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Near North and Willard-Hay are richly diverse, predominantly residential neighborhoods with active residents, acres of beautiful parkland, and easy access to growing retail opportunities along West Broadway Avenue—the Main Street of North Minneapolis. Here you can find historic homes in the Old Highland community-- a 30-square block area known for its large, Victorian Queen Anne “painted ladies” that were built between 1875-1899 (see photos at: http://www.oldhighland.org) and in the Homewood community--one of the city’s first planned developments built between 1900-1925. Near North is also home to Lyn-Park—a subdivision with suburban-style homes and cul-de-sacs built in the 1970s. Residents enjoy countless recreational opportunities at more than half-dozen parks, beautiful vistas of the Mississippi from West River Road, many neighborhood schools, and easy access to downtown Minneapolis.

Images

Boundaries and Zip Code

The Northside Residents Redevelopment Council is the official neighborhood organization for both the Near North and Willard-Hay neighborhoods (and the smaller neighborhoods located within their boundaries.)

Near North

North: West Broadway Avenue
South: Olson Memorial Highway and 11th Avenue N
East: Mississippi River
West: Penn, Knox, James and Irving Avenues N on the west

Old Highland neighborhood, part of the larger Near North neighborhood.

North: West Broadway Avenue
South: Plymouth Avenue
East: Aldrich Avenue N
West: The alley west of Girard Avenue N

Willard-Hay

North: West Broadway Avenue
South: Olson Memorial Highway
East: Irving, James, Knox, and Penn Avenues N
West: Theodore Wirth Park/Xerxes Avenue N

Homewood neighborhood, part of Willard-Hay with boundaries:

North: Plymouth Avenue N
South: Oak Park
East: Penn Avenue N
West: Theodore Wirth Park

Zip code: 55411

History

Like many neighborhoods in Minneapolis, when the street cars extended outward in the 1880s, development followed. The Old Highland area began to have housing built in the 1880s with most of the original housing stock built up by the 1920s. Most of the houses where large and built by downtown merchants. During the past 40 years, the neighborhood has enjoyed much diversity, as an inordinate amount of radical change in composition has taken place: starting with Jewish migration to the suburbs in the 1970’s, a significant influx of Hmong in the 1980’s, an explosion of Liberian and Somali residents in the 1990’s, and a significant increase of Mexican residents in 2000 to present.

For more information about Old Highland history, visit: http://www.oldhighland.org/Location-History.htm
For more information about Homewood/Willard-Hay, visit: http://www.willardhomewood.org/

Housing Styles and Types

Within Near North, there are many spectacular examples of large Victorians and Queen Anne style homes built between 1880 and 1920—many are concentrated in the Old Highland neighborhood. There are also Craftsman, Bungalow and most of the other styles built during this period represented as well. Lyn Park is a 100-unit single-family home “subdivision” built in the 1970s that has ramblers, split-levels, and ranch style homes. Homewood residents enjoy many Classic 2, and 3-story stucco, Victorian, and bungalows style homes.

Schools

Public Schools:

• Bethune Community School (K-5)
• Broadway Alternative High School (6-12)
• Elizabeth Hall International Elementary School (K-5) features the prestigious International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), a rigorous, internationally-recognized curriculum that teaches children to be independent thinkers with a global consciousness. Teaching a world language to children at an early age is also part of the IB philosophy; Elizabeth Hall chose Chinese as its world language.
• North High School—(9-12)

Private Schools:

• Ascension Catholic School (K-8)

Charter Schools:

• Ascension Academy High School (9-12)
• Best Academy (K-7)
• New Millenium Academy (K-8)
• Seed Academy and Harvest Prep (PK-6)

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

Public Facilities

• Basset’s Creek Park—features playing fields, tennis courts, paths/trails, a playground, and more.
• Bethune Park and Recreation Center has soccer fields— and feature year-round activities.
• Estes Peace Park—designed by students from neighborhood schools, this small park has flowerbeds, flowering trees, and open play area for children with water fountain. It is located at the intersection of Plymouth and Humboldt Avenues N.
• Farwell Park—a neighborhood park with picnic tables, a playground, and community bulletin board.
• Hall Park—features a tot lot, wading pool, paths and a basket ball court.
• Lovell Square—a small neighborhood park with a tot lot and picnic benches located at 1000 James Avenue N.
• North Commons Park, Water Park, and Recreation Center
• Theodore Wirth Park
• Sumner Library (on the border with Sumner-Glenwood/Heritage Park neighborhood)

A broad network of social service and community organizations are located in the neighborhoods, including the Minneapolis Urban League, North Point Health & Wellness Center, Neighborhood Housing Services, the newly renovated and soon to open YMCA Youth and Family Enrichment Center, and Pillsbury United Communities.

Home Purchase/Home Improvement Incentives

• Minneapolis Advantage
• Northside Initiative Home Improvement Program
• Neighborhood Housing Services

Contact the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council for Neighborhood Revitalization Program funding opportunities. 612-335-5924.

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

Getting Involved

Northside Residents Redevelopment Council
1313 Plymouth Ave. North
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411
Phone: 612-335-5924
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.nrrc.org/

Old Highland Neighborhood
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Web: http://www.oldhighland.org/

Willard-Homewood Neighborhood
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.willardhomewood.org/

Homewood Studios
2400 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Phone: 612- 587-0230
E-mail: via the website.
Web: http://www.homewoodstudios.com

West Broadway Coalition
911 West Broadway Avenue, Suite # 1
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Phone (612) 353-5178
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.westbroadway.org

News

• Old Highland has an active listserv for neighborhood communications. Requests to be added to the listserv should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• There is also a calendar of events posted at: http://www.oldhighland.org/calendar.

• Willard-Homewood residents are invited to join the neighborhood discussion list (WHOmail), and/or the neighborhood announcements list (WHO-announce), by e-mailing Michelle Lewis.

• North News also has a daily briefings section on their website: http://www.nenorthnews.com/

• Insight News has a community section, their website: http://www.insightnews.com

Statistics

• City of Minneapolis Neighborhood Profile (Near North and Willard-Hay)—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

Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, Inc.
Trisha Anderson, Community Organizer
Phone: 612-335-5924
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.nrrc.org/

Old Highland Neighborhood Association
Brian Bushay, President
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.oldhighland.org/

Willard-Homewood Neighborhood
Michelle Lewis
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: http://www.willardhomewood.org/

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