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Humboldt Greenway: A New Urban Neighborhood
A Single Mom Opts For a New Urban Neighborhood
Mary Britts lived in a small, single-story home in Brooklyn Center before deciding to shorten her commute and move closer to the school her daughter attends. In an unusual twist, Britts found a much more spacious home and a stronger residential community in the city than in her previous suburban locale.
"I lived in a 1950s rambler that I co-owned with my sister, and I lived in the upper half with my daughter," explains Britts, executive director of the Northside YMCA. "I now have much more room than before."
In March, Britts and her daughter moved into a 2,100 square foot single family home in Humboldt Greenway, a new urban residential neighborhood in North Minneapolis. Designed to complement the traditional architecture and feel of the surrounding neighborhood, Humboldt Greenway's 200+ new homes and townhouses fulfill the area's need for a wider selection of housing choices and more visually appealing architectural styles. The environment is different than many of the dense, new urbanist designs found in other parts of Minneapolis. "Every home is so different than the one next to it," says Britts. "There are all kinds of home styles available. I just love it."
A far cry from the dilapidated homes and aging apartment complexes of fifteen years ago, Humboldt Greenway is becoming more and more attractive for families like Mary Britts'. "I like the diverse population," she says. "There's a great range in terms of age and diversity. That was one of the top reasons for buying here."
The other attraction is its close location to a Catholic school in Minneapolis attended by her 13-year-old daughter, Latanza. Thinking ahead, Britts points out when Latanza enters high school she will probably attend DeLaSalle, a much shorter drive from Humboldt Greenway than from Brooklyn Center. "She was going to school in the city, and a lot of her friends live in the city, so it made sense to move here," she says.
Another advantage has been the short commute to her job at the YMCA on West Broadway. She no longer has to take the freeway to get there. "It takes me about six minutes to get to work, and I love that!" she says.
Britts paid $325,900 for her home and used an 80-10-10 mortgage. As explained in detail in City Pages' Metropolitan Living Guide, this mortgage provides an affordable means of home-buying by allowing the purchaser to put 10 percent down on a home, use a second mortgage for another 10 percent of the cost and a conventional mortgage for the remaining 80 percent. With an increased affordability for middle class residents, demand for housing has risen, and so have property tax values, an excellent long-term benefit for home owners like Mary Britts.
The Humboldt Greenway project is proof that declining neighborhoods can be brought back to life, and Britts undoubtedly is proud to be a part of it. "With all the conveniences the city provides," says Mary, "I don't think I'll move back to the suburbs. I know my daughter will be safe and that is all I need to worry about." |
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