Victory Neighborhood (Minneapolis, Crystal, Robbinsdale: fit in, real estate, foreclosure)

[SuckerMom]

We've been in Victory for five years now.

It does seem like "everyone" lives in South Minneapolis, but our secret neighborhood revels in the quiet! After living in Victory, many of the south neighborhoods we originally liked just seem not as nice. People are very friendly, but pretty quiet. There are definitely many block clubs, garden clubs, neighborhood watch, etc, if you want to get involved.

We prefer the Crystal Target to Brooklyn Park. It has a Starbucks and has been remodeled more recently. I shop at grocery stores all over, but the Robbinsdale Cub and Rainbow are both fine and so is the Golden Valley Byerly's. We go to Maple Grove for our suburban big box needs from time to time.

In addition to restaurants already mentioned, we have been pleasantly surprised by the Greek Deli in Robbinsdale (near Walgreens), the 50s diner in BP (great milkshakes). There's good Indian near the BP Target, and Mexican near the Crystal Target. A Wuollet opened last year in Robbinsdale and we really like the local chinese takeout in Webber-Camden near the library.

And schools --- our oldest will start K in 2009 and we are still undecided! I went to the Mpls school fair this year and talked to the Loring reps. I do not believe it would be hard to get a spot as a Mpls resident bc they do get a lot of out of district kids (especially BP) I'm not sure about getting in after the lottery is over though. I don't think it would be a big problem though.

I feel good about the programs at Loring. The test scores are above the district average, and they have a great garden/cooking program. I'm not sure how many students live in the neighborhood vs taking advantage of open enrollment. Our block does not have a of of children; it does seem like there are many homeschoolers in the neighborhood and I agree that there are many yard signs supporting Catholic schools. I also know families who send to schools outside of North through open enrollment. I don't know how we will make our final decision.

Also, we love North Mississippi Park! They have many programs for all ages. It is a place I take out of towners to see the river, picnic, learn some history, and play! When we were househunting, this park convinced us we wouldn't miss the chain of lakes (where we had rented) We also swim at Theo Wirth Beach (and the wading pool at Loring) Courage Center is very close by and has great (and comparatively cheap) swim lessons for kids.

[MNNative]

Thanks so much SuckerMom. It does seem like all the Victory residents we've spoken to do love their neighborhood. <~Very comforting.

We've looked into Loring, heavily, and I agree, the programs seem great. I got some mild confirmation from the school and the district placement person that for the most part Victory residents get priority...but I won't be convinced until we have a little card that says we got in!

Thanks for the shopping/dining advice...Wuollet...NUM!

We are still doing some hunting and Victory is high on our list still.

[CamdenRedhouse]

Originally Posted by MNNative

No one else has anything to add?

Does anyone currently have kids enrolled in Mpls schools (don't necessarily have to be ones in the Camden neighborhoods)?

Just signed up for this site. My son is starting at Loring School in the Fall. We went to the Kindergarten Round-up and simply love that he will be going to school 4 blocks from home.

I highly recommend the neighborhood as a place to live. I have lived in South and Uptown and am pleased that in Victory we have no airplane noise and no massive traffic jams.

As the Artistic Director of Workhouse Theatre Company, I can also tell you that the arts scene is starting to come alive in the area. If you want to come to our current show, just mention "City Data Website" and I'll give you a $5 ticket. By the Way to all northsiders - Thursday 5/8 is CAMDEN NIGHT at the theatre and all northside/Camden residents get two tickets for $15.

The crime rate in Victory is really not that different than south, just more high profile, because the area has been "labeled" by the media.

We love the neighborhood.

[nick is rulz]

Victory is probably the only neighborhood in the city where you can get a lot of house for not much money and its safe across the board. Other decent affordable neighborhoods (Powderhorn, Webber-Camden) have their "rough spots" but in Victory there really isnt one.

I love the neighborhood but I wish it had a co-op or a little market or something ala Bryn Mawr Market. Some kind of community hub, if you will.

[MNNative]

How do the neighboring ares stack up? Shingle Creek, Lind-Bohanon and Webber Camden, specifically. Is any one of those better than the other? <~In terms of safety, neighborhood/community togetherness, etc etc etc. Victory has been referenced as a "Parkway snob" area...do the others have any "reputations"?

Up until now we've concentrated our "North Search" to Victory but are interested to know about the surrounding areas as well.

Thanks!!

[nick is rulz]

The "reputation" amongst outsiders is that "its in North Minneapolis so it must be awful".

Lind-Bohanon is fairly decent and has a pretty stable housing stock. Webber-Camden is still pretty stable but it did get hit fairly hard with foreclosures. Shingle Creek is mostly smaller post WWII houses.

None of them are out and out dangerous.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

The "reputation" amongst outsiders is that "its in North Minneapolis so it must be awful".

Touche.

Thanks for your post, Nick.

[nick is rulz]

I dont think youd have any problems in any of the mentioned neighborhoods but I do think Victory is the nicest of them. I would live in any of the areas you mentioned.

[CamdenRedhouse]

Originally Posted by MNNative

Victory has been referenced as a "Parkway snob" area...do the others have any "reputations"?

Thanks!!

I'm sorry but I need to chuckle at that reputation. I wonder where that is coming from? There are snobs in any neighborhood, it is all a matter of degree. I have not found this to be the case though, we have many friends that we meet and talk to when we are out and about.

P.S. - Cleveland is on the Parkway as well.

There are 7 neighborhoods in Camden and starting in Victory (far northwest corner) and traveling to McKinley the socioeconomic level decreases. This is basic census info and open to any interpretation. Victory has the most stable housing stock, highest median, lowest crime. It really depends on what you are looking for. The Victory housing prices are levelling off and the poster is right, you can get a lot of house.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by CamdenRedhouse

I'm sorry but I need to chuckle at that reputation. I wonder where that is coming from? There are snobs in any neighborhood, it is all a matter of degree. I have not found this to be the case though, we have many friends that we meet and talk to when we are out and about.

P.S. - Cleveland is on the Parkway as well.

There are 7 neighborhoods in Camden and starting in Victory (far northwest corner) and traveling to McKinley the socioeconomic level decreases. This is basic census info and open to any interpretation. Victory has the most stable housing stock, highest median, lowest crime. It really depends on what you are looking for. The Victory housing prices are levelling off and the poster is right, you can get a lot of house.

I'm quoting something that CamdenNorthsider said once upon a time. I wasn't using it to be negative at all. lol My husband and I have no problem becoming a "Parkway Snob". lol We really love that neighborhood. I tend to interpret it as meaning that Victory is somewhat nicer than nearby areas...and that the parkway is something that it is known for. I'm wondering if any of the other neighborhoods I mentioned would have similar things they are known for and any "connotations" associated with the neighborhood. <~Perhaps I should have been more clear.

To reiterate/clarify my question: Previously we concentrated our Mpls search to only the Victory neighborhood. We've exhausted pretty much every home on the market in that neighborhood that is in our price range...so we thought about opening up our search to neighboring areas (Shingle Creek, Lind-B, Webber-C) before thinking about settling for one we've seen already but didn't pursue (we've had tons sell and been stuck in multiple offer situations...it's definitely obvious that the neighborhood is prime). Just wondering what insight people could share. We've found some possible options in Shingle Creek in particular along the park, more so on the northern side (you know how it kinda stretches across the neighborhood)...but we've just started browsing outside Victory. Any thoughts would be swell!