University of Minnesota is situated east of downtown Minneapolis. Neighborhood is the vicinity where people live next to or near one another in sections which have particular physical and social characteristics distinguishing from the rest of the settlements. The neighborhoods include amenities like bus stops, shopping center, offices, community events and free time activities. Streets include alternate paths to most destinations at an equitable manner for both pedestrians and vehicles. Civic buildings including schools, theatres, worship areas, museums, and clubs are placed in the centre. Development in university neighborhood is visible due to the presence of large and small houses, restaurants, shops, offices, play grounds and parks. The neighborhood has a strong impact on residential satisfaction and influences the perception of residents’ health.
Marcy Holmes (Dinkytown)
Marcy Holmes is the university neighborhood in Minneapolis situated on east bank of Mississippi River. It is named after William L. Marcy and Oliver Wendell Holmes. University forms its east border whereas the East Hennepin/Central Avenue commercial area forms the west border. It is the home to the well-known commercial district, Dinkytown which includes various businesses custom-made to the nearby university. It also fulfills the housing requirement for many University students. Historic landmarks for this neighborhood are Marcy Holmes Community Garden, Cutter House, Florence Court and Sixth Avenue Gateway. Major portion of this neighborhood is a residential area with basic amenities including shopping centre, park, road and railway transportation. This area is also occupied largely by commercial buildings as it is the home for Dinkytown. It is a neighborhood with an elevated percentage of renter occupied housing stock. The cost of maintaining a house by an owner is high in this neighborhood. “Marcy Holmes Neighborhood had an 16% decrease in crime during 2009. Reductions occurred in all Part I crimes. Loud parties continue to be an issue for the neighborhood. There was in increase of +32 warning letters for violation of the noisy or unruly assembly ordinance over 2008.”
Como
Como is a neighborhood with in the university community, named after Como Avenue which is also called as Southeast Como. Dinkytown commercial region is one mile north to this neighborhood. City limit forms the east border where as Interstate 35W and the Burlington Northern main line forms the west border. East Hennepin Avenue and Winter Street forms the north border where as Southeast Industrial Area form the South border. Major portion of this neighborhood is a residential area with basic amenities including retail stores, park, road and railway transportation. Elementary school, three churches and a mosque are also available in this neighborhood. “The high-traffic business roads, industry, abandoned industrial sites, and active railroads that surround Como contrast sharply with the residential character of the neighborhood.” Housing stock includes bungalows and Victorian of 20th century and also single family homes and duplexes. It also fulfills the housing requirement for many University students. Historic landmarks of this neighborhood are the Como park, Como Student Community Co-op, the University Childcare Center and Van Cleve Park Community Center. The cost of maintaining a house is reasonable in this neighborhood. In the University route there is a rise in crime rate with respect to assaults and robberies.
Prospect Park (Stadium Village)
Prospect Park is one of the university neighborhoods. City of Saint Paul forms the east border whereas Stadium Village, commercial district of the University forms the west border. Mississippi river forms the south border whereas railroad tracks and the South East industrial area form the north border. It is named by Louis Menage in 1885. Students from University live in housing apartment buildings whereas families reside in single family homes on Tower hill. This neighborhood is a mix of residential and commercial area with basic amenities including retail stores, school, road and railway transportation. “The neighborhood’s steep hills, curving streets, and the Witch’s Hat water tower all give it a strong sense of place. Nearby shopping, recreation, and frequent community events add to the urban-village community feel of Prospect Park.” It is this neighborhood where the crime rate is declining significantly compared to other university neighborhood. The greater part of the housing in this neighborhood consists of rental units.
Downtown
Downtown is one of the university neighborhoods divided into east and west situated in the center. Major portion of this neighborhood is entertaining region with commercial and vacant places. Very little area of this neighborhood is allocated to residential housing. Historical landmarks of this neighborhood are Mill City Museum, Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Avenue. “The Minneapolis Downtown Council works to preserve and enhance a vital and attractive downtown for the people who invest, work, shop, visit and live in Minneapolis.” 4 Crime rate in this neighborhood is gradually coming down due to increase in law enforcement.
