Columbia Heights/hilltop (Minneapolis, Edina, Richfield: foreclosure, houses, neighborhoods)

[fracturedman]

I grew up in Columbia Heights, MN on upland crest between fairway Dr and 45th. I have not been there in 17 years and was wondering what has become of this area. I have heard some pretty bad things. The way I remember, it was a great neighborhood, everyone friendly lots of kids my age to play with. Hilltop park just down the hill from my house. It was great and I miss it.

So what has it become in your opinion?

[kuan]

I rode my bicycle through there twice last year and thought it was a nice area. Close to Central Avenue and close to the biggest Gyros plate in town!

[MplsTodd]

The Flameburger is still there on Central Ave. I stopped there about a year ago--pretty good burger, though it was pricier than I expected

[Thegonagle]

Columbia Heights is holding its own, but the housing downturn and job losses sure haven't helped the community. The city is currently figuring out the best way to deal with an unprecedented number of foreclosed properties. They're planning to acquire some of the smallest, most dilapidated houses that are in foreclosure, demo them, and hold the land until the market improves again.

On a positive note, they still have the Heights Jamboree every year at Huset park, the Heights Theater was beautifully restored and reopened 10 years ago (by owners of the DQ next door) and shows films every day, and Sonic Burger thought that 49th and Central would be a good location to build a new restaurant.

And the neighbors are still friendly, and there are still plenty of kids in the neighborhoods.

[fracturedman]

Oh, good. I had heard that it had become some sort of slum. It nice to know that the community still pulls together.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by fracturedman

Oh, good. I had heard that it had become some sort of slum. It nice to know that the community still pulls together.

It depends who you ask and what you are comparing it to.

[Thegonagle]

Originally Posted by moving123456

It depends who you ask and what you are comparing it to.

It is what it's always been: an affordable area that tends toward blue-collar, with smaller, more modest homes on smaller city-sized lots. C.H., like most of NE Minneapolis, is (and has been for a long time) an attractive area for new immigrants to call home.

It's no Edina, but it's never wanted to be, much less pretended to be. It's like like an older, smaller Richfield, except it's got more of that Nordeast style and flavor going on.