Downtown Central Minneapolis, MN Real Estate Listings Homes and Condos from Realtor Tara O'Brien

Central Minneapolis contains the neighbohoods of North Loop, Nicollet Island/East Bank, Loring Park, Elliot Park, Downtown East, Downtown West and Steven's Square/Loring Heights. Central neighborhood is named after Minneapolis Central High School, one of the city's largest schools, built in 1878 and eventually razed. The neighborhood is bordered by Lake Street on the north and 38th Street on the south. Interstate 35W is the western extent and Chicago Avenue is the eastern extent. This is a residential neighborhood, where single-family dwellings are interspersed with multifamily low-rise buildings.

North Loop:
North Loop neighborhood makes the northern part of the loop that encircles Minneapolis' downtown. The neighborhood extends from Plymouth Avenue on the north to Interstate 394, which makes the southern boundary. The western boundary is Interstate 94. The boundary continues along 12th Street North to Third Avenue North, then to Washington Avenue, and Hennepin Avenue. The Mississippi River is the northeastern boundary. The neighborhood grew very fast in the last few years, as industrial buildings and old warehouses were converted for residential and commercial uses. This transformation was followed by new residential construction. The North Loop, which used to be industrial land, is now a vibrant residential neighborhood, very conveniently located near the downtown core.

Nicollet Island/East Bank:
The Nicollet Island/East Bank neighborhood comprises Nicollet Island on the Mississippi River just east of downtown and the portion of the eastern riverbank located between Central and Second avenues. The neighborhood is at the geographical and historical center of Minneapolis. The island is named for Jean Nicollet, a French explorer, translator and negotiator who was the first European to travel through the Great Lakes area. Hennepin Avenue East and First Avenue Northeast are two of the main roads that connect the island to the rest of Minneapolis. The island spans 47 acres, and most of the old stone houses still existing were built toward the end of the 19th century. The island is part of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Zone.

Loring Park:
Loring Park neighborhood is located in the southwest portion of downtown Minneapolis. The neighborhood is bound on the west by West Lyndale North, Lyndale South and Hennepin avenues; on the south by Interstate 94 and on the east by Highway 65. Interstate 394 and 12th Street North and South form the northern and northeastern borders. The neighborhood is named for its park, Loring Park, which was known as Central Park until its name was changed in honor of Charles Loring, the first superintendent of the Minneapolis park system. Turn-of-the-century brick walk-up apartments and a row of businesses surround the park. The neighborhood is home to important institutions and buildings such as the Basilica of Saint Mary, the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church and the Woman's Club. The Walker Art Center and Guthrie Theater nearby and many restaurants and cafés ensure an active social and cultural life.

Elliot Park:
Elliot Park, just south of downtown Minneapolis, is bounded on the north by Fifth Avenue South and Fifth Street South, on the east by Highway 55, on the south by 18th Street East and on the west by Fourth Avenue South. The area was first surveyed in the 19th century, just four years after the founding of Minneapolis. The park that's the neighborhood's namesake was created on land donated by Dr. Joseph Elliot, a physician who owned a farm there. Many mansions were built in the neighborhood in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Those large homes were eventually converted into apartments to accommodate economic changes and a large influx of new residents. The neighborhood is home to two prominent institutions: Hennepin County Medical Center and North Central University.

Downtown East:
Downtown East is located in the center of the city. The neighborhood is bound in the north by the Mississippi River, in the west by Portland Avenue South, in the east by Interstate 35W and in the south by Fifth Street South. It contains mainly recreational land including the Metrodome plus commercial, industrial and vacant land. Only a very small portion of this neighborhood is dedicated to residential housing, but housing is being built at record levels. Downtown East houses the Mill City Museum, with the new Guthrie Theater opening in the summer of 2006. Along the waterfront, the city has built a park themed on the history of Minneapolis incorporating mill ruins and featuring the Mill City Museum. The park extends beyond the neighborhood. Many of the old mills and factories have been converted into residential or commercial uses.

Downtown West:
Downtown West neighborhood is the core of downtown Minneapolis. It extends from the Mississippi River to 12th Street and from Third Avenue North, Washington Avenue North and Hennepin Avenue to Portland Avenue, Fifth Street South and Fifth Avenue South. With the bulk of office building space in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, downtown is home to many corporate headquarters and hotels. Nicollet Mall - very active with restaurants and shopping - runs south from Washington Avenue. Hennepin Avenue has a concentration of theaters and entertainment. The neighborhood is home to the Minnesota Orchestra, located on Nicollet Mall. The orchestra was founded in 1903 and is well-known at home and abroad.

Stevens Square-Loring Heights:
Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood is located south of Minneapolis' downtown. Interstates 35W and 94 make up the eastern and northern borders respectively. Lyndale Avenue bounds the neighborhood on the west and Franklin Avenue West defines the south. Stevens Square was named in honor of Col. John Stevens, an influential early settler in Minneapolis. The area of Loring Heights was developed at the turn of the century for large single-family homes on curved streets. In 1912 large three-story apartment buildings were built in Stevens Square for middle-income downtown workers. After World War II and the subsequent immigration to the suburbs, many houses were subdivided and converted to rooming houses. Today the neighborhood has the highest population density in the city and it is close to the many downtown attractions that Minneapolis offers.