The allure of downtown living

While downtown Minneapolis may be thought of as a place to get some drinks with friends after work, hit the clubs on a Friday or Saturday night or go to a live music performance, you'd be surprised how many families make it their destination for the weekend.

I was actually quite surprised to see many of my friends bringing their kids to Downtown Minneapolis.  Some would pack up their bikes, drive into central Minneapolis and ride along the Mississippi River with their children, stopping at the Stone Arch Bridge, the new playground in the North Loop and also for a gelato at The Wilde Roast.  Other families I know would take their children to the wonderful kid's play area at the Mills City Museum while also stopping by the downtown Central Library.  Most parents I know were as anxious as their children to sample the tasty treats at the Saturday morning Mill City Farmer's Market during the summer.

Maybe it's not so crazy to ditch the suburban living and raise your family in a dense urban environment. 

Moving to the suburbs for your kids? Think again.

Here's an article that is bound to get you taking about raising children in the city center by Carla Saulter: Moving to the Surburbs for your Kids? Think again.

Families in the City Center?

Whether it is due to city planner acumen or borrowers being underwater on their mortgage, more families are deciding to raise their children downtown. 

 "The number of kids under age 5 living in downtown [Minneapolis] neighborhoods has tripled since 2000, according to newly released U.S. census figures. The 2010 census counted 444 small children in the area from the Mill District through downtown and along the Mississippi River to Plymouth Avenue.”

§  Jim Buchta. “In downtown, new kids on the block.” Star Tribune 17 July 2011.

"For decades people have come to London to go to university or work, moving out again when their children require more space or education or when they retire. But a startling demographic change has drastically slowed the conveyor belt.

Births in the capital each year have soared by 25% since 2002, as British women who delayed childbearing finally got down to it and London’s many immigrants produced in Stakhanovite quantities. London contributed fully 37% of England’s natural population increase (the surplus of births over deaths) between 2009 and 2010. Many parents are now staying put, thanks to a sticky mortgage market that makes it hard for buyers to get a loan and a sticky labour market that makes it hard for anyone to be sure of a job."

§  “The changing face of London.” Economist 28 January 2012.

“The number of families living in downtown Baltimore has increased significantly over the past 10 years, according to Downtown Partnership of Baltimore Inc.

Downtown Baltimore’s core area experienced the biggest population increase — 130 percent — since 2000, and the one-mile radius between Pratt and Light streets saw a 13.6 percent population increase during that time as well.

Baltimore has the eighth highest number of families living in a downtown area [of US cities], with 5,485 families as of 2010, according to the partnership. In 2000, the area had 4,880 families. The U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as a group of two people or more related by birth, marriage or adoption and residing together."

§  “Families increasing in downtown Baltimore.” The Daily Record 17 May 2011.

Smile! We're growing!

Why did we stay?

I’d like to say we purposefully chose to raise our family in downtown Minneapolis however it did not start out that way.  Here is our personal family story, posted in August of 2011.

Article link:  Why we decided to stay

Now, we couldn't be happier living in downtown Minneapolis.  We can walk to our son's daycare, work, Target, Lund's grocery store, museums, the Library, parks, swimming pools and athletic facilities, coffee shops, restaurants, professional sports games, numerous shops, special events and the light rail station which can whisk us away to the airport or Mall of America.  We love the bike and running paths that are conveniently located, the reduced headache and costs of a second car and the incredibly kind neighbors.  And think of our energy, water and land conservation living in a downtown high-rise!

As our family grows, and grows older, we will be forced to address two things most families cite as reasons to move to the suburbs: schools and space limitation. But wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to! What if more family housing was developed in downtown Minneapolis?  Or an elementary school were to open up close to downtown? 

I know I have gotten off track here but, as you can see, I'm an unabashed advocate for family living in downtown Minneapolis.  I hope you continue to share my excitement in the RiverWest Kids group and raising families in downtown Minneapolis.

-Eric Laska


***I have to give credit to the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance blog, which came up with "why did we stay" idea.*** 

Meet the Kids of RiverWest

Come meet the Kids of RiverWest.
All residents of RiverWest are invited!

Sunday, January 29th from 4:30pm-6:00pm

in the Party Room on the First Floor.

We'll have food, drinks, kids and neighborly conversation.

New babies at RiverWest

December was a busy month; we welcomed 3 new babies to RiverWest this past December.

Sushanth and Sheela Yadawad welcomed little baby boy Yash on Dec 4th.

Roberta and Alex Garcia welcomed little baby girl Luisa on Dec 23rd.

Greg, Cari and Reese Dakin welcomed little baby boy James on Dec 27th.

 

Congratulations to the families and the December trio of RiverWest kids!