Then and Now:

The Lynnhurst area was originally very rural with many beautiful pastures and many hills. Development started in the area in 1893 when two land speculators, Charles Loring and Henry Brown, acquired the land and then gave some of it to nine young executive couples. They gave some of the land to them under the condition that they would build homes costing at least $3,000, with hopes that it would draw more people out of the city to buy land and build homes in this area. They called this “The Colony at Lynnhurst” and it started on the 4600 block of Fremont Ave S. The area was still so undeveloped at the time that they needed to build a barn that housed cows so the couples could get milk. Not long after, the streetcar line was extended all the way out to Lynnhurst mostly because of Lowry’s relationship with the owner. But growth in the area was still slow and it did not fully develop until about 1925. Railroads never came and it was never industrialized which was what people loved most about the area. The beautiful parks around Lake Harriet, the peaceful setting and beautiful homes in the area set it apart from the city and drew many professionals out to live in Lynnhurst. The natural tranquility, beautiful homes, and independent businesses make Lynnhurst a coveted area still today.

Boundaries:

46th Street to the north, Lyndale Avenue to the east, 54th Street to the south, and Penn Avenue to the west.

Bordering Neighborhoods:

East Harriet, King Field, Tangletown, Windom, Kenny, Armatage, Fulton, and Linden Hills

Crime Stats:

Here are some online sources that speak to the crime levels and statistics:

Raids Online

Trulia Crime Stats

Home Sale Stats / Real Estate:

Housing types in the Lynnhurst area are widely varied. You can find a wide range of Tudor homes, Craftsman homes, Colonials, post-war bungalows, Ranch or Ramblers. There are plenty of 1940’s two-story houses.

As of 2015, the average home sales price in Lynnhurst was $515,142 with an average days on market of 40. The average year built was 1931 with 3.6 bedrooms, and 2.6 baths with a total finished sqft of 2431. For more up to date information on Lynnhurst Real Estate, please contact Steven Hong with RE/MAX Results.

Parks:

The Lynnhurst neighborhood really only has two parks. But both are exceptionally well liked because of their proximity to Lake Harriet.

Lynnhurst Park (1345 E Minnehaha Pkwy, 612-370-4914) is obviously named after the neighborhood and has a lot to offer. It has a playground, a biking/walking path, sport courts and fields, and an ice rink in the winter for skating and hockey. The park is also located only two blocks from Lake Harriet.
Lake Harriet Park (4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, 612-230-6400) is a favorite for all of Minneapolis. It’s most well known feature is the band shell, which is right on the lake and hosts many different music groups and other shows and it even plays movies, throughout the warmer months. The park also has several beaches along with a walking/biking path that goes all the way around Lake Harriet. There is a garden, a dock and a pier, a playground and picnic area, and even a beautiful fountain at this park.

Winter Park Highlights Minneapolis

Summer Park Highlights Minneapolis

Lake Harriet Park - 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55409 (612-230-6400)
Lynnhurst Park - 1345 E Minnehaha Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55419 (612-370-4914)

Restaurants:

Lynnhurst only has a handful of restaurants but all of them are unique to the neighborhood. There are three sit down style restaurants. One of them is called Terzo (2221 W 50th St, 612-925-0330) and is a more modern-styled Italian restaurant. It has a very large wine list that offers over 300 selections as well as beers. The most interesting part about Terzo, though, is the walk up window called Porchetteria. It is year-round throughout the day and serves food to go, mainly pork sandwiches called Porchetta. This is a major draw to the restaurant and the neighborhood.
St. Genevieve (5003 Bryant Ave S, 612-353-4843) is a French restaurant that is very much styled after Paris. It serves all kinds of French foods and breads. The restaurant specializes in wines and is most well known for its champagne.
The Malt Shop (809 W 50th St, 612-824-1352) has been an old-fashioned community favorite since the 1970s. The cute spot originally served mostly burgers, fries, and of course malts. Over the years the menu has greatly expanded with all kinds of American style plates, but malts and shakes still remain the specialty!
George & the Dragon (813 W 50th St, 612-208-1047) is actually more of a bar. It serves all kinds of beers but also offers a menu with pub grub and lots of fried foods.
Lake Harriet Pizza (5009 Penn Ave S, 612-920-7717) is a neighborhood favorite. It is a delivery or take out pizza joint only, but the community loves the pizza and that it is local! Finally, if you’re looking for a nice spot to chill and sip a drink, the Studio 2 Coffee Shop & Wine Bar (818 W 46th St, 612-444-3460) is the place for you! Everything on the menu is made from scratch and ingredients are purchased locally. The shop supports local artists by displaying their work, and offers opportunities for local musicians and speakers to perform as well. It is a very unique and positive environment.

Bruegger’s Bagels – 4953 Penn Ave S (612-929-6634) brueggers.com

Shopping:

There is a small array of cute shops in Lynnhurst. There are two little gift shops in the neighborhood, Zinnia Folk Arts, LLC (826 W 50th St, 612-824-4342) and Patina Inc (821 W 50th St, 612-821-9315), but they are very different from each other. Zinnia sells all Mexican folk art and handcrafted goods. It is a fair trade shop and everything sold has been made by Mexican artisans throughout the country. Patino, on the other hand, is a little shop started by a couple in 1993 that now has 7 different locations. The products here are constantly evolving as the art and style of the couple evolves. Their goal is to create a little escape that inspires more art. One community favorite is the Paperback Exchange (2227 W 50th St, 612-929-8801), a little bookstore that has been around since 1975. It sells both used and new books and has a wide variety, from bestsellers to books that are out of print, adding up to about 150,000 books in stock. The Bead Monkey (4959 Penn Ave S, 952-929-4032) is a shop that makes and sells different kinds of jewelry. They also offer jewelry making classes and put on fun events. There is also a liquor store, a scuba shop and a pet store in the Lynnhurst neighborhood.

