[DEV] Live Minneapolis - Saint Paul

The four neighborhoods of Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Wenonah, and Morris Park make up the most southeastern portion of Minneapolis. Together these neighborhoods are known as Nokomis East, and are quintessential Minneapolis. Tree-lined blocks with small houses in a variety of architectural styles are characteristic of this area. Small corner commercial districts, many with local businesses still exist where the streetcar used to run in the first half of the 20th Century. Parks and trails abound in Nokomis East with easy access to Minnehaha Parkway and Lake Nokomis. In 2004, the Hiawatha Line, a light rail transit system, reached Nokomis East and linked together Downtown Minneapolis to the north with the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America to the south.

Boundaries and Zip Code

North: Minnehaha Parkway
South: Southern boundary of the City of Minneapolis
East: Hiawatha Avenue (State Highway 55)
West: Cedar Avenue (State Highway 77)

Zipcode: 55417/55450

History

Three of the four neighborhoods that make up Nokomis East have American Indian inspired names: Wenonah, Minnehaha and Keewaydin. The names of Minnehaha and Keewaydin are derived from Ojibwe and mean “laughing waters” and “northwest wind” respectively. Prior to 1900 these areas remained centers for American Indians. It wasn’t until between the 1920s and 1960s that many of the existing single-family homes were built. Like in many areas of Minneapolis, their development was precipitated by expanding streetcar routes.

Housing Styles and Types

Cozy single-family homes on small lots are the most common type of housing found in Nokomis East. A majority of the homes were built between 1920 and 1960 and are designed as bungalows, mini-Tudors, with occasional one-story ranch styles.

Schools

Public Schools:

• Keewaydin Elementary School (k-5)
• Wenonah Elementary School (5625 23rd Ave. S.)
• Nokomis Junior High
• Span High School
• Morris Park Elementary

Charter School:

• Minneapolis Academy

Private School:

• Northstar Academy

For more information on Minneapolis schools, visit Live MSP's Schools page.

Public Facilities

• Lake Nokomis Park and Community Center (4885 Cedar Ave)
• Keewaydin Park (3000 East 53rd Street)
• Bossen Field
• Morris Park
• Longfellow Gardens
• Minnehaha Park
• Minnehaha Parkway
• Hiawatha Golf Course
• Nokomis Branch of the Minneapolis Public Library (5100 34th Ave)
• US Post Office (5139 34th Avenue South)

Home Purchase/Home Improvement Incentives

For information about other incentive programs that may be available in this neighborhood, visit Live MSP’s Incentive Programs page.

Getting Involved

The neighborhoods of Keewaydin, Wenonah, Morris Park, and Minnehaha joined together to create one neighborhood organization: the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA). This group holds monthly meetings and has committees focusing on different topics including housing, safety, neighborhood planning, and the environment. See their website to learn more.

News

The Nokomis East Neighborhood Forum is an online resource.

Statistics

• City of Minneapolis Neighborhood Profile—Includes trend information on neighborhood demographics, economics, and housing, taken from the most recent census data
• Home Sales Information by Neighborhood—The City of Minneapolis Assessor’s Office allows you to search home sale prices by neighborhood. You choose the time frame that you want to compare (e.g. 1/1/2006 – 12/31/2008.)
• Minneapolis Crime Statistics—Crime maps, statistics, and reports compiled by the Minneapolis Police Department. Check out Interpreting Crime Statistics to help you make sense of these resources.

Real Estate Listings

Search Realtor.com for listings. You can search for properties by either clicking on the map or entering the neighborhood name or zip code (noting that zip code boundaries span multiple neighborhoods) into the search bar.

OwnAHomeMN.org—Check here for listings of affordable homes sold by community developers. Note: not all neighborhoods have listings.

Contacts

Rita Ulrich
Nokomis East Neighborhood Association
3000 East 50th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 724-5652
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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