Linden Hills
Tucked among the south shores of Lake Calhoun and the western edge of Lake
Harriet is the Southwest Minneapolis neighborhood of Linden Hills, a
family-oriented community about eight miles southwest of downtown
Minneapolis. With boutiques, shops, parks, restaurants, cafes, playgrounds
and picnic areas, this community characterizes the ideal in urban living and
is often called "a small town in the City".
Take the easy walk from the shopping district to Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun,
which offer swimming, walking, in-line skating and biking. Local paths
connect to the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, more than 50 miles of
public pathways that are an ideal way to the region’s chain of lakes.
Neighborhood Details
Cost of Housing
More than half of the neighborhood’s single-family homes are over 100
years old, dating back to the first half of the 20th century, most with three
or more bedrooms. Styles include Prairie, Greek Revival and Tudor. Housing
prices here have followed the same pattern as the rest of Minneapolis – a sharp spike in the
last five years followed but a cooling trend. The standard price for a
single-family home is $268,000. High-end homes, such as mini-estates on the
water, attain upwards of a million dollars. A small amount of newer
structures costing around $350,000 have been built on the little remaining
available land.
Rentals in the area consist of 1920s duplexes and, rare, side-by-side
bungalows. Many apartments have three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths and rent is
about $1,750 monthly.
School System
Schools are managed by Minneapolis Public Schools whose small class sizes
have assisted high graduation rates and above-average College Board scores. Linden
Hills is served by Washburn High School.
The private Catholic elementary school is Christ the King. Choices in private
school include the top-ranked, Greenhills School, grades 6 through 12, across town.
Entertainment
Attracting visitors to the New England-esque shopping district at 43rd St.
and Upton Ave. from outside the neighborhood to sample merchandise in the
boutiques, eateries and specialty emporiums, such as Creative KidStuff,
Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream, and Great Harvest Bread. Book clubs, a summer art
fair and a community center add to the neighborhood feel.
In the neighborhood, Lake Harriet provides rose gardens, a bird sanctuary, and
nightly band shell concerts during warm months and year-round recreation.
Transportation
Entrance to downtown Minneapolis, 15 minutes during normal traffic on surface
streets, can be a pain during rush hour, often requiring a trip around the lake.
Alternatively, Interstate 35 West leading into downtown Minneapolis is an inconvenient five miles
away.
Linden Hills can get congested with pedestrians and vehicles, particularly in
the summertime. However, areas farther away from Lake Harriet and the shopping district remain fairly quiet.
