[DEV] Live Minneapolis - Saint Paul

The Windom Park neighborhood of northeast Minneapolis offers the convenience of corner markets, coffee shops just up the street, great restaurants and easy access to downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. The neighborhood has long been a new home for immigrants from all over the world. In addition to traditional American shops and restaurants, our “downtown” – Central Avenue NE – features ethnic offerings from Afghanistan, Palestine, India, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Colombia, Somalia and Pakistan. In the midst of a vibrant arts community, Windom Park is also across the street from the Quarry, a large and handy shopping locale; a major full-service bank with multi-lingual staff is located here, and just a short walk up the avenue is the community-owned Eastside Food Co-op. Yet the neighborhood remains quiet, peaceful and one of the lowest crime areas in the city – truly a gem of a neighborhood and a great place for anyone to call home.

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Boundaries and Zip Code

North: Lowry Avenue NE
South: 18th Avenue NE
East: City’s boundary along Highway 88/New Brighton Boulevard
West: Central Avenue NE

Zip code: 55418

Neighborhood Voices

Windom Park is a gem. As a student, I door-knocked in the neighborhood and was received so warmly and found the neighborhood so peaceful, that when I grew up and got married I bought a home here. Everyone has gardens. Grapes and apple trees grow everywhere. The many ethnic groups get along and help each other out. Now we have art galleries and great restaurants. It is an oasis in the City.
- Nancy

History

The neighborhood is named for the park, which is named in honor of William Windom (1827-1891), a congressman from Winona, Minnesota, who later became Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and is the only Minnesotan to have his portrait appear on any U.S. currency. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board purchased the tract that became the park in 1886. By 1911, city streetcar lines had extended up Central and Johnson Streets to 27th Avenue NE, and citizens of Minneapolis were encouraged to leave the "noise and danger" of the city and settle in this largely rural setting.

Housing Styles and Types

True to its eclectic nature, Windom Park’s houses range in age and style from early 1900s Folk Victorians, Four-squares and bungalows on the west side of the neighborhood to mid-20th-century Colonials, Tudors and Cape Cods on the east. The neighborhood features predominantly single-family homes and duplexes, with front porches in abundance and a wide price range suitable for all income levels.

Schools

Public Schools:

• Pillsbury Math, Science and Technology School—Grades K-5.

Public Facilities

• Windom Park and Recreation Center – includes staffed recreation center with gym, public computer lab, and community meeting space adjacent to school; wading pool, tennis, skating, playing fields and green space.

• Northeast Library

• Northeast Gateway Community Garden – a short half-block south of the Windom Park boundary, but planned and implemented by Windom Park volunteers in collaboration with their neighbors.

• Northeast Park and Athletic Fields – just a couple of blocks outside of the neighborhood boundary, this park includes major recreational area that features water park, miniature golf and league play.

Home Purchase/Home Improvement Incentives

• Windom Park Home Improvement Program: The Windom Park Citizens in Action (WPCiA) neighborhood organization offers a low-interest revolving home improvement loan, two deferred loan programs and an emergency home improvement program. Details are at www.windompark.org and at the link provided above.

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

Getting Involved

• Windom Park Citizens in Action (WPCiA) is the city-recognized neighborhood association for this area of Minneapolis.

• Northeast Community Development Corporation (NeCDC)—promotes economic development in Northeast Minneapolis.

News

Quarterly newsletter, “The Windom Park Window,” is mailed to each address in the neighborhood; others can request to be placed on the mailing list by contacting WPCiA. An electronic e-mail update is also sent two to five times per month featuring neighborhood updates and events; to subscribe, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site (www.windompark.org) features calendar of events and other news.

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

Doron Clark, chair, Windom Park Citizens in Action Board of Directors
Phone: 612- 788-2192
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.windompark.org

WPCiA’s storefront office at 2314 Lowry Ave. NE welcomes visitors and is open for walk-ins or by appointment for those seeking information about the neighborhood.

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