Interactive link to median sales price featured in the picture above: http://northstarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/infoserv/s-v1/Z4oT-m9N
BRYN MAWR
The iconic Bryn Mawr Hedge on Penn Ave. heralds the entrance to this “neighborhood within a park” located directly west of downtown Minneapolis. Recognized as one of the most livable neighborhoods in Minneapolis, Bryn Mawr is surrounded by over 650 acres of parks, lakes, and trails. Interstate 394 bisects Bryn Mawr, and is the major entrance to the neighborhood. Despite this closeness to the freeway, the neighborhood retains much of its original small-town charm, and offers an inviting commercial district with services for residents at the intersection of Cedar Lake Road and Penn Avenue South.
Bryn Mawr is a thriving neighborhood within the Calhoun-Isles community in Minneapolis. Many of the early investors in the area were from Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, an area with a heavy Welsh influence. Appropriately so, Bryn Mawr means “big hill” in Welsh. The oddly- shaped neighborhood is bound by parkland: Theodore Wirth Park to the north and west , Bassett Creek to the north, Bryn Mawr Meadows to the east, and Cedar Lake Park to the south. Near by neighborhoods include Harrison to the north, Lowry Hill to the east, and Kenwood and Cedar-Isles-Dean to the south. To the west is the city limit, where the neighborhood borders on the suburbs of Saint Louis Park and Golden Valley. Prior to the 1960’s, the neighborhood was the home to many workers of the near by Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway yard.
Bryn Mawr was developed from farmland beginning in the mid-1800s when it was promoted as a “garden suburb” or “amenity zone,” because of its proximity to the lakes and an abundance of green space. This strong gardening tradition remains. It includes ongoing, public beautification projects and the more private efforts that make Bryn Mawr one of the loveliest of Minneapolis’ neighborhoods. The neighborhood serves as the northwestern anchor to the Minneapolis’ beautiful chain of lakes.
Perhaps the city’s most beloved park, Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Bryn Mawr features national treasures and year-round activities. It is the largest park managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The park land is shared by Minneapolis and the neighboring suburb of Golden Valley. It includes two golf courses (an 18-hole course and a 9-hole par 3 course), Wirth Lake, Birch Pond, and other amenities. It forms a significant portion of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, linking the Chain of Lakes area with the Victory Memorial Parkway. Founded in 1907, the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden within Theodore Wirth is the oldest public native plant garden in the United States. Within the 15-acre plot are over 500 plants and 130 bird species. Enjoy a guided or self-guided tour throughout the year.
Bryn Mawr was connected to the Luce Line bicycle trail in 2005, which connected paths from Wirth Park with the Cedar Lake Trail, and links to downtown Minneapolis. The 3.5-mile-long Cedar Lake Trail runs from St. Louis Park to North Seventh Street in Downtown Minneapolis. The Kenilworth Trail runs through dense forest along the eastern side of Minnesota’s Cedar Lake and provides a connection to the Midtown Greenway. Or, residents can hop on the seven-mile Bassett’s Creek Trail which connects French Regional Park in Plymouth to Theodore Wirth Park, and offers an ideal route for those using their bikes both for commutes and recreation.
Sports enthusiasts flock to Bryn Mawr Meadows’ sports complex, which is home to citywide and regional leagues and tournaments.
Characterized by its long-time stability and its quietude, Bryn Mawr has a low crime rate and a percentage of active voters that exceeds that of both Minneapolis and Ward 7 by several points. Its residents have moderately high levels of education and income. Bryn Mawr residents are also fortunate to have an elementary school, Bryn Mawr Community School, and a middle school, Anwatin International Baccalaureate Middle School and Spanish Dual Immersion, located right in the neighborhood. Plus, there’s the private Park View Montessori Elementary School.
A diversity of building styles reflects Bryn Mawr’s history, from Victorian to Tudors, colonials, bungalows, ramblers, and contemporaries. The split in two by I-394 has caused two distinct parts to emerge. The eastern section is closely tied to Cedar Lake and to the Kenilworth Parkway, which connects the Chain of Lakes directly with downtown Minneapolis and Target Field. The western section is a cohesive neighborhood, with a lot of politically active young families and professionals who work from their homes. This is a desirable neighborhood where houses don’t stay listed for long. For good reason.