University, Minneapolis

What’s in a name? When it comes to the neighborhood of University, it says it all. The heart and soul of the University of Minnesota’s campus, the University neighborhood is almost completely devoted to campus buildings and housing geared toward students. Even though the Mississippi River divides the neighborhood into two sections, the feel on both sides of the river is relatively the same – this is a college town.
The housing can be surprisingly expensive, but you pay for the prime location spots so close to campus buildings. Don’t even try to imagine a lush yard, as many of the homes seem to but right up the sidewalk. The typical older home has been converted into shared housing or multi-resident buildings. Parking can be extremely challenging, and to add to that dilemma, the streets can be quite narrow in some locations. Owning a car is a great thing for a college student, but it can mean some headaches, especially during snow removal season.
Even though it is primarily geared toward students, the University of Minnesota medical center also brings non-residents and non-students to the area. If you are one of them there are parking ramps near the clinic, but be prepared to walk. Within just a few minutes, however, you can be transported by transit from the University neighborhood to nearby communities where the nightlife, restaurants, and great shopping venues await.

University is the name given to the neighborhood that encompasses the University of Minnesota, and basically nothing else. The Mississippi River runs through campus with the majority of buildings on the eastern side. Students can find everything they need within the immediate area from food to shopping to nightlife within the campus bars. Even if one finds themselves tired of the noise of the college crowds and Greek houses, he or she is just a hop and a skip away from Downtown East and other surrounding trendy communities.

Older crowds, however, would do best to avoid living within University as the noise of college life can annoy many. Also, the housing situations lack permanency since almost all properties are for rent to students. Despite being marketed to a population of people that lack significant paychecks, rental prices are far from reasonable, ranging from $700 to $850. The campus offers easy access to educational facilities and art centers as well as riverside recreation. Even current students, however, grow tired of the dirt and loud drunken exclamations that often come from the night hours on campus. Convenient for students, inconvenient for everyone else. Also, University is the least suitable for families since it has one of the highest crime rates in Minneapolis.

I live in the Jefferson at Berry apartments on Washington in Minneapolis. Although the apartments themselves are nice, the neighborhood is dirty, loud, and frightening at night. My roommates and I are college students so we do not mind the active neighborhood very close to the U of M and several bars and restaurants; however, this neighborhood is nowhere to raise a family. There are a number of amenities within walking distance of the neighborhood including Starbucks Coffee, a handful of gyms, restaurants, and bars. Not to mention the campus is very, very close. Parking on the streets in this area can be a hassle because streets are very narrow and this neighborhood is not a fan of carpooling, the streets are ALWAYS packed with cars on either side. I enjoy living here now but will be glad to move to a quieter are as I get older and out of college.