Secrets of the City

I will be moving in May 2010 after I graduate from UCF (I live in Flroida). I know its a long way a way but I wanted to see if anyone could reccomend great local neighborhoods. I have always been really smitten with downtown type areas. I am not sure if some areas are dangerous or not. I like to plan ahead and puruse apartments. I am young (28), single and love the idea of being able to walk to interesting little cafes, or shops. I know I sound like such a dork. I really appreciate the help thought. Thanks!

Johnny Northside does what he does best, which is calling out the people and places that he feels are contributing to problems in the North Minneapolis neighborhood. Specifically, he has created a list of slumloards and the properties they own: So it is I have come upon four cans of worms–property lists for four notorious North Minneapolis slumlord entities–but rather than play with the worms, rather than dish up the stuff piecemeal in numerous blog posts–I think I will just open the cans of worms and toss the information upon the wormy waters of the internet. Do with it what you will.

Johnny Northside points out a rebranding effort for North Minneapolis: It’s huggable. Also, apparently, Uptown is for sissies.

The Uptown Minneapolis blog takes an in-depth look at the CARAG master plan and expresses concerns over the document’s argument for more parking spaces: All residents, even those who don’t drive, or who own only one car, would indirectly foot the bill for the construction and maintenance of these unnecessary parking spots. That land could be put to better use as additional housing, or even as increased garden or outdoor green space.

The blog makes an interesting case, worth reading in entirety, that this sort of planning actually encourages a sort of suburban lifestyle that isn’t appropriate in a dense urban neighborhood.

Here’s a tool that allows you to compare of the neighborhoods between two cities.

Minneapolis and Portland
Minneapolis and Milwaukee
Minneapolis and NYC

Is it as bad as I think it is?

Holy crap! There is! Now you can learn to remove yourself from Red Plum Advertising circulars mailing list and learn a little about the North loop.

Best Places to Live: Top 100 CNNMoney.com: For this year’s list we focused on smaller places that offered the best combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community. # 8 Chaska

It seems that North Oaks is in a unique situation in that their roads are privately owned, and so any pictures taken by Google were taken illegally while they were trespassing. “The North Oaks City Council sent a letter to Google in January asking the company to remove the images and destroy the files or possibly be cited for violating the city’s trespassing ordinance.”

My favorite quote: ““It’s not the hoity-toity folks trying to figure out how to keep the world away,” said Mayor Thomas Watson. “They really didn’t have any authorization to go on private property.”“

“Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo said the images of North Oaks were removed shortly afterward. She didn’t know of any other city in the country that has made a similar request.”

“This is very rare where an entire town would request to be taken off,” Filadelfo said.

So is Minnesota a trend setter here? If so is it a good trend? Do you want to be hoity-toity too?

Relocate-America.com has released a list of the 100 most desirable places to move to in America. Minnesota scored two places with Rochester and Woodbury. Neither, however are in the top ten. The number one place to live? Charlotte, N.C…which is number nine on Forbes’ most miserable cities list. What’s going on here?

I’ve posted this question before but yesterday was evidence that there are many more N-siders on MNSpeak now than last year. Anyway, what do you like to do in North Minneapolis? Where do you like to eat? Hang out? Play? I’ll let you include Golden Valley, Crystal, Robbinsdale and the Brooklyns (but only because I’m being nice).