NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS

Information and Neighborhood Organization contacts

Click the neighborhood name to go to the city's Profile of that area, with maps, census data & more

Click the Neighborhood Organization name to go to their website

Cleveland - Cleveland Neighborhood Association - 612-588-1155

Folwell - Folwell Neighborhood Association, 612-521-2100

Harrison - Harrison Neighborhood Association, 612-374-4849

Hawthorne - Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, 612-529-6033

Jordan - Jordan Area Community Council , 612-886-3202

Lind-Bohanon - Lind Bohanon Neighborhood Association , 612-588-7641

McKinley - McKinley Neighborhood Association, 612-668-2293

Near North - Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC), 612-335-5924

Shingle-Creek - Shingle Creek Neighborhood Association

Victory - Victory Neighborhood Association, 612-529-9558

Webber-Camden - Webber Camden Neighborhood Association, 612-521-2100

Willard-Hay - NRRC, 612-335-5924

Northside Treasures to Explore

NORTHSIDE TREASURES TO UNCOVER
Following is just a sampling of the range of resources that make our community unique. Make sure to check them out while you're in the neighborhood!
*Artwork & Logo featuring the skyline as seen from the hill in Farview Park by Deb Fernandez

Arts:
1) The Warren & the Workhouse Theatre - 4400 Osseo Rd
2) Camden Music School - 4210 Xerxes Ave N
3) Historic Capri Theater - 2027 W Broadway Ave
4) Juxtaposition Arts - 2007 Emerson Ave N
5) Lundstrom Center for the Performing Arts - 1617 N 2nd St
6) Homewood Art Studio
7) Northside Arts Collective - in the Capri Theater; proving the Arts Have a Home in North Minneapolis

Community Gardens:
8) Kids Cook Garden at Loring School - Thomas and 44th Ave N, welcomes students & their families, as well as the community, to the school, and incorporates the Kids Cook curriculum as an after-school enrichment program
9) Sheila Wellstone Peace Garden at City View School - 3550 N 4th St, serving as an educational tool to the school & community, while promoting peace to all
10) Jordan Community Garden - 26th and Knox, lot bought from the city in the midst of a drug corridor to community involvement and interaction across cultures and ages
11) Hawthorne Community Garden - 2826 N 4th St, on the site of a former crack house

Libraries:
12) North Regional Library - 1315 Lowry Ave; newly renovated in 2007, and the largest of the Minneapolis community libraries
13) Sumner Library - 611 Van White Memorial Blvd; renovated & expanded in 2004 while retaining its status as a significant architectural and cultural landmark
14) Webber Park Library - 4310 Webber Pkwy; community library located in Webber Park that serves as a gathering place & provides a Homework Helper program

Parks & Natural Spaces:
The city park system was designed so there would be a park with 6 blocks of every home in the city. As such, we have a wealth of parks within the Northside. Following is a listing of some of the largest of those, though there are many more throughout the community.
15) Bethune Park - Howell Dr & Emerson Ave N; offers a rec center, wading pool, basketball court, playground, a picnic area. This park features a huge open space with the skyline providing an impressive backdrop.
16) Farview Park - 29th & Lyndale Ave N; offers a rec center, wading pool, basketball courts, baseball fields, playground, picnic areas, and football/soccer fields. This is the oldest park in the city, and features paths that encircle a large hill that provides a wonderful sledding hill in the winter and gorgeous skyline views year round.
17) Folwell Park - 1615 Dowling Ave N; offers a rec center, wading pool, basketball courts, baseball fields, playground, picnic areas, and football/soccer fields.
18) Harrison Park - 503 Irving Ave N; offers a rec center, wading pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, playground, picnic areas, and football/soccer fields.
19) North Commons Park - 1801 James Ave N; offers a rec center, wading pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, playground, picnic areas, ice and hockey rink, and football/soccer fields. In addition there is a water park at the park, featuring water slides and a zero depth entry play area for small children.
20) North Mississippi Regional Park & the Koenig Interpretive Center - 4900 N Mississippi Ct; offers a playground, wading pool, picnic areas, paths and docks for both fishing and boats. There are paths here connecting up with picturesque Shingle Creek, and the Koenig Center offers year round programming to help teach more about the Mississippi River and its varied roles.
21) Ryan Lake - North Minneapolis' only true lake, at 47th & Xerxes Ave N, whose shoreline is beautiful public open space
22) Theodore Wirth Park - 1339 Theodore Wirth Pkwy; offers a beach, garden, winter skiing & tubing, picnic area, tennis court, soccer fields, playground, archery, off road cycling trail, a golf course, and a Quaking bog habitat.
23) Victory Memorial Parkway - 3.8 tree-lined miles designated as an historic district; part of the Grand Rounds parkway & trail system, ending at Webber Park.
24) Webber Park - 4400 Dupont Ave N; offers a rec center, pool, several tennis courts, picnic facilities, pond, & trails along Shingle Creek. The pond is the site of winter skating parties and is stocked with pan fish in the summer months to create an excellent spot to take kids fishing.

