The Powderhorn Model of North Side Revitalization

Flickr.com photo, Lake Street, Minneapolis

I was talking to Lisa Mitchell earlier today on the phone, and just like her husband Anderson has a great theory about North Side revitalization, so does Lisa...


Lisa said she and Anderson used to live in the Powderhorn Neighborhood, and that place was really rough before people banded together and cleaned it up. How did they do it? By having solid citizens sit on street corners to force the dealers and hookers off the corners. By taking pictures. By incessant block watch activity.

There are still rough areas of Powderhorn--indeed, my real estate agent Juley Viger tried to convince me to move there just to get involved with some of that, but I told her "not rough enough, Juley." Yes, there are some parts of Powderhorn still needing work and energy, but by and large "Lake Street" has become a paradise. Indeed, the phrase "Lake Street hooker" has become something of an anachronism.

Soon to be replaced with "Lyndale Avenue hooker?"

Well, what could I say to Lisa? YES!!!! Let's do what you say right here on the North Side.

Better yet, we apparently agreed the Eco-Village was the crown jewel of planned neighborhood revitalization. So if one were to start doing this kind of thing, where would one start? Right on my block, baby!

Well, a couple people talking isn't the same as something happening. But I think part of what spurs the effort is how PUBLIC this can be through use blogging. If somebody is brave--like the time Little Jane ran off the crack heads by herself--then celebrate their bravery in a permanent and public way through blogging. Then it encourages others to be brave.

We are not weak and we are not alone. The internet makes us strong.