course, horseshoe pits and picnic areas. The second coincides with the park’s acquisition in 1892, which is referred to as the “Columbian” year, 400 years after Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. Finally, the third reason is a nod to the adjacent suburb to this neighborhood, Columbia Heights.

In addition to Columbia Park, the neighborhood also includes a smaller park, Hi View park, with a children’s wading pool and basketball courts. Other highlights of the neighborhood include the walking paths along the Mississippi and the St. Anthony Parkway Bridge.

The neighborhood has residential areas tucked away with industrial surroundings between the city of Columbia Heights and Columbia Park and its golf course. Its north end consists of a narrow strip of streets from Main Street to Central Avenue. Much of the housing here are stucco and brick Tudors and two-story colonials.

The active neighborhood association is involved in planning activities for residents of all ages. Some of those activities include container gardening in community gardens, Tai Chi courses, and a monthly Procrastinators Night when all the procrastinators in the neighborhood get together to work on their unfinished projects.
Children in Columbia Park attend the Minneapolis Public Schools, which includes a strong magnet schools program and exciting opportunities for all students.

Waite Park - Waite Park neighborhood is bound on the north by 37th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Stinson Boulevard, on the south by Saint Anthony Parkway and on the west by Central Avenue Northeast. The neighborhood is named for Edward Foote Waite, judge of the District Court of Hennepin County from 1911 to 1941.

Incorporated in 1887, Waite Park is a mainly residential neighborhood. However, the Shoreham Yards train repair facility still exists in the area. While the yards are still in use, the land is expected to be redeveloped in the future, providing for more homes in Waite Park. The variety of real estate available here makes the neighborhood great for single people, retirees, and small or large families alike.

Audubon Park - The Audubon Park neighborhood is bounded by Saint Anthony Parkway, Stinson Boulevard, Lowry Avenue and Central Avenue. Stinson Boulevard is also the city’s border with St. Anthony. The neighborhood and its park are named in honor of John James Audubon, a great American naturalist and ornithologist.

A majority of the houses in this somewhat hilly neighborhood were built in the 1940s.

This Audubon Park neighborhood is perfect for the couple settling in the big city, the student looking to attend college in the city, a family looking to settle into a nice neighborhood, or even the retirees looking for a quiet place with conveniences.

Windom Park - The Windom Park neighborhood is bounded on the north by Lowry Avenue, on the west by Central Avenue, on the south by 18th Avenue and on the east by New Brighton Boulevard. Windom Park is named after William Windom, who served from the mid- to late-1800s as a U.S. senator from Minnesota and as secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Windom Park is a mainly residential neighborhood. Single-family dwellings tend to predominate in the eastern quadrant and multifamily buildings can be found in the western quadrant, particularly in the vicinity of Central Avenue. Many of the homes in the west part of the neighborhood were built between 1895 and 1810, providing for some beautiful architecture. On the east side of Windom Park, most of the homes were built after World War II. Central Avenue, the neighborhood’s western border, is a very active commercial corridor. Many ethnic restaurants line the street here.

Northeast Park - Northeast Park is bound on the south by Broadway Street and on the southeast by Interstate 35, on the north by 18th Avenue and New Brighton Boulevard, and on the west by Central Avenue. The city limits make its northeast boundary. This neighborhood takes its name from its geographical location within the City of Minneapolis.

Northeast Park is roughly divided into three sections. The western section is mainly residential. The Quarry, a large regional shopping center, is in the center. The eastern section is home to the Hillside Cemetery and Honeywell International manufacturing.

Northeast Park homes are typically single-family residences, and approximately one thousand people live here. Approximately two thirds of these homes were built before 1940, most of which were built around the turn of the century. With the Quarry acting as a buffer between the residential and industrial sections of the neighborhood, Northeast Park residents are largely unaffected by the presence of the industrial area.

Beltrami – The Beltrami neighborhood is bound on the north by Broadway Street, on the east by Interstate 35W, on the south by Hennepin Avenue East and on the west by Central Avenue and Harrison Street. The Beltrami neighborhood and its park are named after Giacomo Constantino Beltrami, an early 19th century Italian jurist, scholar and explorer. Beltrami Park has a playground, bocci courts, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court and a basketball court.

Large tracts of industrial land cover the southwestern part of the neighborhood, while the remaining land is dedicated to single-family dwellings interspersed with low-rise multifamily buildings. Though there is some industrial activity in the southwestern part of the neighborhood, Beltrami is an excellent place to settle down and enjoy life in Minneapolis. As with other neighborhoods in northeast Minneapolis, many artists have set up studios in Beltrami.

St. Anthony East & West – The St. Anthony East and West neighborhoods are two of the oldest in Minneapolis as they were part of the village of St. Anthony, established in 1849 on the east bank of the Mississippi River. St. Anthony Falls – the neighborhood’s namesake – was seen in 1680 by Father Louis Hennepin, a Jesuit who is credited with being the first European to explore the area that is now Minneapolis. He named the falls after his patron saint, St. Anthony of Padua.