Restaurants:
25) Bean Scene - 2220 W Broadway; 612-588-JAVA, offering coffee, tea, sweets, soups, sandwiches, salads, & breakfast. Every Wednesday is Spoken Word Open Mic Night from 7-9 pm.
26) Bean Scene Too - 1101 W Broadway; 612-76-ROAST
27) Cookie Cart - 1119 W Broadway Ave; 612-521-0855; is actually a nonprofit youth employment program that operates a retail/commercial bakery.
28) Emily's F&M Café - 2124 44th Ave N; 612-522-8975 - family diner serving up home cooking, featuring excellent pancakes for breakfast and tasty lunch specials
29) Milda's Café - 1720 Glenwood Ave N; 612-377-9460, serving breakfast and lunch
30) Papa's Pizza & Pasta - 4159 Thomas Ave N; 612-521-PAPA, offering East Coast Italian American cuisine, featuring New Jersey style Tomato Pie, pizza, hoagies, sandwiches, soups/salads, pasta dishes and Papa's signature cheesecake; & also offering a selection of beer and wine
31) Sauced - 2203 44th Ave N; 612-588-2228, offering a full menu of contemporary cuisine and a full wine list.
32) Steamworks Coffee & Tea - 2201 44th Ave N; 612-287-8399, features coffee, tea, sandwiches, soup & sweets
33) Sunnyside Deli - 1825 Glenwood Ave N; 612-374-5914
34) Tootie's on Lowry - 2706 Lowry Ave N, 612-529-0200; classic neighborhood tavern known for their excellent burgers.

Retail:
35) Lowry/Penn Development - newly redeveloped area includes several national businesses alongside local businesses, including:
North End Hardware - a much beloved neighborhood institution with an expansive stock and very helpful employees
36) Retail Nodes along key corridors, including Broadway, Lowry and several smaller community nodes
37) Several national/regional chains

Other must sees:
38) Old Highland Neighborhood Victorian Homes
39) "Nichols-Frissell Bungalow Grove" in the Cleveland Neighborhood
40) Concrete Block homes on the National Registry of Historic Places in Hawthorne, including the Castle Townhomes at 300-314 1/2 26th Ave N

Properties that will be open:

Cleveland Neighborhood:

• 3318 Xerxes Ave N, 11 am - 3 pm, 4 bed, 2 bath $199,900

• 3351 Washburn Ave N, 11 am - 1 pm, 4 bed, 2 bath $226,900

• 3431 Thomas Ave N, 2 - 4 pm, 3 bed, 2 bath $174,900

• 3431 Vincent Ave N, 12 - 2 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $179,900

• 3534 Queen Ave N, 11 am - 2 pm, 2 bed, 1 bath $169,900

• 3615 Thomas Ave N, 11 am - 2 pm, 3 bed, 2 bath $154,000

• 3639 Vincent Ave N, 11 am - 2 pm, 3 bed, 2 bath $210,000

Victory Neighborhood:

• 3834 Washburn Ave N, 12 - 2 pm, 4 bed, 3 bath $289,900

• 4315 Thomas Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $149,900

• 4314 Thomas Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm, 2 bed, 1 bath $129,900

Folwell Neighborhood:

• 3407 Oliver Ave N, 11 am - 2 pm, 2 bed, 2 bath $147,900

• 3351 Morgan Ave N, 12 - 3 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $159,500

• 4110 Dupont Ave N, 11 am - 2 pm, 2 bed, 1 bath $119,900

Webber-Camden Neighborhood:

• 4018 Humboldt Ave N, 12 - 3 pm, 2 bed, 1 bath $149,900

• 4300 Emerson Ave N, 3:30 - 5 pm, 5 bed, 3 bath $299,000

• 1716 Memorial Parkway, 1:30 - 3 pm, 5 bed, 2 bath $239,000

Jordan Neighborhood:

• 2325 Logan Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm, 3 bed, 2 bath $179,900 - Model Home for Lowell Curve Development

• 2751 Sheridan Ave N, 12 - 2 pm - Homeownership Works (HOW) home remodeled by the City of Minneapolis

