Nicollet Island

The St. Anthony Main neighborhood of Minneapolis is a well-established neighborhood that is a true societal melting pot in an urban setting. Situated as it is directly across the bridge from Nicollet Island, it’s not uncommon to see students from DeLaSalle High School on the island having lunch in the neighborhood next to young professionals sitting across from retirees. “There is such a great mix of people in the neighborhood,” says Michael Peterson, owner of Drive Results Realty, who has represented real estate transactions in the neighborhood for 15 years. “It’s a mix of ages, races, income levels, everything. And everyone in the neighborhood loves that about the area. They love the diversity.” And despite its urban nature, St. Anthony Main provides ample opportunity for pedestrians to travel around safely, thanks to plenty of sidewalks. “It’s a very walkable neighborhood,” says Peterson. “It’s well-lit and it’s safe, so you feel comfortable walking your dog at 10:00 at night.” And because the neighborhood is bounded by both First Avenue and Central Avenue, the location affords easy access to downtown Minneapolis, which is less than 2 miles away. For those without their own car, several METRO Bus Rapid Transit stops are located throughout the neighborhood, and there are also two METRO light rail stops nearby.

Homes in Nicollet Island are exclusively row house-style, meaning they are either condominiums or townhouses. While there is some variation within those descriptors – for instance, some of the more high-end townhouses are brownstones – there are no traditional single-family homes. The median price of real estate in the neighborhood is $509,000, and buyers should expect to pay an average of $334 per square foot. A studio condominium with one bathroom can sell for around $112,000, and prices can go up to $1.6 million for a three-bedroom/four-bathroom four-floor brownstone townhouse.

The neighborhood is zoned for the Minneapolis Public School District, which earns an overall rating of B on Niche. Students in the Nicollet Island neighborhood can attend Webster Elementary, Northeast Middle and Thomas Edison High School. All three schools earn a C-plus rating on Niche. Students at Edison High School can participate in any of 14 school-sponsored clubs, and they have the opportunity to play any of 27 varsity-level sports. Alternatively, parents can avail themselves of area private schools, including the International School of Minnesota, rated the best private school in the state by Niche.

Nearby Holmes Park offers neighborhood residents an outdoor recreation space. With a playground, basketball court, tennis court and picnic area, the park is a favorite with locals seeking a respite from their busy days or a place to spend some downtime on the weekends. Just across the Central Avenue Bridge are both Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium, so residents of the neighborhood can easily get to both Twins and Vikings games, not to mention all of the recreational and cultural opportunities afforded by downtown Minneapolis, including museums, theaters and shopping, as well as the Hennepin County Medical Center, which is just over 2 miles from the neighborhood.

When it’s time to stock up on groceries, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are both within a couple of minutes’ drive of the neighborhood, located across the Central Avenue Bridge, and Target is 2 minutes away down University Avenue for all of those home necessities. What really brings non-residents of the neighborhood to St. Anthony Main is the restaurants in the area. “One of the things I love about dining out in the neighborhood is that the restaurant scene is amazing, but it’s also always changing. It seems like there’s a new place every time I go, and I tell people that my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood is whatever is new,” says Peterson. Two of Peterson’s current favorites are Greek fare from Gardens of Salonica and Asian cuisine at Gorkha Palace. But there is a restaurant for virtually every taste and budget in the neighborhood and, just in case, other world-class options are just down the road in downtown Minneapolis.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Sienna Lee

Video By

Tyler Hall