Robbinsdale neighborhood (Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Edina: sale, rental homes, house)

[Camden Northsider]

Robbinsdale is great, and sounds like a great fit for your needs. Bill Wallace should stick to his expertise in the 2nd/3rd tier and exurban suburbs south of the river, and avoid making innaccurate steering comments related to areas he knows nothing about (for instance, he gave you the advice to look at Golden Valley as it would be further from N. Mpls- in fact, it actually borders the heart of the Northside of Mpls, not that this should be any gauge for you in your search, in fact you might like some areas of North Minneapolis).

My house is in the Victory N'hood of Minneapolis, two blocks from the border of Robbinsdale, and I personally think areas closest to us in Robbinsdale are actually some of the nicest, but most of Robbinsdale is pretty nice, including some areas on the other side of 81. The area of Robbinsdale bordering Mpls enjoys the benefits of being on Victory Memorial Parkway and being on or within a stone's throw of Crystal Lake. Based on the feedback you've provided and interest in Robbinsdale, I would suggest you not limit yourself to looking on the suburban side of the parkway and check out neighborhoods of Minneapolis as well- our neighborhood actually has a pretty similar character to that of Robbinsdale's, and it might even have more in the way of being community-oriented with tight-knit neighbors (although I've never lived in Robbinsdale so am just making a guess here). You should check it and possibly a few homes out when you make your trip up here.

Another bonus of Robbinsdale (and a number of other inner-ring suburbs) is that they will have some more diversity (but still probably not as much as you're used to in DC area) than the very lily-white suburbs you find in many parts of the metro.

We love this area, it's extremely quiet, full of great people, and an excellent place to live for dog-owners. In addition to a large new dog park that just opened here in Victory this past summer (info here), you have miles upon miles of trails/green space meandering throughout the area enjoyed by dog-lovers, bicyclists, runners, and walkers alike. If you take your dog to the patio of one of the local restaurants, they'll likely get your dog a bowl of water and some dog treats, and on Victory Memorial Parkway (bordering Robbinsdale and Victory Neighborhood) you'll find that there are even some homes on the parkway that integrate water bowls into their landscapes next to the sidewalk for people out walking their dogs.

Good luck with your search- I'm open to direct messages (or following this thread) if you want more specs from a local resident.

[vcvc]

A friend of mine used to live literally 2 blocks from Oakland Ave in Robbinsdale. His house was just to the NW a few blocks of North Memorial Hospital. As far as safety and crime goes, there was never an issue and he lived there for about 4 years. I think you'll be perfectly safe. Most of the riff raff stays on the east side of North Memorial in Minneapolis. But really, even that area isn't unsafe, the bad areas of North Minneapolis are much farther down Broadway. And coming from DC, you might laugh at our definition of "bad."

I think as far as commuting goes, Robbinsdale will be perfect. Going from a 55 mile commute to only having to go from Robbinsdale to DT Mpls will be so refreshing for you. Also, being a first ring suburb, Robbinsdale is very charming and has a little more character than the outer burbs where so much of the housing and retail space is cookie cutter designs. Very neighborhoody and more old school.

[Kebinminn]

You can commute downtown ro RObbinsdale without much problem at all, take the parkway to a cross street over 94 then into downtown. It'll take you maybe 20 minutes.

I live in Robbinsdale north of the area you're talking about. There's been some break-ins but I woudn't consider it any worse than what a family member deals with elsewhere in the outer rung suburbs. I've signed up fo Nixle crime reports, I very rarely get alerts, I think two or three in the last year. One was related to some home break ins, the police told us that someone was arrested in Minneapolis for break ins there and they had the stuff from Robbinsdale and another was for car break ins at the hospital ramp and, maybe, in your area too, I can't remember. The day after I got the alert someone was arrested. Robbinsdale tries hard to have a strong sense of community. Of course that ends up being a crap shoot depending on your immediate neighbors but the city does its part.

I just went to our local news channel and did a search on Robbinsdale, I think that'll give you a sense of what has happened in town. Search Results. The search results are alphabetical instead of by date and I'm not sure how long it covers but it looks like it's about a year.

[golfgal]

Since you don't have to worry about schools and you will be renting I think you will find that area to be just fine. Yes, an attached garage is VERY nice in the winter but any off-street parking is a bonus. This winter is a prime example of why-parking on one side of the street only in Minneapolis pretty much makes it so you can't find parking anywhere.

