What do you know about Columbia Heights (Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center: 2015, new home)

[Rhody2Mn]

Originally Posted by yakimono

Very close proximity to a good park, relatively safe, inside the loop, solidly run. Would also prefer more affluent than average for MN, but can flex a bit there. (I'm a fee-for-service professional and want to keep my commute time down.) We're middle-aged (no kids so don't care about the schools) and would like this to be our last move (knock on wood) unless we up and go further south someday. Much as I love autumn, the shortening days make those thoughts inevitable!

I like other 'burbs better also, mostly because they are more affluent (the work thing) and I know them to be good places that will "age" well as we do too, e.g., Plymouth, Minnetonka, Roseville, northwester Bloomington...

Based on your reply, I would rule out Columbia Heights entirely. The other towns you mentioned would be better choices, although parts of Plymouth and Minnetonka are outside of the 494/694 loop. Edina or Mendota Heights would also be great places to consider. Most people know of Edina's wealthy reputation, but fewer realize Mendota Heights is relatively affluent as well. Any of these cities offer an abundance of parks and are all well-run.

[yakimono]

There's a park in CH that makes it a consideration. We've been looking for more info of which way the city might be growing/trending, and would love to hear about any useful data and sites, in addition to what's on this site.

Edina doesn't make the cut due to lack of good parks (2 otherwise decent ones are right next to noisy highways) plus too-high property values.

The other criteria I didn't mention earlier is budget and house style, but I'll spare y'all the details.

[wamer27]

Is it Kordiak Park?

[Mason3000]

Originally Posted by yakimono

There's a park in CH that makes it a consideration. We've been looking for more info of which way the city might be growing/trending, and would love to hear about any useful data and sites, in addition to what's on this site.

Edina doesn't make the cut due to lack of good parks (2 otherwise decent ones are right next to noisy highways) plus too-high property values.

The other criteria I didn't mention earlier is budget and house style, but I'll spare y'all the details.

Like many of the 1st ring suburbs, it was a post-WW2 build. Those boomers had kids who are now 40+ y/o & have moved on. The boomers themselves have been aging out for 20 years. That brought a lot of low income/riff-raff into the area & the schools went way down. If CH was a stock, you'd have been selling for the past 20 years. Today however, it's on the up-tick thanks to the revitalization of NE Mpls. Many of the artsy, craft beer, NE Mpls crowd are getting to be 30-35 y/o instead of 20-25 y/o & are starting to have kids & buy homes. Those people are drifting into CH now & using the stock analogy I'd say CH is a 'Buy" now.

A lot of these 1st ring suburbs are like that really. Columbia Heights, Robbinsdale, Richfield, St Louis Park, Maplewood, et al. all saw a downturn from about 1990-2010 & are now being re-invented by young buyers. On that note, I suggest you take a look at Richfield. It's about the same price, same ease into the city, good parks, safe & most importantly....easy access to the Western Suburbs where your client base is located.

[wushuliu]

CH is 'eh'. It's got another 10 years before serious gentrification.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by wushuliu

CH is 'eh'. It's got another 10 years before serious gentrification.

I guess I agree, but 10 years is relatively fast for gentrification to occur, and not because of RISING incomes. If the area gentrified I think it'll continue to be more middle-class non-whites. I think >50% non-white is realistic, and as long as that population is racially, culturally and socioeconomically diverse, I think it's generally a good thing (ideal would be rising incomes and home values as well).

[rzzz]

I don't think Columbia Heights will ever gentrify. Northeast Minneapolis has been touted as the next great neighborhood for the past 20 years. It's got some new stuff now, but still is very similar to how it's always been. Columbia Heights is much further off the relocation radar than NE MPLS, if it's on the radar at all.

That said, what would it mean for a suburb to gentrify? Isn't it already gentrified?

[wushuliu]

Originally Posted by rzzz

I don't think Columbia Heights will ever gentrify. Northeast Minneapolis has been touted as the next great neighborhood for the past 20 years. It's got some new stuff now, but still is very similar to how it's always been. Columbia Heights is much further off the relocation radar than NE MPLS, if it's on the radar at all.

That said, what would it mean for a suburb to gentrify? Isn't it already gentrified?

When they get a Trader Joes or WF or byerly's within a close radius then it'll be gentrified.

[Pisces69]

I've have been to Columbia Heights and can answer any questions about it.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by rzzz

I don't think Columbia Heights will ever gentrify. Northeast Minneapolis has been touted as the next great neighborhood for the past 20 years. It's got some new stuff now, but still is very similar to how it's always been. Columbia Heights is much further off the relocation radar than NE MPLS, if it's on the radar at all.

That said, what would it mean for a suburb to gentrify? Isn't it already gentrified?

NE Mpls is a very large area, and is certainly more than just one neighborhood. "Nordeast" is "hip", but areas further North/Northwest are far from hip and some are actually quite blue collar and working class.