• 2950 Russell Ave N, 11 am - 3 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath, $124,900

• 2316 James Ave N, 1:30 - 5 pm, 4 bed, 4 bath $259,900

Willard-Hay Neighborhood:

• 1323 Russell Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm; DUPLEX, 5 bed 1 bath + 2 bed 1 bath, $59,900, needs work

• 2610 Vincent Ave N, 2 - 4 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $239,900

• 2507 Thomas Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $128,500

• 2015 Vincent Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm, 4 bed, 2 bath 214,900

• 1611 Morgan Ave N, 1:30 - 5 pm, 5 bed, 1 bath $174,900

Hawthorne Neighborhood:

• 417-26th Ave N, 11 am - 5 pm; DUPLEX, 4 bed 4 bath + 3 bed 3 bath, built 2004, $230,000

Lind-Bohanon Neighborhood

• 4607 Colfax Ave N, 1 - 5 pm, 4 bed, 2 bath $119,000

Harrison Neighborhood:

• 518 Queen Ave N, 2 - 5 pm, 3 bed, 2 bath $86,900

Shingle Creek Neighborhood:

• 5022 Penn Ave N, 12 - 3 pm, 3 bed, 1 bath $159,900

Lists of Saturday Open Houses

Check here Friday for an up to date list of homes that will be open throughout the Northside on Saturday as part of the Northside Home Tour.

Lists will also be available for pick up - along with lots of other good information and a chance to talk with current neighbors - at the two meet up points. Those spots will be the meeting rooms at North Regional Library at 1315 Lowry Ave and Sumner Library at 611 Van White Memorial Blvd (just north of Olson Memorial Hwy, alongside the Heritage Park development). The meet up locations will be open to drop by Saturday between 11 am and 5 pm.

Welcome Homeowners!

While recognizing that every member of the community can contribute to our neighborhoods, homeowners are an especially vital link in an area's infrastructure. Homeowners tend to move less frequently than renters, and often become more invested and active in their community. That's a big part of the reason why the Minneapolis Advantage loan program was designed to help bring in homeowners to neighborhoods that most need more owner occupied housing. The Northside Homeowners' Association was created by homeowners, to help promote their interests and homeownership in our community, and all current and prospective Northside homeowners are welcome to join.

The Advantage program is designed for buyers who will owner occupy a property, and can be used for single family homes or duplexes. That means it is possible to purchase a duplex, live in one half and rent out the other half for additional income. In some instances, it may be possible for a renter to pay almost the entire mortgage payment, depending upon the size of the loan and the amount of the rent. Additionally, a homebuyer obtaining an FHA loan - either the standard loan (a 203b) or a special fix up 203k loan - can purchase up to a four-unit building to owner occupy. What better way to ensure a property will be properly managed than to have the owner living on site? In looking for a new Northside home, a multi family property might be the right option for you.

Discover Our Treasures!

The Northside community has a wealth of amenities waiting to be uncovered. A special 'treasure map' to some of these resources will be available in time for this Saturday's home tour so that visitors can explore what our community has to offer. Check back here later this week for an electronic version of the map.

In the meantime, if you have a favorite destination or resource you think should be included, let me know! Also, please share your comments here about what you treasure about life on the Northside.

For me, just one of the many things I value is the convenient location of my neighborhood, close to downtown, and an easy distance from all the places my family goes most - shopping, parks, recreational spots, and more. Best of all, my neighborhood never feels crowded and is easy to navigate by car, bike, foot or bus. While no one is wishing for $4/gallon gas, it's a lot easier to tolerate when you rarely have to travel more than a couple of miles.

Is a 'Fixer Upper' Right for you?

While several move in ready properties are available throughout the Northside community, there are also properties that present the opportunity for rehab - ranging from minor fix up to requiring a complete overhaul. Why would someone consider a 'fixer upper'? And how would someone go about making a fix up happen? There are resources available to help with planning a total home rehab, including financing programs. Additionally, a complete home rehab presents opportunities to incorporate Green building technologies and energy saving materials and devices that are definitely worth exploring.

If you are considering a property that needs some work, you need to consider a few things. First, do you need to be able to move right into a home when you purchase it? The definition of what can be 'move-in' ready can be broad, and depends in no small part on how tolerant you are of what may or may not be 'minor' inconveniences. If you have the resources to continue living in another place while you get a house ready to make your home, you will have more options in what type of condition you can purchase a home in. If not, you need to consider the practicality of calling a work in progress home. If being in an environment full of dust and debris, and rooms - including possibly baths and kitchens - in varying stages of usability, is not practical, living in a home as it's being rehabbed is probably not for you.

