Stevens Square Park???? (Minneapolis, Excelsior, Nicollet: affordable apartment, rent, crime)

[C-Chelle]

Can anyone provide any information about this area? Good? Bad? So-so? Close to groceries, entertainment etc....?

Thanks in advance

[Kayekaye]

It's a very cute complex, but in a very bad neighborhood. There I said it. Others will say it's fine but I don't agree. Lived very near there.

[C-Chelle]

Seriously? YIKES!!!!! Sorry, thought it was an area not a complex. The apartment we are looking at is around 3rd and Franklin. So that is a No, No? DAMN!!!! No wonder the rent was so much cheaper that others we have been looking at.

We are trying to stay near downtown or uptown..... pretty much want to be as close to the chain lakes as possible and since we will be taking advantage of public transportation (we are going more green), we want to stay close to as much accessibility as possible.

Thanks for the heads up. If you don't mind me asking..... what was it you didn't like?

[l12]

Originally Posted by C-Chelle

Seriously? YIKES!!!!! Sorry, thought it was an area not a complex. The apartment we are looking at is around 3rd and Franklin. So that is a No, No? DAMN!!!! No wonder the rent was so much cheaper that others we have been looking at.

It is a neighborhood and a park located in the center of that neighborhood, not a complex as far as I know.

Stevens Square is a beautiful neighborhood and a great location, but it is a neighborhood of lower-income families and students or artists, and because of this you might have issues with perhaps less professional/responsible neighbors and landlords. I have been tempted to live there as well, and I really don't think it's as bad as people might fear as far as actual crime or danger.

The architecture is beautiful. It's very convenient to downtown and lots of bars and restaurants on Nicollet and Lyndale. Small groceries are all around, for supermarkets you have the Wedge co-op on Lyndale/Franklin and Target downtown at Nicollet & 9th. Also Aldi further east on Franklin.

Parking might be an issue, I'm not sure, but if you are going carless and don't mind living in a very diverse neighborhood I think it's a good choice.

[C-Chelle]

Originally Posted by l12

It is a neighborhood and a park located in the center of that neighborhood, not a complex as far as I know.

Stevens Square is a beautiful neighborhood and a great location, but it is a neighborhood of lower-income families and students or artists, and because of this you might have issues with perhaps less professional/responsible neighbors and landlords. I have been tempted to live there as well, and I really don't think it's as bad as people might fear as far as actual crime or danger.

The architecture is beautiful. It's very convenient to downtown and lots of bars and restaurants on Nicollet and Lyndale. Small groceries are all around, for supermarkets you have the Wedge co-op on Lyndale/Franklin and Target downtown at Nicollet & 9th. Also Aldi further east on Franklin.

Parking might be an issue, I'm not sure, but if you are going carless and don't mind living in a very diverse neighborhood I think it's a good choice.

I lived in Loring Park about 25 years ago....... it was a decent neighborhood back then. This is pretty close to that, close to downtown and all..... but each little pocket of streets can change dramatically, as in every large city so with that said, and being away for so long, it's like being there for the 1st time again.

Personally, I would love to live near Lake Calhoun or Lake of the Isles, but until we get established in the city, we are going with the cheapest rent we can find for now.

Thank you for your input.

[srsmn]

Originally Posted by C-Chelle

Can anyone provide any information about this area? Good? Bad? So-so? Close to groceries, entertainment etc....?

Thanks in advance

Welcome back! So you've narrowed down your search?

Stevens Park is a *neighborhood* centered around a small park green. The architecture is a lot of turn of the century, narrow, 3-story brick apartment complexes....I can't think of a great comparison with Pittsburgh....maybe parts of Shadyside or Squirrel Hill along 5th?

It does not enjoy a great reputation, *but*....

...it is walking distance to downtown, walking distance to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, walking distance to Eat Street (where some of the best, cheap ethnic dining in the Cities is), and a short commute to Uptown. Up Franklin Avenue, across 35W is my old neighborhood, Phillips. Phillips also does not enjoy a great reputation, crime-wise, but there is an Aldi, a shopping center (with Maria's, a great breakfast place), Franklin Ave bakery, a florist, a few walk-in, quick eat Somali places, Peavy Park, and a Co-op grocery store in the next neighborhood over, Seward.