Lock your doors when you aren't home, keep a light on outside, don't walk alone after dark and you will be just fine.

I disagree that the suburbs are bland. Most suburbs have a varied topography, a lot of green space, lovely recreation areas, etc. They are no more bland or cookie cutter then 90% of the neighborhoods in Minneapolis/St. Paul and inner-ring suburbs-they just have smaller trees and even then that isn't always the case .

[uptown_urbanist]

If you're referring to my comment, I didn't say ALL suburbs were bland, just the ones that were recommended by the co-workers. Topography and trees aren't enough to overcome for the copious quantities of bland, garage-fronted houses and excessive quantity of strip malls and chain stores/restaurants. To each his own, but for anyone who is coming from, say, Alexandria, VA, Apple Valley or Eden Prairie would be stultifying.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

If you're referring to my comment, I didn't say ALL suburbs were bland, just the ones that were recommended by the co-workers. Topography and trees aren't enough to overcome for the copious quantities of bland, garage-fronted houses and excessive quantity of strip malls and chain stores/restaurants. To each his own, but for anyone who is coming from, say, Alexandria, VA, Apple Valley or Eden Prairie would be stultifying.

Having recently been to Alexandria, VA, other then the immediate are around Old Town, most of Alexandria and outwards away from DC looks just like Apple Valley or any other suburb for that matter. I guess strip malls in the cities are different than strip malls in the suburbs somehow?? There are plenty of strip malls there too.

[uptown_urbanist]

Since the OP wants to live in Robbinsdale, Apple Valley is irrelevant to her at this point. And having LIVED in northern Virginia, I can say that while some of NoVA resembles exurban Minneapolis, not all of it does. And as you and I both know, it's impossible to describe " any other suburb." Suburbs are not all the same. Robbinsdale is a suburb, but it's a far cry from Eden Prairie in appearance. Even places like Manassas, which definitely have their share of sprawl, at least have their old towns.

I don't like strip malls in the city, either, but in urban areas or older, developed suburban, there are fewer of them, and more commerce built up against the sidewalk or the street, as they, overall, aren't so car-oriented. And I don't anyone could deny that newer suburbs like Apple Valley and Eden Prairie have a VERY high percentage of chain restaurants. Many people enjoy those areas, as they can get a big house for less money, and they don't mind driving to go places and don't mind big box stores and chains. Nothing wrong with that. But if one doesn't enjoy that lifestyle, then they are not likely to enjoy living in those areas. Robbinsdale has chains and car-oriented stores, too, of course, but it has a much different, more established feel, VERY different than Apple Valley, and it will certainly be an easy commute to downtown.

[relopez1]

What about plymouth thats very nice and very safe place to live. close to the city.

[arobinfromthedale]

I am strongly considering relocating to Robbinsdale. As a native of the city, I have missed the warmth and charm of Robbinsdale since we left, right after my 5th birthday. In 2008 when I was in Minnesota for the RNC Convention, I enjoyed exploring the town for the first time in many, many years. I chatted with the person who now owns the house my grandfather built on Yates Ave. in 1924, and saw the house inside and out. I was also privileged to attend a meeting of the Robbinsdale Historical Society, meeting people who's ages spanned many years, and met people who knew my parents, going way back to the '40s and mid '50s. It seemed the beauty and charm of the city. It's people hadn't changed and it was as comfortable as I've remembered in my early years.

[srsmn]

Originally Posted by thndrnsnow

To better describe the location where the house is located it is just blocks from the North Memorial Medical Center

Go to Robbinsdale. As other posters have insinuated, whoever told you about the 'crime' in Robbinsdale was probably talking about the crime in North Minneapolis. To be honest, I don't think there is much spillover crime going into Robbinsdale-- the Victory neighborhood provides a nice buffer.

The area you are talking about is an easy commute to downtown via either Broadway or 100-394. There's a nice little downtown with some restaurants and shops, and Crystal Lake is right there, too. Victory Parkway, Theo Wirth park and the golf course, etc. are all close amenities, too. Victory Parkway would be sort of your 'gateway' to the Chain-of-Lakes for long biking trips.

Golden Valley, Hopkins, SLP, etc., are all good options, too. Crystal and New Hope strike me as a bit more boring than any of those areas, but they're certainly fine. Since it looks like you've researched this pretty well, though, I don't think it's a good expenditure of any of our time to recommend new suburbs-- Robbinsdale would be an identical commute to any of those other suburbs.