Stevens Square Neighborhood Good For A Family? Moving Soon and Need Help.

[Mr. In-Between]

Oh, I would bet that it is. I would have no problem believing that. I never thought Stevens was a particularly dangerous neighborhood to begin with; it's mostly quality of life crimes - it's not about getting shot by a stranger, it's more the condoms, baggies, and empty bottles you trip over on your way to the bus stop in the morning. And the piles of human crap and puddles of vomit you find when you get to the bus shelter at 18th and Nicollet. It's not drive-by shootings; it's the hookers on Nicollet, the drunks on Nicollet and on Franklin, the crack merchants on 3rd and on Franklin - and the way they all sort of seep into the middle of the neighborhood from those edges. That's the sort of thing I wouldn't want to raise a child in.

Just as background, in a previous job I worked with a number of inner city community organizations some years back, and spent a lot of time observing and participating in their block patrols. My impression was that Stevens and Loring were very safe neighborhoods, relatively speaking - much moreso than some of their neighboring communities, like Elliot Park, Philips, and even Whittier. In my experience at that time, most of the violent street crime in Stevens and Loring was between people who were there because of the livability crimes - drunks getting beaten up, drug dealers shooting each other, hookers getting in fights with their johns, etc. People who live there are more likely to be the victims of property crime than violent crimes, but still, you never know who this guy is who's coming down the sidewalk toward you.

Personally, if I was looking for a place in the Cities and wanted to live near downtown, I'd have no problem looking at Stevens. The stuff that goes on there, I can live with. It doesn't deter me. I just wouldn't want to raise children there, because I'd never feel comfortable letting them out of the house alone. Especially with the johns cruising the western edge of the neighborhood looking for hookers. If I had kids, I wouldn't want them anywhere near those lowlifes.

[l12]

Originally Posted by dcrab986

My wife and I are moving to Minneapolis in the next couple months and found a place we really like at the far North East corner of the Stevens Square neighborhood on Clinton Ave. We are a young couple with two little kids (pre-K).

What is the current condition of that area? I've seen some older threads on the topic, but am wondering if anyone can give me some up-to-date info regarding Stevens Square/Loring heights, the NE corner particularly, families living in this neighborhood, etc.

Thanks!

I basically agree with Albert on Stevens Square, it is not incredibly dangerous, but because of its great location and low rents, you may have a lot of neighbors that are not perhaps the best role models for your children. But, if you are comfortable living in a low-income neighborhood, I think it is a beautiful one architecturally, and close to everything. West of Nicollet is usually nicer than east of Nicollet.

I live in Loring Park and I have a few things to add. We do have two grocery stores, Lund's at 12th & Hennepin, and the Wedge at Franklin & Lyndale. There is also a decent convenience store on Oak Grove st. which has many basics and open every night until 11 or 12.

This neighborhood apparently had some crime issues 10 years ago or so but today it is extremely safe. You can see a lot of parking lots have been filled in with expensive condos and apartment buildings, the high rise on Lasalle and 14th being the most impressive example (and I hope we might get another supermarket in the bottom floor of that).

I don't see a lot of families here, but they exist. There are certainly a lot of people with dogs as their "kids." Overall I would say it is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city: Gay population is very strong, both old and young, but there has been a really considerable influx of retired empty-nesters, so kids are often around visiting their grandparents. And, there are a lot of single and coupled young and middle-aged professionals, not hipsters necessarily, though there are those as well.

[roselily]

I lived on Stevens and Franklin (about 2 blocks from Steven's Square) for several years. Of my neighbors I was the only one in a 3 month period that DIDN'T get mugged. They've been trying to gentrify the area since I moved out about 5 years ago but I would not raise kids there.

Keep in mind too, most apartments in the area do not have off-street parking, so snow emergency time gets crazy. And there aren't any grocery stores within easy walking distance, so you'll want a car. (At least, within a distance you'll want to carry alot of groceries)