What's the hesitation with Robbinsdale? (Shoreview, New Hope: apartment, house, buyers)

[wushuliu]

Robbinsdale is perfectly blah. I would consider it for cheaper housing and proximity to the city.

It is also a smart place to bet on given the signs of gentrification - there are several $$$ restaurants in the area and from my brief look at yelp definitely too rich for my blood.

So the businesses there must know something the nay-sayers don't.

[wushuliu]

Originally Posted by MidwestRedux

Ok, let's try this again, but without projecting theoretical opinions onto imaginary people.

Question: Why do people hesitate about Robbinsdale?

Answer #1. It has a higher crime rate than just about any other suburb in the metro without the word "Brooklyn" in its name:

//www.city-data.com/crime/crime...Minnesota.html

Robbinsdale's crime rate per your link is exceeded by Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park, Fridley, and Richfield.

So your statement doesn't even match the data that you yourself provided.

[rogead]

Originally Posted by wushuliu

Robbinsdale is perfectly blah. I would consider it for cheaper housing and proximity to the city.

It is also a smart place to bet on given the signs of gentrification - there are several $$$ restaurants in the area and from my brief look at yelp definitely too rich for my blood.

So the businesses there must know something the nay-sayers don't.

Definitely not an exiting place! It's very heavily residential, but it is close to downtown Mpls. When I lived there, thirty years ago, it seemed as if nearly everyone was in there 60s or 70s. Today, there are more young families around.

I don't really think there is any identifiable gentrification right now, although it will likely be on the Blue Line light rail extension (Bottineau Transitway). So the slight up-scaling in the primary commercial district may be an early indicator. However, I can't imagine anyone ever describing Robbinsdale as being "hip".

[MidwestRedux]

Originally Posted by wushuliu

Robbinsdale's crime rate per your link is exceeded by Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park, Fridley, and Richfield.

So your statement doesn't even match the data that you yourself provided.

Actually the statement matches the facts pretty well. My Statement was:

It has a higher crime rate than just about any other suburb in the metro without the word "Brooklyn" in its name

Columbia Heights does have a noticeably higher crime rate, I missed that one The others you mentioned are quite close to Robbinsdale, especially when you look at multi-year stats. Given that the OP specifically mentioned western suburbs that have lower crime rates than Robbinsdale, qualifying the statement with the phrase "just about any other suburb" seems about right.

Are you trying to add something to the conversation, or are you just nitpicking for sport? My guess is the latter.

[wushuliu]

Originally Posted by MidwestRedux

Actually the statement matches the facts pretty well. My Statement was:

It has a higher crime rate than just about any other suburb in the metro without the word "Brooklyn" in its name

Columbia Heights does have a noticeably higher crime rate, I missed that one The others you mentioned are quite close to Robbinsdale, especially when you look at multi-year stats. Given that the OP specifically mentioned western suburbs that have lower crime rates than Robbinsdale, qualifying the statement with the phrase "just about any other suburb" seems about right.

Are you trying to add something to the conversation, or are you just nitpicking for sport? My guess is the latter.

You made an assertion. The link you provided didn't back it up. I addressed it. I'd say that counts as adding to the conversation.

[uptown_urbanist]

I think the food scene is signs of pending gentrification, and possible even eventual hipness (or at least hipsterness?). Travail, Pig Ate My Pizza, etc... that and an actual downtown and affordable houses seem like they'd be a great combination for young people. Add in the possibility of LRT in the future and I'd suspect Robbinsdale is going to become a popular location down the road, at least with people looking for a specific type of community.

[cielpur]

I agree that Robbinsdale definitely has gentrification potential.

As far as perceived hesitation/negativity... I never hear any negative comments about Robbinsdale nowadays. However I did when I was growing up in the western suburbs from my fellow students. Robbinsdale was part of the Classic Lake Conference along with Edina, Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Hopkins. Robbinsdale was derided basically for not being as affluent a community (I wouldn't be surprised if the word "ghetto" was used). But this was a group of high schoolers who generally came from affluent families, lived in affluent communities, didn't have an awareness of the socioeconomic bubble they were living in, and were extremely immature to boot. Among adults, I think Robbinsdale is thought of rather neutrally (as are most suburbs, I think). I never hear about it anymore but I think it would be a fine place to live.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

I only know it as a.) a blue-collar quiet suburb, and b.) adjacent to north Minneapolis. However, the part of N. Mpls that Robinsdale is adjacent to is mostly the Victory neighborhood, which is quite a nice area, from what I hear. In fact, I have more interest in the Victory neighborhood in Minneapolis than Robinsdale, which isn't a slight to Robinsdale. One of my chief concerns with either place is proximity to violent crime. Even if it doesn't happen within Robinsdale, I'd worry that it could easily spill over. I don't think those fears are substantiated though, which is why I'd seriously consider living in either place.

[Kebinminn]

Most people that move into our neighborhood are professionals that don't have kids yet although the kids are often soon to follow. The Wicked Wort taproom coming to downtown Robbinsdale this fall. There was also a grand opening for a mid-century modern furniture store that's downtown. Robbinsdale is quickly changing over to a younger, urban crowd. Gentrification is in progress already.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by lexuses82

We're moving to the area in a couple of weeks (yay!) and when locals ask me where we're looking at houses (Golden Valley, St Louis Park and Robbinsdale), the response I get is that those are nice areas except there's always a hesitation around Robbinsdale....and then some caveat that they don't know that much about it (this has happened a few times). So fill me in....is there something I'm missing about Robbinsdale? Thanks!

I'll summarize for you.

Robbinsdale has lower than average income. That correlates to lower than average home prices because it's full of 1950's-1960ish homes (they usually don't win a beauty contest in that era). Meaning, people with less income have to find less expensive housing. Less income correlates to less parental higher educational levels. Lower than average education levels from parents and lower income levels usually correlate to less passionate families who care about education. Hence, the school test scores typically are not as high inside of the schools with lower income and lower parent educational levels. So educated parents also try to avoid those lower test scores and the cycle continues.

That's a lot of words to say follow the money. Robbinsdale has lower income, less desirable housing, less desirable schools, more crime, etc than say SLP. What I just said ^^ is more-or-less is a universal concept all across the USA.

That said, Robbinsdale isn't bad per say. It is just not as desirable as more wealthier areas. There will be pockets of better areas. In other words nicer housing and therefore more educated parents with better schools and with less crime.