The St. Anthony East neighborhood extends from Broadway Street on the northern border to Central Avenue on the east and southeast, Second Avenue on the south, and then Fifth and Washington streets on the west. St. Anthony East has a number of churches, reminders of the area’s early history when people from different European countries moved into the area. These immigrants settled in neighborhoods around their churches, where they held together as tightly knit social groups.

The St. Anthony West neighborhood is bordered by Broadway Street to the north and Second Avenue on the south. The Mississippi River makes up the western extent and Washington and Fifth Streets define the eastern boundary. St. Anthony West is host to Boom Island Park, a 14-acre riverside park. The neighborhood is also within walking distance of downtown and the University of Minnesota.

Sheridan - The Sheridan neighborhood, located in northeast Minneapolis, extends from Washington Street on the east to the Mississippi River on the west, and from Broadway Street on the south to 18th and 17th Avenues on the north. It is named for Civil War General Philip Sheridan. The neighborhood elementary and junior high schools and the local park are all named after General Sheridan as well.

Historically, Sheridan has been a working class neighborhood, and was home to predominantly Eastern European immigrants in the early twentieth century. In the present day, Sheridan’s center is a bustling commercial district which was once a main line for the neighborhood’s streetcar line. This community is also home to many art galleries, and a stretch of 13th Avenue that runs through the area is known as “Arts Avenue”. A large portion of the neighborhood was built for industrial use of the Mississippi River, but the river banks are slowly but surely developing into an area of recreational and residential buildings. The Sheridan neighborhood also has a sizable amount of small apartment buildings.

Like many other Minneapolis neighborhoods, Sheridan residents are committed to improving their community. The Sheridan Neighborhood Organization has already had several successes, including funding the development of a public library, and the refurbishment of a theatre located on 13th Avenue. Current plans include programs for housing rehabilitation, and to increase the availability of affordable housing.

Sheridan has recently seen an increase in the number of young families moving to the area, and the under-18 age group is the fastest-growing age group in this neighborhood.

Logan Park - Logan Park neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis is bound on the north by 19th Avenue Northeast, on the east by Central Avenue Northeast, on the south by Broadway Avenue Northeast and on the west by Washington Street Northeast. The neighborhood is built around Logan Park, which dates back to the 1800s and is named for Civil War general and U.S. Sen. John A. Logan. This 150-acre neighborhood is 40% residential with industry comprising nearly 30% and 11.5% dedicated to parks and recreational uses. Railroad tracks along Central Avenue divide the neighborhood into an industrial area and the residential district.

There are just over 1,000 housing units in the Logan Park neighborhood. The neighborhood has many large Victorian houses. As compared to the average price of a home in all of Minneapolis, Logan Park’s homes priced much lower. Rent here is also generally a bit lower, so it’s ideal for a temporary situation as well.

Holland - The Holland neighborhood extends from 27th Avenue Northeast in the north to 17th and 19th Avenues Northeast in the south. Central Avenue Northeast is the eastern extent and University Avenue Northeast is the western boundary. The neighborhood and its elementary school are named after Josiah G. Holland, an American educator and editor born in 1819 in Massachusetts. He was well known for Timothy Titcomb’s Letters, a column he wrote for a newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts. The neighborhood was a popular destination for Eastern Europeans emigrating at the beginning of the 20th century.

Located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Holland is a thriving neighborhood of over 3,500 people. The middle class working neighborhood has a diverse population with many opportunities for recreation for all of its residents of any age.
The Holland neighborhood is predominately residential. There is a core commercial district with shops, restaurants and cafes along Central Avenue. The neighborhood has other amenities including Jackson Square Park, Edison Senior High School and a Minneapolis public library branch. Close to downtown, Holland residents are insulated from the hustle and bustle of the city but still have easy access to the cultural, social and other amenities of the downtown area.

Housing prices are slightly lower than the median prices for similar housing in other parts of the city, making it a wonderful neighborhood for a “starter home.” Nearly 75% of the housing was built pre-1920s. The housing stock is about evenly divided between owner occupied single family homes and rental property.

Bottineau – The Bottineau neighborhood is bordered by the Mississippi River on the west and University Avenue to the east. Lowry Avenue Northeast is the northern extent of the neighborhood, which runs to 16th/17th avenues Northeast in the south. This neighborhood is named after the legendary pioneer, explorer and leader Pierre Bottineau who bought land here in 1845.

Bottineau neighborhood has a rich history with the large number of ethnic groups that have settled in this area over the years. Today the community has a population of 1,254 people and is. The cultural richness is enhanced by the many amenities like the library, the large park that serves the neighborhood, and the close location to the downtown area of Minneapolis.

