Great things about Brooklyn Park (Minneapolis, Bloomington: low income, apartments, crime)

[kurls]

Hi,

I viewed other cities on this site in the metro area and found that Brooklyn Park does not have significantly any difference in murders but yet receives so much negative press. Did you know that Bloomington and Brooklyn Park have very similar numbers, 1-2 murders per year. Coon Rapids has a similar pattern. Maple Grove had 4 murders in 2005 according to city data; I am surprised that people are not scared there.

I wonder if the negative views of Brooklyn Park are due to our more culturally diverse population. I hope not as that is the main reason my wife and I live here. In fact that is my favorite thing about my adopted hometown.

I love the city's parks and trail system.

I love our convenient location with a fairly easy commute to Minneapolis and St Paul.

I love the affordability of homes compared to neighboring communities, I guess having a bad rep can't be so bad.

The school system seems to do fairly well with the children. It may not be the best in the state, but still compared to the rest of the country I think they are doing better than average.

There are some negative things about my city as well, but then again these are common in any large metro. There is some crime element and gangsters, but growing up in that lifestyle in another state, it is my opinion that things could be far worse and that MN has some good programs in place to catch those kids on the border line of falling into that life. However, like anywhere else parents MUST raise their kids to be thinkers and have a positive outlook. We have a long way to go until we realize the dream of Martin Luther King, so let's create a society of educated young folks.

The Zane corridor is condensed with low income apartments. This is the Brooklyn Park that outsiders think of, which is responsible for most of the crime in the city. However the revitalization efforts over there are changing things for the better by bringing in mixed businesses and residential development in an aesthetic fashion.

To end on a positive note, I don't want to live in Plymouth. I love the fact that BP has racial and cultural diversity, a mixture of city and suburban feel, and most importantly the potential to really highlight the success of the American melting pot.

[Mr Wiggl3s]

Actually there was just a murder over there about 3 weeks ago

I try to stay away from there though, i live 10 mins south. I don't like to go over there because of the cops. They have a larger African-American population than the suburbs do. And I think thats why there is so many cops. No kidding, at least 10 cops/square mile

Other than that, its a nice place to live

[Slig]

I like Brooklyn Park. Where else can you find 6 auto parts stores in a 2 mile radius? Ha, fixing my car was never so easy. I also like the beautiful bowling alley that was recently built on Brooklyn Blvd. And yep, the Zane corridor is basically the only iffy place in the city. That area probably makes up 3,000 of the 66,000 people in the city.

[yellowsnow]

When I first moved here, I lived in the Zane Corridor. It was the only apt I could fine that was large enough and didn't mind my animals. Co-workers gave me a real ration about living there and for a while they had me really scared. In the end, I realized they were just scared of the reputation, they didn't know the area at all. I lived there. I did know the area. I never had a real reason to be scared. Careful and observant, yes. But that would be the case in any urban area, not just Brooklyn Park. Prices are lower and that will attract people who can afford to live there. It is a diverse part of town with a large immigrant population. Crime and low income tend to go together in a city environment.

There are lots of beautiful homes in Brooklyn Park. I actually like them much better than the clonehomes in Plymouth and Maple Grove.

[Imissthefall]

Originally Posted by Slig

I like Brooklyn Park. Where else can you find 6 auto parts stores in a 2 mile radius? Ha, fixing my car was never so easy. I also like the beautiful bowling alley that was recently built on Brooklyn Blvd. And yep, the Zane corridor is basically the only iffy place in the city. That area probably makes up 3,000 of the 66,000 people in the city.

I was going to post about the new bowling alley, it's really nice!!! They have a wonderful game room as well.

[Imissthefall]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

When I first moved here, I lived in the Zane Corridor. It was the only apt I could fine that was large enough and didn't mind my animals. Co-workers gave me a real ration about living there and for a while they had me really scared. In the end, I realized they were just scared of the reputation, they didn't know the area at all. I lived there. I did know the area. I never had a real reason to be scared. Careful and observant, yes. But that would be the case in any urban area, not just Brooklyn Park. Prices are lower and that will attract people who can afford to live there. It is a diverse part of town with a large immigrant population. Crime and low income tend to go together in a city environment.

There are lots of beautiful homes in Brooklyn Park. I actually like them much better than the clonehomes in Plymouth and Maple Grove.

My cousin has lived on Zane Ave for about 4 years in an appt there, not sure if it is the one your talking about but your right I think it's just the reputation people are scared of, and as much as I hate to admit it some people who have not been around or know many black people get nervous when they drive in a city and there are more black then white...but I think the area is ok, sure some are worse then others, but my cousin has never ever has a prob there..

like I posted above, I LOVE LOVE the new bowling alley. It's so big and beautiful and my kids just have so much fun

[QueenBee]

Originally Posted by Imissthefall

like I posted above, I LOVE LOVE the new bowling alley. It's so big and beautiful and my kids just have so much fun

Yes, it's nice. They are in the process of building another Brunswick Bowl over here in Blaine off of 65 and 109th, about 5 minutes from our house by car. We are very excited.

We used to live in a very large complex between Brooklyn Blvd and Zane and for the most part it was ok during the 5 months we lived there. Lots of low income people. Our last night there I had to call the police because apparantly the guy on the other side of our bedroom wall decided to beat up his girlfriend. The cops took him away. A few weeks after we moved, there was a murder in the complex. I was glad we got out.

I think Brooklyn Park gets a bad rep. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a house there. It's convenient to most places in the metro and most neighborhoods are safe. I have a good friend who has lived there going on 9 years and they love it. They have a great neighborhood with lots of diversity.

Jenny