What South MPLS neighborhoods to avoid (Hills, Lynd: apartments, rentals, condo)

[Dowser307]

I found a few website with rentals so my search is continuing. I'm wondering what neighborhoods to avoid while looking. I know it is completely different than when I was there 20 yrs ago. Any help would be appreciated, IE don't go south of this street or west of that street, ETC.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

I'd say Phillips and MAYBE Central are the two neighborhoods that are fairly universally worth avoiding. Powderhorn, Whittier, Cedar/Riverside, etc. have their ups and downs but nothing to to completely avoid. Phillips would be bounded by I-94 to the North, Lake St to the South, I-35W to the West, and Hiawatha Ave to the East. Central is bounded by Lake St. to the North, 38th St. to the South, I-35W to the West, and Chicago Ave to the East.

[Dowser307]

OK thanxs for the Help. That hasn't changed much. That area was a toilet back in the day. looks like it still is.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by Dowser307

OK thanxs for the Help. That hasn't changed much. That area was a toilet back in the day. looks like it still is.

Well that's just the thing......both Central and Phillips are maybe 1/2 as bad as they were in their "hey day" (90's). Central is in the process of being gentrified by the Hispanic population and Phillips' main problem areas have mostly transformed. It's nothing really like it was in the 90's.

[xandrex]

It really depends on what you're looking for and how comfortable of an area you want. I have a friend who lives in Stevens Square and loves it, but others would avoid that neighborhood like the plague. For apartments and avoiding any real sketchiness, you rarely hear complaints about everything west of Lyndale and north of Lake (except parking of course). East of Lyndale depends on where you are (and I never really think about rentals south of Lake, though of course they exist).

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by Min-Chi-Cbus

Well that's just the thing......both Central and Phillips are maybe 1/2 as bad as they were in their "hey day" (90's). Central is in the process of being gentrified by the Hispanic population and Phillips' main problem areas have mostly transformed. It's nothing really like it was in the 90's.

I agree -- those areas are still probably the ones that tend to have more problems, but you'll be shocked at how much nicer things are than in the early '90s. All the new immigrants have really pumped a lot into improving the main commercial drags. I don't know how exact crime statistics compare (there are still pockets with some significant crime concerns), but at least on the surface level things are looking, overall, better maintained and thriving.

Same thing goes for the neighborhoods west of 35W. I remember in the early '90s Lyndale was getting bad; it hit rock-bottom, and has since come roaring back. I'm not sure when Whittier was at its low point, but it's been massively gentrified since the '90s. In both of those areas there are some worse blocks (a block or two off Lake in either direction and once you start getting east of Pleasant or so -- not sure where to draw the line), but, as a whole, it's MUCH safer and nicer than in the early to mid-90s.

[Pisces69]

Linden Hills

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by Pisces69

Linden Hills

THERE's that classic Linden Hills NIMBY spirit!!

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by Pisces69

Linden Hills

Shouldn't we all be terrified of kids who live in city neighborhoods like Linden Hills? I hear a house was TP'd once! The hooligans!

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by xandrex

Shouldn't we all be terrified of kids who live in city neighborhoods like Linden Hills? I hear a house was TP'd once! The hooligans!

well, you never know when a brawl is going to break out over the last of free-range, local, organic porkchop. Or when an angry mob is going to attack the next developer to suggest a new condo building in the "village." Never underestimate the dangers posed by wealthy people with connections and a sense of entitlement.