Victory neighborhood, Minneapolis - a day in the life... (Crystal: for sale, rent)

[Camden Northsider]

So, maybe I have too much time on my hands, but I realized that I'm always telling people on this forum how much I love my quaint little Victory neighborhood in Minneapolis, but I've never actually SHOWN people my neighborhood on here to date. Below are some typical views and local attractions in my neighborhood - since I don't have a digital camera, I'm relying on Google Maps StreetView to bring you this presentation (be sure to use the pan feature).

And although I know I'm going to get accused of being a realtor and/or trying to sell a house by doing this (I'm not selling nor going anywhere), I wanted to illustrate just how much house you can get for the $$ here so I've linked to some homes that are currently on the market. Lastly, I'm taking a survey...would you choose to live or buy a home in this neighborhood?

Parkway Home(s)/ green space:

[SIZE=2]<[/SIZE][SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=4300+ xerxes+ave+n,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.03934,-93.317678&sspn=0.007793,0.026994&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.039415,-93.316391&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 03543,-93.31877&cbp=1,485.6231192474223,,0,5[/SIZE][SIZE=2]>[/SIZE]

Flagpole/ more green space:

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2][SIZE=2]<[/SIZE][SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=4400+ xerxes+ave+n,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.768112,81.738281&ie=UTF8&ll=45.0 40901,-93.318493&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&layer=c& cbll=45.036912,-93.319211&cbp=1,326.21713825881715,,0,5[/SIZE][SIZE=2]>[/SIZE]

Business "District" #1 (44th & Penn):

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=44th+ and+Penn+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.768112,81.738281&ie=UTF8&ll=45.0 39461,-93.307078&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&layer=c& cbll=45.035466,-93.308888&cbp=1,517.302829552903,,0,5[/SIZE]

Business "District" #2 (42nd & Thomas):

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=42nd+ and+Thomas+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.039461,-93.307078&sspn=0.007793,0.019956&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.035321,-93.312871&spn=0.007794,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 031326,-93.31358&cbp=1,517.302829552903,,0,5[/SIZE]

Loring Community School (local elementary), pool, tennis courts, park space:

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=42nd+ and+Thomas+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.039461,-93.307078&sspn=0.007793,0.019956&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.039446,-93.312871&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 03546,-93.31367&cbp=1,370.55990343516015,,0,5[/SIZE]

Homes for Sale:

Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing - this one's actually just south of Victory neighborhood in Cleveland, but great home on pkwy

City of Minneapolis website Neighborhood Profile: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neig...ofile_home.asp

[The Icy River Vagabond]

Nice post.... It is definitely a beautiful neighborhood. I have been through it many times just to marvel at the homes, and wonder.... Should I buy one here?? I want one of those houses, bad. I have even been to some open houses. Those are collectivly pretty representitive of my house back in Detroit, the one that I miss sooo bad!!!

The decision that I have made, in answer to your question is, if I had children, or if we were going to have children, we would buy a house there, because in general, they are bigger and architecturally what I find most pleasing, and because we wouldn't have as much time for the amenities of my first choice, which is uptown. I am willing to sacrifice the gorgeous house in order to continue to live in uptown. The reasons for that are. The lakes, my wife and I are both triathletes, and we LOVE living, running and swimming near around and in the lakes. Your neighborhood would be an excellent choice also, given the easy running on Victory Memorial and access to Theodore Wirth. But, the restaraunts, I love the choice and easy access to all of the restaraunts. We walk almost everywhere, really... I don't want to go back to having to drive everywhere. That is my biggest problem with the area.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by The Icy River Vagabond

Nice post.... It is definitely a beautiful neighborhood. I have been through it many times just to marvel at the homes, and wonder.... Should I buy one here?? I want one of those houses, bad. I have even been to some open houses. Those are collectivly pretty representitive of my house back in Detroit, the one that I miss sooo bad!!!

The decision that I have made, in answer to your question is, if I had children, or if we were going to have children, we would buy a house there, because in general, they are bigger and architecturally what I find most pleasing, and because we wouldn't have as much time for the amenities of my first choice, which is uptown. I am willing to sacrifice the gorgeous house in order to continue to live in uptown. The reasons for that are. The lakes, my wife and I are both triathletes, and we LOVE living, running and swimming near around and in the lakes. Your neighborhood would be an excellent choice also, given the easy running on Victory Memorial and access to Theodore Wirth. But, the restaraunts, I love the choice and easy access to all of the restaraunts. We walk almost everywhere, really... I don't want to go back to having to drive everywhere. That is my biggest problem with the area.

I know what you mean, we moved from Uptown and although we really liked Uptown for that time in our lives and have a lot of great memories there, we were very ready for a quieter/ more neighborhoodly feel and pace. When you do have kids and decide to move up here, you'll be happy to find that Crystal Lake is just blocks away - it's definitely not Calhoun but it's nice/ decent sized with a beach.. we also have Ryan Lake in Victory although this is more of a zen lake that's not much for swimming; and you're right in that you have easy access/ short bike ride to theo wirth area and the lakes in and around there.

Although I'm not the biggest walking enthusiast myself (wish I was), I couldn't stand driving/ parking in Uptown so I definitely preferred it while I was living there, but I've got to admit that I've really liked having a place/ garage to park every night and not having to sit in congested traffic after taking my exit here-

[rhartong]

I owned a house at 44th & Newton for a couple years. Victory Memorial Drive is, indeed, a nice area. I wish I'd had a greater appreciation of it when I lived there!

[sugarbeet]

Thanks for posting this. I've just been in Mpls a few months (native of rural MN and moved all over US) and recently bought a home in Southwest. The only reason I would not consider the Victory nbhd or anything in North is the location of my current job.