Paperback Exchange – 2227 W 50th St (612-929-8801) paperbackexchange.com
Scuba Center – 5015 Penn Ave S (612-925-4818) scubacenter.com
Zinnia Folk Arts, LLC – 826 W 50th St (612-824-4342) zinniafolkarts.com
Patina Inc – 821 W 50th St (612-821-9315) patinastores.com
Birds N Stuff – 824 W 50th St (612-827-3882)
South Lyndale Liquors – 5300 Lyndale Ave S (612-827-5811) southlyndale.com

Night Life:

Because of its peaceful setting, there is not a lot for nightlife right in Lynnhurst. But if you branch out a little further there is more to find. Lynnhurst does have one alehouse that many people enjoy on the late nights and weekends. George & the Dragon (813 W 50th St, 612-208-1047) is an alehouse in Lynnhurst that serves many different kinds of beers as well as pub grub in a relaxed environment. The owners call it a Public House, modeled after British pubs that were more of a gathering place for the community. Their goal is becoming a reality as George & the Dragon has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

Community Arts & Music:

The Lynnhurst neighborhood has several areas of both art and music that are available to the community. The Ron Merchant Fine Art Gallery (4929 Knox Ave S, 612-929-9443) is a small art gallery in Lynnhurst where acclaimed artist Ron Merchant displays his work. He is very passionate about expressing feeling through art. Much of his work is of beautiful outdoor landscapes and people. He observes people and objects very closely, which is clear in his work. The Mount Olivet School of Music (5025 Knox Ave S, 612-767-2262) is also located in Lynnhurst. It is a music school that is provided by Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. The school will take on students of any age and skill level and work with them both individually and in groups to improve their music abilities. The school offers instrumental and voice lessons, there is also a band and orchestra program, and a music camp offered in the summer for students in 1st through 12th grade. Finally, the Brian Kinney Band (5253 Penn Ave S, 612-926-1634) is a traveling performance based out of the Lynnhurst neighborhood. Brian Kinney is the lead singer, but the band is made up of well-known Twin City musicians from Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Rupert’s Orchestra and Fairchild. The band can be hired out to play at any event, no matter the style; they’ve seen it all. People living in Lynnhurst place high value on the arts and music, which can be seen through the caliber of the artists and musicians in the area.

Events:

What better way to start the year than with the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival (4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy). This was the 13th year of the festival and it is definitely a community favorite. Kites of all different shapes, sizes and colors are flown over the lake while there is ice fishing, wagon rides, snacks, snowshoeing and even more to keep people busy. All this is free fun for the whole family! The Fix It Clinic (2500 W 57th St, 612-348-9195) is an event the neighborhood association puts on in January where community members can bring in electronics, appliances and more and are taught how to repair such items. This has been done to keep the community from wasting items that can be fixed. The Earth Day Clean-Up & Recycling Education Game has been a tradition in Lynnhurst for 21 years. It takes place in April and is an event that is set up as a game, encouraging the community to clean up their neighborhood. In early August, the neighborhood association puts on the Summer Festival (Lynnhurst Park). People come from near and far to eat, play games and listen to live music. This is not only a neighborhood favorite, but a favorite of many people throughout the city, and all are welcome to attend. The Buckthorn Bust (Lynnhurst Park) is another annual event in the neighborhood. It takes place in November and is an open invitation for anyone in the community to come out and work hard to rid Lynnhurst Park and other surrounding parks of Buckthorn, a huge weed that kills native plants around it. The equipment and training is provided for this project. The neighborhood has been doing this for five years now and it helps to make them proactive about their environment.

Transportation:

There are two buses that run throughout the Lynnhurst neighborhood. The bus #4 and bus #46 both run along the sides of the neighborhood borders and then cut through the middle, with stops on every block. The bus system is a great way to get around without using a car. These bus lines also connect with other buses throughout the city and you can get almost anywhere without a car! Current bus fare is $2.25 during rush hour and $1.75 at all other times. You can pay your bus fare in the farebox next to the driver as you board the bus.

Schools:

There are two schools in Lynnhurst, one is a private school and one is a public school. Mount Olivet Nursery School (5025 Knox Ave S, 612-767-2200) is a licensed private preschool run through Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. Children must be at least three years old to attend and there are about 40 children per session made up of both boys and girls. The preschool provides a safe place where young children can develop their interests and abilities in a Christian atmosphere. Burroughs Elementary School (1601 W 50th St, 612-668-3280) is the public school in the neighborhood and includes grades K-5. The school has a great special education program to assist children with disabilities. Not only does Burroughs provide classroom education with subjects such as math, science, history, English, Physical Education and languages but offers extracurricular activities such as music, technology, languages and art and other clubs or groups. The school is also very diverse with a high population of African American and Hispanic students. Most students from here go to Ramsey Middle School and then on to Washburn High School.

Other Schools / Child Care:

Places of Worship

Necessities:

Getting back to the basics, what everyone needs, at one point or another:

Businesses: