"Saint Paul is a wonderful city. It's put together in solid blocks of honest bricks and stones and has the air of intending to stay." - Mark Twain, 1883

A rich heritage of history lingers along the streets and homes of Summit Hill. Distinguished by its combination of financially secure, well-educated upper- and middle-class families, spacious homes of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, local pride and generous support for cultural activities.

Most of the homes sell for $200,000 or more. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, 25 to 35 percent of the apartments were converted to condominiums and sold for $55,000 to $110,000. Even renters tend to sink their roots deeply into the community. Normal turnover for tenants is about 18 months, but Summit Hill tenants average three to four year.




Vintage up/down duplex with tons and tons of natural woodwork, built in buffets, front porches and three bedroom units! Fantastic thrid floor attic for storage and future expansion-steps from Grand Avenue! Lynn Sold in August, 2002 for $370,000

Victorian Four Plex in great condition on gorgeous block of Portland Avenue. Lynn Sold for $355,000 in July 2001.

Original owner, charming & classic English Tudor-tons of potential with unfinished expansion space! One block long street close to Grand Ave shops & restaurants. Lynn Sold in 2003 for $213,500

Beautiful condo in Historic Crocus Hill. Mature trees, south facing, party room & exercise room, quiet building, security entrance, assigned underground parking with storage locker, light & bright, very clean! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $187,900.

Impeccable restoration of a three story St. Paul classic. From the recreated front porch to the refinished third floor bedroom & office/sitting room, every surface has been touched. New kitchen, baths & garage. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $527,000.

East Side

More than half of the homes here may predate World War II, but many of these older homes have been renovated and returned to their original quality. Such housing attracts potential residents from other parts of the city or the suburbs.

Just over half of the housing is single-family, owner-occupied. Almost all homes lie well within an affordable range.

50's Rambler with quality features: coved ceilings, wet plaster walls & hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, new roof, central air, fenced backyard with gardens & landscaping-desirable Hillcrest neighborhood. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $159,000.

Charming & well-kept stucco 1.5 story on quiet residential block with natural woodwork and hardwood floors, updated kitchen & bath, amusement room in basement, central air and delightful fenced yard. Lynn Sold in 1004 for $160,000.

Tidy two bedroom with screened front porch, hardwood floors, built in buffet, new ceramic bath, large retro kitchen, new roof in 2000, storage shed and private asphalt driveway next to home. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $125,000.

Mac-Groveland

There's a friendly, college-town feel to St. Paul's Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. Ample homes with front porches line the winding streets skirting Macalester College. Vast, green lawns lie like quilt pieces around the Mankato-stone edifices of the University of St. Thomas campus. Students on bicycles, neighbors on foot file by the College of St. Catherine.

At the neighborhood's heart is Grand Avenue, a thriving thoroughfare since the early part of this century. The city directory of 1930 listed more than 250 businesses on the street, many tiny operations run out of people's homes or apartments.

Houses range from smaller, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes on the ease end to luxurious Mississippi Riverfront residences in the half-million-dollar range or more. More than three-fourths of the homes were built before 1940.

Loads of charm and character with stunning oak woodwork, built in bookcases along side a handsome brick fireplace, built in buffet, hardwood floors, leaded glass and new kitchen with maple cabinets. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $229,000.

Charming 2 story-natural woodwork, hardwood floors, lead glass windows, relaxing front porch, large deck overlooks good sized fenced yard. In the heart of Mac-Groveland! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $225,000.

Classic craftsman bungalow, spacious living room, gorgeous natural woodwork and wood floors, dining room features built-in buffet & window seat, heated front porch. Lynn Sold in 2003 for $225,000.

Wood floors greet you in this 1920's two plus story on lovely treed lot with built-ins, buffet, natural woodwork, fireplace, large kitchen & paneled Rec room, newer furnace, windows & electrical, charming screened porch. Lynn Sold in 2003 for $243,000.

Stately two plus story in demand area, 1997 remodelers showcase home by Authentic Construction, main floor family room, custom kitchen, owners suite w/Jacuzzi tub, woodwork everywhere! Many, many extras. A fun & delightful treasure! Lynn Sold in 2003 for $473,500.

This ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhood sits on the southern edge of the city, separated from the rest of Saint Paul by the Mississippi River.

The West Side is made up of lifelong residents, juggling the influx of new folks, balancing the values and customs of different ethnic groups, spanning the economic range from rich to poor. It's a vibrant mix of people and their differing needs and customs. One resident says, "It is the relationships between people and the sense of ownership found and fostered in this neighborhood."

Merriam Park

Merriam Park has a broad range of well-kept homes from modest to luxurious. Though it has been part of the city of St. Paul for a long time, Merriam Park retains its own distinctive middle-class character and sense of stability. Some new development is occurring on the street corners of the neighborhood. They help to enhance Merriam Park's felling of being a well-knit-together community.