While this neighborhood is a great place to raise a family, it is equally wonderful for the artistic community. Bottineau is a coveted destination for many artists to live and work
The Northeast Arts Association caters to the artists of the community, with a former industrial building having been converted into a number of studios for artists. A café and restaurant are open to the public while about 70 artists toil behind the scenes.

Marshall Terrace - Marshall Terrace neighborhood is bordered by Saint Anthony Parkway on the north and Lowry Avenue on the south. The Mississippi River is the western extent, and 4th Street Northeast and University Avenue are the eastern extent. The neighborhood is named after Minnesota’s fifth governor, William R. Marshall, who served from 1866 to 1870.

Large tracts of land in this neighborhood are used for industry, railroad tracks and utilities. About 20% of the land is residential with related commercial uses. Residential uses are restricted to the center of the neighborhood with utilities mainly along the river and industry and railroad tracks to the east.

A popular feature of this area is Marshall Terrace Park, a large neighborhood park equipped with a number of recreational facilities including a picnic area, a baseball field, basketball court, a swimming pool, and summer activity programs for kids.

Homes in Marshall Terrace are both affordable and attractive. The typical Marshall Terrace home is a single-family two or three bedroom residence with one or two bathrooms. Many of the residential streets are attractive, tree-lined areas, with nothing to suggest that an industrial area is close by.

The Northeast Minneapolis community is a refuge for those who want to or need to live close to the Twin Cities metropolitan area, but who crave the comforts and relaxation that come with small town life. The average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Northeast Minneapolis, MN is about $177,042

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Lake Harriet is a very popular destination for Twin City residents throughout the summer time. Located in the Southwest community of Minneapolis south of Lake Calhoun and north of Minnehaha Creek, it is a part of the Chain of Lakes water system. Lake Harriet has an area of 335 acres and a maximum depth of 85 feet.

The lake was named after Harriet Lovejoy. She came to the area in 1819 with her husband, Colonel Leavenworth, and lived at Fort Snelling. The lake, and the land surrounding it, was donated to the City of Minneapolis by Colonel William S. King in 1885. Ever since that time, is has been a hub of the community.

Lake Harriet has a variety of features going for it and is a destination for recreation and relaxation. The lake itself is great for sailing and fishing. It also has two beaches for swimming. There are 3 miles of bike trails and almost 3 miles of pedestrian trails, which are also a part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. The trails connect with Lake Calhoun on the north end via the William Berry Parkway and with the Minnehaha Creek trail system on the southeast edge.

At the north end of Lake Harriet one can find a refreshment stand and its popular bandhell, used in the summer months for concerts. Through its many incarnations, the bandshell has been a part of Lake Harriet since Thomas Lowry built the first pavilion on the edge of the lake in 1888. This pavilion stood on the grounds until it was destroyed by fire in 1891. Architect Harry Jones designed the second bandshell, the “Pagoda Pavilion.” In 1903 it too was destroyed by fire. A third bandshell was built in 1904, which was once again designed by Harry Jones and was once again destroyed. This time, on July 8, 1925, a windstorm was the culprit. The temporary bandshell built in 1927 actually stood in place until 1985 when it was replaced with the current bandshell. A new patio and picnic shelter was built next to the concession stand to match the design of the original buildings. Construction of the new building was completed in May 2007.

A preserved section of the Como-Harriet streetcar line runs between Lake Calhoun and the west side of Lake Harriet. Three different restored streetcars operate on the Como-Harriet line, with only one or two cars running at any given time. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum will be celebrating the 100th “birthday” Car No. 1300 this summer, which was built in 1908. A number of events are planned, including a birthday celebration in July.

So, enough of the history lesson, here is what is going on at Lake Harriet this summer. It is the time of year that music can be heard at Lake Harriet nearly every day for its Summer Concert Series! Music has been a part of Lake Harriet’s history for 120 years. Throughout that time, many performers have taken to the bandshell stage and entertained the gathering crowds.

There will be music in the park every day of the week from June 1 through August 31. Three more concerts will be held in September, including a September 11 tribute. Primarily, concerts at the bandshell will be held at 7:30 PM Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, there are concerts at 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM. Not all concerts are held at these times, so be sure to check the full available schedule.

Music isn’t the only event going on at the bandshell this summer. Every third Thursday in June, July, and August, the People for the Parks Movie Night at the Bandshell will be held. All the movies will be shown at dusk. Their schedule is as follows:

June 19, “Roy Orbison – Black and White Night”

July 17, “The Eagles Farewell Tour – Live from Melbourne”

August 21, “Fleetwood Mac – The Dance”

Next time you’re in the area, check out Lake Harriet, its bandshell, and the surrounding parkland. Be sure to attend one of the summer concerts or catch an outdoor flick! You’ll soon discover why Lake Harriet is such a popular place to spend lazy summer afternoons.