What Came Before

I definitely do not want to give the impression that there was no "community" already established when I arrived.  Our little nook of Central has a die hard coalition of some "Urban Pioneers" as well as long time residents.  This little corner of MPLS seems to have had a disproportionate share of drama.  From the freeway blasting through in the late 60's, to the entrenchment of drug and prostitution rings, arson, murder, scandal - you name it.   At our recent block club bon fire one neighbor light heartedly told a story (you gotta get "dark" humor to find this funny) about the day he was showing an apartment to a prospective tenant -  and they arrived right as the cops were digging a body out of the garden next door!  

Truly though, I believe this neighborhood has seen its worst and is on the upswing.  And the upswing began before I arrived.  It began during the 90's when preservationists began to find and restore the charming Queen Anne homes in and around the Healy Block - our neighborhood National Register Historic District.  One thing I love about this neighborhood is that we get the privilege of having these amazing homes that we never could have afforded anywhere else.  And at the same time, because you have to have some grit to live in an area like this, the people here are just complete characters (love it) and you really couldn't even find a pretentious person around here if you tried.    

Those who are committed to making our neighborhood a better place really tend to roll out the welcome wagon when they see someone new and positive come into the area.  When we bought our house, we didn't have any landscaping other than two shrubs on either side of the door.  Not one fern, perennial, tree - you name it.  Once spring came around and people were out of their houses more, people we hardly even knew were daily dividing plants and bringing us Iris and ferns and Elephant Ear Bulbs and Hostas and Snow on the Mountain.  Now our yard looks amazing!  Don't underestimate the kindness and generosity to be found in our little Old Central.