Elliot Park

Elliot Park is a small tucked away neighborhood next to Downtown East and is also one of the oldest communities in Minneapolis. This area has also evolved into the main medical center of the city with Augustana Care Center, Hennepin County Medical Center, Benedictine Health Care Center of Minneapolis, and many other smaller healthcare institutions. The immediate area is home to many small scale shops as well as a few coffeehouses and diners. Non-profit organizations in the area include the Minnesota AIDS Project, Minnesota Teen Challenge and the Economic Growth Center, which are all close to the North Central Bible College.

Individuals on lower incomes can afford to live in Elliot Park as both the sales an d renting prices are on the cheap side. Most of the homes are apartments or small high rises that were built before World War II. Residents wanting some physical recreation in this compacted urban spot can go to the Elliot Recreation Center, around which there is a swimming pool, baseball field and tennis court. Elliot Park is a hot spot for young singles looking to pinch pennies, but this is an area of town that families with children will want to avoid. This neighborhood has a high crime rate compared to other Minneapolis communities and one will pass by the occasional shady character on the streets. Those who are looking for a quick walk to downtown or the University of Minnesota as well as all the dining spots they could want, Elliot Park is a suitable place to hunker down.

One of the oldest communities in Minneapolis, Elliot Park is rich in history but is still infused with a city feeling. Just south of downtown Minneapolis, Elliot Park was first surveyed just four years after Minneapolis was founded, and the land that the actual Elliot Park sits upon was donated by Dr. Joseph Elliot, a local doctor and farmer.

The late 1800s saw the boom of many mansions built in this neighborhood, and these enormous homes were later converted into apartments and multifamily dwellings in order to accept the increasing population into the area. Another trend that developed at that time was the construction of three-story brick and stone apartment buildings, and some of them still stand today, such as the Rappahannock condos and the Roselle apartments buildings.

The residents of Elliot Park on average are in a significantly lower income bracket than the average of those in other parts of Minneapolis. The housing market in the area is steady, and community programs have continued to grow to provide opportunities and assistance for those in need. Section 8 Housing, programs for teens at risk, and assistance for the aging population are all efforts to make Elliot Park a better community.

Two major institutions are located in Elliot Park – the Hennepin County Medical Center and North Central University. There are also several smaller businesses located in the neighborhood, including a restored diner.