Cedar-Riverside, located in the University community, is named after the intersection of the two main avenues of the neighborhood, which are Cedar and Riverside. The neighborhood is triangular-shaped with three ultimate boundaries. The Mississippi River is on the east side, Interstate 94 on the south side, and Interstate 35W on the west side. Cedar-Riverside is one of the older neighborhoods in the city of Minneapolis. In the late 1890’s, the neighborhood was referred to as “Snoose Boulevard,” with a vibrant community of Scandinavian immigrants, most working in the milling and lumber facilities on the Mississippi River. In the 1960’s and 70’s, Snoose Boulevard turned from an old-fashioned neighborhood to one of hippies, intellectuals, actors, artists and musicians. Currently, the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is the largest community of immigrants in the Twin Cities, continuing a long history of ethnic and cultural diversity.
Diversity is as common in the housing stock as it is in the people. The neighborhood includes anything from high-rise condos and apartments to single-family homes. Cedar and Riverside Avenues provide several ethnic restaurants and shops, specialty stores, international malls, and theaters that draw residents and visitors into the community. The neighborhood is host to Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota‘s West Bank Campus, which includes the University’s performance and visual arts schools, as well as its law school. Downtown Minneapolis is just few minutes away through the Hiawatha Light Rail line. Bus routes and bike routes also link Cedar-Riverside to both downtown Minneapolis and other neighborhoods in the area. This neighborhood of around 8,000 is a great place to live that is close to the heart of the city.
The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is home to several schools, the largest of which is the west bank section of the University of Minnesota. The U of M’s west bank is the smaller of the two banks and is where the law, business, and art programs are located in addition to a library and numerous academic halls. While primarily students of these disciplines spend time on the West Bank, there are many classes that take place here involving students of other majors. As such, the West Bank is a resource that is utilized by the majority of the school’s over 32,000 students. Because of the school’s presence, many college-aged individuals and students choose to reside within the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Another college located within the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is Augsburg College. A school of around 4,000 students, Augsburg College is affiliated with the Lutheran church and offers more than 50 majors. The smaller student-to-faculty ratio and ideal location in the heart of the city make Augsburg a popular, private college choice.
There are many popular bars and eateries located within the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Draft Magazine named Republic one of the “Top 100 Beer Bars in America” in 2013 and 2014. Their standards for selecting this list are “Having well-cared for, thoughtfully selected beer with an eye toward variety, trends and tradition, in the kind of place you’d want to stay awhile, delivered by someone who knows their stuff”. These standards describe how Republic’s owners feel about their ability to provide drinks that everyone can enjoy. A popular destination for college students as well as residents of the community, Republic is an active location within the neighborhood. The Red Sea is another popular bar, restaurant, and music venue in the Twin Cities. The international crowd and ethnic food has made them a preferred dining location since 1990. With a different live band every other night, patrons can be treated to loud live rock music or bassy hip hop sounds. As some relax and enjoy the welcoming service at the fully stocked bar, others join the small crowd near the front of the stage to dance to the music.
The numerous projects promise to shape the future of a neighborhood that has become home to the city’s growing community. The sidewalks, public spaces and transit options of the Cedar-Riverside area are ready for exciting enhancements as a result of several projects.
With the Green Line light rail open, Cedar-Riverside is the only area outside of downtown Minneapolis served by not one, but two LRT lines. To correspond with the line, the Cedar Cultural Center is planning a new multi-use “destination” plaza to develop the outdoor area near the Riverside Plaza towers. Another project is the $1.7 million Cedar Avenue street reconstruction that will widen sidewalks, increase pedestrian lighting and produce extra on-street parking. In the housing world, developers are creating a six-story building with 259 housing units adjoining the Mixed Blood Theater. All of these projects and more are contributing to the excitement of this neighborhood.
The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is home to two parks. They include:
Currie Park: Currie Park is a small, 2.7 acre athletic park located on the western side of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Best known for its synthetic turf soccer field, the park also offers a basketball court, picnic area with grill, playground, restroom facility, softball field, wading pool, and walking paths. Visitors enjoy using the active amenities, sharing a picnic in the park, or simply going for a stroll. Also located within the park is the Coyle Community Center. Established with the help of Pillsbury United Communities, the community center is the home of numerous events throughout the year. This helps to promote an active and engaged neighborhood community.
Murphy Square: Murphy Square is the oldest park in Minneapolis. A patch of natural beauty amidst a busy city, Murphy Square does not offer many amenities, but enchants visitors nonetheless. It’s location is part of what makes it so unique. Murphy Square is located adjacent to Augsburg college and just blocks from the U of M’s west bank. This convenient location makes the park accessible to students at both colleges as well as the neighborhood as a whole. The park is great for a picnic, as it has numerous picnic areas with outdoor grills.
If you have any questions regarding the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, give Realtor David Olson (www.DavidOlsonRealEstate.com) a call at (952)314-9446. Thanks and have a great day!
If you have any questions regarding the city of Minneapolis, the University community, or if you would like to sell or buy a house in the area, please feel free to give Twin Cities Property Finder, a call at 1-800-909-1953.