Loring Park & Elliot Park
Loring Park is the university neighborhood in Minneapolis. Historic landmarks of this neighborhood are the Basilica of Saint Mary, the Hennepin Avenue united Methodist Church, Woman’s Club, Walker Art Center, St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis Convention Center, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
Elliot Park neighborhood is situated south of downtown Minneapolis. It is named after Dr. Joseph Elliot. In late 1800s and 1900s, many mansions were built and these were renovated into apartments in accordance to economic and social changes. Historic landmarks of this neighborhood are Hennepin County Medical Center and North Central University. “As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Elliot Park’s built environment has a significant historic texture and distinctive architectural characteristics.” 5 This neighborhood includes 45 blocks that are developed with a wide range of mid to high density residential, institutional, and commercial uses. Majority of this neighborhood’s housing stock is owned by non-residents. Major portion of this neighborhood is a residential area with basic amenities including shopping centre, park and road transportation. Crime rate in the Loring Park and Elliot Park neighborhood is very low compared to other areas.
Cedar-Riverside & Seward
Cedar-Riverside is a neighborhood with in the University community, and most of the area is occupied by West Bank campus. It is named after two main avenues, Cedar and Riverside. This neighborhood is having most diverse ethic backgrounds, college students and middle class urbanites. Landmark of this neighborhood is Washington Avenue Bridge. This neighborhood is rich in arts culture with several playhouses, theatre groups and hot music scene with local bars. Seward neighborhood is situated in western bank of Mississippi River. Hiawatha Avenue forms the west border where as Mississippi River form east border. It is named after William Seward.
Seward is linked to downtown, the airport and the Mall of America through the newly started light-rail line. Major portion of this neighborhood is a residential area with basic amenities including retail shops, park, school and road transportation. In this neighborhood 54% of land is used for residential purposes and 20% is used for industrial purpose. Minnehaha, Snelling avenues and 27th Street East are used for industrial purposes. These days this neighborhood is experiencing more crime.
St. Anthony
St. Anthony is the university neighborhood in Minneapolis. It is also called as Saint Anthony Village. This neighborhood is the closest to the university and is within walking distance of downtown. Silver Lake Road which is one of the longest and widely used streets runs the length of St. Anthony. Landmarks of this neighborhood are Central Park, High School and Community Center. This neighborhood also has a Police station, a water treatment plant and a fire station. Major portion of this neighborhood is a residential area with basic amenities including shopping centre, park, road and railway transportation. Crime rate in the St. Anthony neighborhood is very low.
Conclusion
While selecting neighborhood some factors should be taken in to consideration to achieve residential satisfaction. Factors like housing, transportation, community and services including shopping centers, parks, child care, hospitals, church, recreation, restaurants, sidewalks, streets, emergency medical care, police and fire services play an important role in residential area. All these destinations can be classified as institutional (church, library), maintenance (grocery, pharmacy), eating-out (restaurant, pizza) and leisure (theatre, health club). Accessibility along the street network is utmost important while selecting any neighborhood. The distance from home to variety of destinations considering the traffic should be counted for effective time management. Individuals choose their neighborhoods to meet their residential and travel preferences considering all the above factors. The most beneficial, safest neighborhood from all the above university neighborhoods is St. Anthony. St. Anthony is safest, economical and beneficial in terms of amenities available in the neighborhood and also crime rate is substantially low compared to others. This neighborhood is also near to other areas like downtown which is known place for recreation and commercial buildings. Thus it is recommended to consider all the possibilities while selecting a decent neighborhood.
Bibliography
About the Minneapolis downtown council. 2010. Minneapolis Down Town Council, Web.
Elliot park. 2010. Neighborhood Link, Web.
Minneapolis police department 2010 neighborhood policing plan. 2010. Marcy Holmes Neighborhood. Minnea Polis, Web.
Prospect park location and general characteristics, 2010. Minneapolis. Web.
The Southeast Como neighborhood. n.d. The Southeast Como Improvement Association, 2010. Web.