Interactive link to median sales price featured in the picture above: http://northstarmls.stats.10kresearch.com/infoserv/s-v1/ZS7I-tzD
Nestled between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun lies the village of Linden Hills, named for its hilly, tree-lined streets. With charming Craftsman-style homes, close proximity to two of the city’s best-loved bodies of water (Lake Calhoun, also known as Bde Maka Ska, and Lake Harriet), and easily accessible and walkable commercial districts, Linden Hills is a place where people love to live.
Because of this, Linden Hills, Fulton and Lynnhurst — the three neighborhoods surrounding the southwest shore of Lake Harriet — are perhaps the most high-demand real estate areas in all of Minneapolis.
Located in in southwest Minneapolis, Linden Hills is bordered to the north by Lake Calhoun and West 36th Street, to the east by Lake Harriet and William Berry Parkway, to the south by West 47th Street, and to the west by France Avenue.
Linden Hills was developed in the 1880s to entice homebuyers to leave downtown for cottages on Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. While some of the original one-and-a-half-story cottages featuring natural oak woodwork and hardwood floors have been replaced by large bungalows and Tudors, others remain, as do a significant percentage of older Craftsman-style two-story homes. There are also a lot of new homes that are replacing the smaller 50s ranch-style ramblers.
Linden Hills is proud of it history, and offers four self-guided walking tours of the neighborhood. The Lake Harriet-Como Streetcar (“Trolley”) line runs through the neighborhood, near West 42nd Street and Queen Avenue. Built at the end of the 19th century to connect downtown Minneapolis with the lakes, the historic rail line now only operates between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, offering a fun trip back in time aboard a museum on wheels. Kids — and adults — love it. Former Minneapolis Fire Department Station 28 (now a restaurant and offices) is in the commercial area of the neighborhood, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Linden Hills area was featured in a scene of the 1996 film “Jingle All The Way.”
The Lake Harriet Bandshell is located on the lakeshore on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. The current bandshell, constructed in 1985, is a fifth-generation music venue on the lake. The first two were destroyed by fire, the third was destroyed by a wind storm, and the fourth was demolished in 1985. The bandshell and nearby playground are the site of free summer concerts every night of the week. You might catch the Southwest Singers, a co-ed audition choir whose repertoire includes classical, jazz and pop music, and has consistently scored superior ratings at state and national music competitions. Or the Chamber Singers, a co-ed audition choir specializing in madrigals and a cappella. This historic landmark also serves as the stepping off point for the winter Kite Festival and Art Shanty Projects — two events that have exploded in popularity in recent years. Local residents also boast about the performing arts program at Southwest High School, one of the most high-regarded in the state.
Three commercial areas serve the needs of residents and offer a range of shops and dining establishments, including including Creative Kidstuff, Heartfelt Craft Studio, and Wild Rumpus Bookstore. The lively commercial area at 43rd and Upton is located two blocks west of Lake Harriet and five blocks south of Lake Calhoun. Enjoy several restaurant options, retail shops, the city’s first Great Harvest Bread, a specialty meat and fish purveyor, a hair salon and much more. Sebastian Joe’s was started by three brothers and is famous for its ice cream year round — enjoy their great outdoor seating in the summer and the indoor fireplace in the winter. A smaller commercial area at 44th and Beard is home to a bakery, specialty shops and auto services locations. The idyllic Motor Place Park is in this area on the north side of 44th St. The busy area at 44th and France is home to the area’s health food co-op, a wine and cheese store, a plant nursery and more. Founded in 2012, The Linden Hills Farmers’ Market’s mission is to support and strengthen the connection between the local community, local growers, and local artisans/musicians. Stop by May to November to enjoy fresh produce, food trucks, gifts, and Red Wagon Pizza.
In May 2013, the Nice Ride bicycle sharing project installed a station at Uptown and Sheridan in Linden Hills. Take a bike when you need one and return it to any Nice Ride station in the Twin Cities.
New residents to the neighborhood receive a welcome packet from the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council, and are encouraged to get involved and meet people. If you buy a home in Linden Hills, you can be sure this part of the city represents the ideal in urban living with small town charm.