Unless you have a sizable chunk of change saved, you probably will need some sort of financing to either acquire or rehab a new fixer upper, or both. There are actually several homes available right now at extremely low prices that you may be able to pay cash for - some as low as $10,000 - 15,000. However, such a low price does not generally come without the need for substantial reconstruction. Even if you're extremely handy, a whole house worth of materials is a lot to finance on a Home Depot credit card. There are sources of fix up funds available. Neighborhood associations are a great place to start looking for such programs. The Harrison neighborhood, for instance, is offering up to $15,000 in fix up funds in conjunction with the Minneapolis Advantage program. Many other neighborhood organizations also offer programs to make rehab funds available to homeowners.

Another option is mortgage financing. Although a property requiring substantial work is not eligible for traditional FHA financing, there are other FHA programs designed specifically for properties requiring fix up. There are two types of loans called FHA 203k loans that allow a home buyer to purchase a home and get one mortgage for both the purchase and rehab costs. The Streamlined 203k Limited Repair Program allows buyers to finance up to an additional $35,000 of repairs into the mortgage they obtain to purchase the home. The repairs can include things like the repair or replacement of roofs, gutters, HVAC systems, plumbing and electrical systems, existing flooring, minor remodeling, purchase of appliances, weatherization, painting, accessibility improvements, window and door replacement, exterior siding replacement and more.

Properties requiring substantial and structural rehab are ideal candidates for the standard 203k program. Using this program allows a buyer to purchase a 1-4 unit property to owner occupy, and obtain one permanent, fixed rate mortgage loan to finance the purchase and fix up of the property. The program allows borrowers to finance improvements such as weatherization and other efforts to improve the home's efficiency, and permits inclusion of such expenses as the installation of solar energy equipment if desired. Finding a lender experienced in these loans is key to making the process go as smoothly as possible.

For the homebuyer willing to take on a project, the opportunities to create a personalized home incorporating the best of an old home and new building techniques, including possibilities, are unmatched.

Current Northside Neighbors Needed!

If you already call the Northside home, we need your help! As part of the Northside Home Tour on May 17th, members of the community will be available at the two meet up points (Sumner Library and North Regional Library), to talk with visitors and answer questions about what it's really like to live here. We need people who are willing to share their stories of the good and the bad about life on the Northside with those who may be considering making our community their home also.

The event runs from 11 am until 5 pm, and you are welcome for whatever portion of time works for you. If you are able to participate, contact me now at northsideopportunities@gmail.com or 612-581-9308.

Minneapolis Advantage Loan Program

One of the major goals of the upcoming Northside Home Tour on May 17th is to showcase properties that are available in areas eligible for the Minneapolis Advantage Program. The program offers $10,000 loans to homebuyers for down payment or closing cost assistance when purchasing a single family home or duplex they will be occupying in specific neighborhoods. This map shows the areas included in the program, including 9 Northside neighborhoods.

The loans are available with no interest, no monthly payment, and will be forgiven over a 5 year period - 20% each year - if the homeowner remains in the home. There are no income limits and purchasers do not have to be first time home buyers. The only restrictions are on the area where a home is located, that the purchaser obtain a traditional fixed-rate mortgage or buy with cash, and in requiring that the purchaser occupy the property within 60 days of closing or completing rehab work.

In some neighborhoods, additional funds are being offered by the neighborhood associations. The McKinley, Webber-Camden and Foley neighborhoods are offering an additional $4,000 in assistance, and the Harrison neighborhood is offering $4,000 for down payment or closing costs, plus an additional $15,000 that can be used for renovation costs.

What does this mean for buyers? They have the opportunity to take advantage of this program and get into a home with little or no money down, leaving more money in their pockets as a reserve, or for use in potentially renovating or updating the homes they are purchasing.

As just one example of how this could work, there are several move in ready homes available for $130,000 throughout the Northside. If a prospective neighbor were to purchase one of these homes with an FHA mortgage, they would not have any out of pocket expense to close and would have a mortgage payment under $1,000, affordable to households making around $40,000 a year, or under 50% of the area's median income. There are several homes available at both lower and higher price points, ranging from move in ready to requiring substantial rehabilitation.

This program can also be combined with the City Living loan program, which can be used for additional down payment assistance, or to finance rehabbing the property if necessary or making improvements to the home.

Link to the City's website regarding Minneapolis Advantage: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/minneapolisadvantage_home.asp