[nick is rulz]

great area but the complete lack of police officers I see when in the area irks me. Robberies have been pretty frequent lately (probably the same people) and you would think they would step it up some. One lady got mugged in Bryn Mawr a few weeks ago and now I see a cop in the neighborhood constantly.

[Bagira]

If we still lived there in MPLS that is most likely. we'd more likely be looking at Bryn Mawr more.

[Jeanie Hoholik]

Originally Posted by Camden Northsider

So, maybe I have too much time on my hands, but I realized that I'm always telling people on this forum how much I love my quaint little Victory neighborhood in Minneapolis, but I've never actually SHOWN people my neighborhood on here to date. Below are some typical views and local attractions in my neighborhood - since I don't have a digital camera, I'm relying on Google Maps StreetView to bring you this presentation (be sure to use the pan feature).

And although I know I'm going to get accused of being a realtor and/or trying to sell a house by doing this (I'm not selling nor going anywhere), I wanted to illustrate just how much house you can get for the $$ here so I've linked to some homes that are currently on the market. Lastly, I'm taking a survey...would you choose to live or buy a home in this neighborhood?

Parkway Home(s)/ green space:

[SIZE=2]<[/SIZE][SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=4300+ xerxes+ave+n,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.03934,-93.317678&sspn=0.007793,0.026994&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.039415,-93.316391&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 03543,-93.31877&cbp=1,485.6231192474223,,0,5[/SIZE][SIZE=2]>[/SIZE]

Flagpole/ more green space:

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2][SIZE=2]<[/SIZE][SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=4400+ xerxes+ave+n,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.768112,81.738281&ie=UTF8&ll=45.0 40901,-93.318493&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&layer=c& cbll=45.036912,-93.319211&cbp=1,326.21713825881715,,0,5[/SIZE][SIZE=2]>[/SIZE]

Business "District" #1 (44th & Penn):

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=44th+ and+Penn+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.768112,81.738281&ie=UTF8&ll=45.0 39461,-93.307078&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&layer=c& cbll=45.035466,-93.308888&cbp=1,517.302829552903,,0,5[/SIZE]

Business "District" #2 (42nd & Thomas):

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=42nd+ and+Thomas+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.039461,-93.307078&sspn=0.007793,0.019956&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.035321,-93.312871&spn=0.007794,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 031326,-93.31358&cbp=1,517.302829552903,,0,5[/SIZE]

Loring Community School (local elementary), pool, tennis courts, park space:

[SIZE=2]http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=42nd+ and+Thomas+Ave+N,+minneapolis,+mn&sll=45.039461,-93.307078&sspn=0.007793,0.019956&layer=c&ie=UTF8&l l=45.039446,-93.312871&spn=0.007793,0.019956&z=16&om=1&cbll=45. 03546,-93.31367&cbp=1,370.55990343516015,,0,5[/SIZE]

Homes for Sale:

Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing
Click Here to View the Listing - this one's actually just south of Victory neighborhood in Cleveland, but great home on pkwy

City of Minneapolis website Neighborhood Profile: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neig...ofile_home.asp

Nice post, Camden! You went to a lot of trouble. Isn't the internet wonderful?

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

great area but the complete lack of police officers I see when in the area irks me. Robberies have been pretty frequent lately (probably the same people) and you would think they would step it up some. One lady got mugged in Bryn Mawr a few weeks ago and now I see a cop in the neighborhood constantly.

well, i guess we're going to have to start locking our doors then! - but in all seriousness, i don't think a "police presence" is needed here and as for the "increase in robberies" that we hashed out in another post (with a poster that had the neighborhood boundaries wrong) - robberies are very uncommon here...but it is extremely common for robberies to increase around the holidays no matter where you're at.

as for the more police argument, after working around w. broadway in north for a couple of years, i'm not sure how much it helps...sure, their presence is needed, but occassionally things start to feel more like a police state and the cops themselves sometimes act like its martial law (i've seen cops do some crazy stuff). New York has actually done some very creative things to curb crime in certain areas - specifically i'm thinking of a few parks (can't remember names at the moment) that attracted a lot of drug trafficking - rather than increase police presence, local officials decided to completely gut and revamp the landscape/ park area there to be more pedestrian/ jogger friendly, i think they brought in little food kiosks, etc. - crime disappeared. the redevelopment of franklin ave around where Maria's is at has had a similar effect in areas of the philips neighborhood.

[DAS]

I don't mean to turn this into a thread about NYC, but one of the main reasons that crime went down was really not because of law enforcement policies, or anything creative done to curb crime.

The influx of drugs into the city started about 60-70 years ago. Crime increased steadily as the drugs kept coming in. Most of the heroin addicts of these periods are either dead or too old to perform those criminal activities that they were engaged in. Crack came and went after a generation because it kills fast.

Younger people that grew up seeing this like myself want no parts of it. So drugs are no longer being sold throughout the city to younger people or by younger people for the most part.

People still use drugs and they are still being sold but mostly to the surviving older generations that are still unfortunately addicted.

This is what has made the city safer and politicians and others are trying to take the credit for it.

Other things that are now good in the city could succeed once the crime started going down. But it is not as good as they say it is because if you live in any neighborhood you will know of crimes and you will not read about it in the newspapers, or see it on the local nightly news. Some people feel that the numbers are being fudged because they know of so many things that occurred in their neighborhoods and no one outside of the neighborhoods knew about it.

NYC schools are not good. Unless you graduate from an Ivy League it is hard to acquire gainful employment that will allow you rent an apt with studios starting at $1200 in a rough neighborhood. Because of this NYC now has a gang problem because younger people are starting to band together to survive.