Quite honestly, if crime is a huge concern, I'd recommend against that area of the Southside. But, if you are used to urban living, you'll probably find that it's nothing you can't handle. The worst thing that happened to me, personally, in two years in Phillips was having my car windows bashed out by some hooligans. If you exercise a reasonable amount of street smarts, and don't plan on joining any gangs, you'll probably be fine. The crime rep is a bit overblown, in my opinion....

[C-Chelle]

Originally Posted by srsmn

Welcome back! So you've narrowed down your search?

Stevens Park is a *neighborhood* centered around a small park green. The architecture is a lot of turn of the century, narrow, 3-story brick apartment complexes....I can't think of a great comparison with Pittsburgh....maybe parts of Shadyside or Squirrel Hill along 5th?

It does not enjoy a great reputation, *but*....

...it is walking distance to downtown, walking distance to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, walking distance to Eat Street (where some of the best, cheap ethnic dining in the Cities is), and a short commute to Uptown. Up Franklin Avenue, across 35W is my old neighborhood, Phillips. Phillips also does not enjoy a great reputation, crime-wise, but there is an Aldi, a shopping center (with Maria's, a great breakfast place), Franklin Ave bakery, a florist, a few walk-in, quick eat Somali places, Peavy Park, and a Co-op grocery store in the next neighborhood over, Seward.

Quite honestly, if crime is a huge concern, I'd recommend against that area of the Southside. But, if you are used to urban living, you'll probably find that it's nothing you can't handle. The worst thing that happened to me, personally, in two years in Phillips was having my car windows bashed out by some hooligans. If you exercise a reasonable amount of street smarts, and don't plan on joining any gangs, you'll probably be fine. The crime rep is a bit overblown, in my opinion....

Thanks LOL

Not quite back yet, still have a couple of weeks before we head out. We have been looking at so many apartments weighing in all the pros and cons. My main hang up is all the fee's they want with non-refundable pet deposits and pet rents. Makes an affordable apartment a little less comfortable. What I liked most about this place was there was no pet deposit or pet rent. The apartment itself is ok, IMO and really should be more 650 than 695.

I really like things within walking distance, I like walking. I tend to go into my own little world when I walk... just toss in the ear-buds and go. But yes, safety is a major concern. I like quiet, peaceful areas. Like I said, I'm getting old LOL.

I use Google maps to virtually walk through the neighborhoods but it's a moment in time so where you can see what the area looks like, you loose the feel of the surrounding sounds and feel. The area does look pretty, summer photos LOL.....

No not planning on joining a gang, but a gang presence would be concerning as sometimes the bullets miss their intended target and hit others. I had my fill with gang bangers in Phoenix. I use to do a lot of photography for a small rap producer. Not something I really want to be around again. I never had any trouble with any of them but there was always a bit of a risk just being around them, especially on an "on location" shoot.

IDK, maybe I will keep looking. I know I don't want suburbs, I would like to find something in-between, that that exist LOL.

Thanks for the heads up

So are you still in Pitt? or back home now?

[l12]

Originally Posted by C-Chelle

I lived in Loring Park about 25 years ago....... it was a decent neighborhood back then.

Loring Park is a great neighborhood now, one of the best (and most expensive) in the city, but it goes downmarket pretty quickly east of Spruce Place.

Places that are affordable and even closer to the lakes would be along Lyndale, which has frequent bus service and is very walkable.

Also, if you want to be close to a lake in a more "safe" area, Lake Harriet is affordable, very beautiful, has nice walkable/urban commercial areas (Kingfield on the east, Linden Hills on the west), and frequent bus service, albeit a good 20-30 min ride to downtown.

[C-Chelle]

Originally Posted by l12

Loring Park is a great neighborhood now, one of the best (and most expensive) in the city, but it goes downmarket pretty quickly east of Spruce Place.

Places that are affordable and even closer to the lakes would be along Lyndale, which has frequent bus service and is very walkable.

Also, if you want to be close to a lake in a more "safe" area, Lake Harriet is affordable, very beautiful, has nice walkable/urban commercial areas (Kingfield on the east, Linden Hills on the west), and frequent bus service, albeit a good 20-30 min ride to downtown.

I think we found a decent place about 9 blocks from the southern part of Lake Calhoun. only 25.00 per month more, no pet rent, but 150.00 per pet non-refundable pet deposit. Oh well, guess I can't have it all LOL

Thanks for the post

[l12]

Ok, good luck with your move! I would just warn you that if you go too far to the southwest of Lake Calhoun it gets decidedly suburban and not very walkable. The only commercial areas I think are Excelsior Blvd. and Linden Hills.