Wonderful old world charm, pillars, built-in bookcases, leaded glass, built-in buffet in dining room, huge kitchen, three season porch, walk up third floor potential. Lynn Sold for $175,000.

Highland Park is a special neighborhood tucked into the southwest corner of St. Paul. It is fronted on two sides by the Mississippi River, giving Highland Park a naturally beautiful recreation area matched by few others in the state. The quiet, tree-lined streets offer housing opportunities for the renter, the new homeowner, the large family and the empty nesters.

Highland Park has a bustling "downtown" area, Highland Village, which offers residents just about everything they need in goods and services. It is conveniently located between the downtown areas of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and by the Twin Cities' International Airport. With all Highland Park has to offer, it's no wonder that many of the residents have stayed for years and years!

Impressive Spanish Colonial with tons of charm & loaded with amenities! Main floor family room overlooks landscaped yard, owners suite with attached office could be 4th bedroom, set in prime Highland neighborhood, close to village-Perfect blend of old & new! Lynn Sold in 2005 for $570,000.

Estate sale sweet stucco craftsman bungalow in prime area of Highland! Natural woodwork, hardwood floors, 8 x 14 front porch, fresh & open basement, great mechanicals, nice landscaping & gardens, single car garage-great home ownership opportunity! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $211,000.

Quality build rambler close to River Road, new roof, hardwood floors, newer furnace, central air & water heater, screened back porch, private fenced backyard, original owner in desirable Highland neighborhood! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $215,000.

If affordable housing attracts residents to the community, thriving and revitalized businesses and active community organizations - including a half-dozen churches with long histories - help sustain its quality of life. Hamline University contributes to that quality through its efforts to buy and sustain rental property near the campus, expansion of community internships for students and leadership of faculty and staff in community organizations.

Not so extravagant or spacious as homes in Summit Avenue or Ramsey Hill neighborhoods to the south, Hamline-Midway dwellings nevertheless reflected a moderate prosperity in their leaded and stained glass windows, rich woodwork and other quality details. A remarkable core of these older homes has endured; about 70 percent of the housing were built between 1890 and 1940. Their simple elegance, often affordable, remains one of the neighborhood's strongest features.






Charming "Stucco & Shake" two story, very quaint, excellent mechanicals, great location near Hamline University. Lynn Sold in November, 2002 for $171,500.

Old world charm with natural woodwork, built-ins & banister, maple hardwood floors throughout, updated kitchen & bath, porch, deck, fresh painted exterior, nice backyard & single car garage, nice friendly neighborhood near Hamline University-An original beauty! Lynn sold in 2003 for $161,700.

"Cape Code" with Old World charm throughout, huge deck, four seasons front porch, 2 car garage. A Rare Find! Lynn Sold in April, 2002 for $175,000.

Battle Creek Regional Park, the centerpiece of this neighborhood, encompasses 846 acres, which begin at US Highway 61 and extend northeastward along ravined Battle Creek, offering an extensive natural area within a suburban-like setting. The area remained largely rural until the close of World War II, when single-family homes, schools, parks and playgrounds began to replace farms and open space. Decisions made in the 1960's, just before development was at its peak, helped to preserve the natural beauty and amenities of the area.

Battle Creek's housing reflects the history of the community; two-thirds has been built since 1970 and only 6 percent were built before World War II. Seventy percent of the houses are valued at between $60,000 and $99,999. Two types of housing predominate in the area. Single-family homes were built in the north in the 1960s and early '70s on a typical gird street pattern and cul-de-sacs and, in the south, on large lots. Large multiple-family apartment and condominium complexes were built in the northern and central sections in the 1970's.




Four level split entry built in 1984! Vaulted ceilings, fireplace, sliding door to deck and private fenced yard.



Cute as a bug starter in quiet pocket of St. Paul, excellent woodwork, hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen with maple cabinets, open unfinished basement, updated furnace, brand new roof, fenced backyard on dead-end alley-offers great privacy! Lynn Sold in 2003 for $147,000.

This home has so much to offer. Great Southern exposure with new patio. Kitchen with ceramic tile & double wall ovens, dining room with hardwood floors, large living room with fireplace & bay window, master with plenty of closet space & private bath with sunken tub. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $269,900.

This home is truly better than new! Home features exquisitely clean & tasteful design located on a very private lot with nature providing the views, quality at every turn. Compares well with home priced at $400,000. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $359,000.

Living with a tropical garden, a lake and a golf course minutes from your front door is just a fantasy for most of us. But for Como residents, it's everyday life. With a million visitors a year at the zoo alone, Como rates as the most-used park in the seven-county metro area. The park is not the only source of pride for Como residents. Residents treasure living in what they consider a highly stable, well-kept community.

Como's rebounding population has been triggered by a significant increase in new housing units, which grew by 14.4 percent in the 1970s and 17.2 percent in the 1980s. About a third of its housing is rental, two-thirds owner-occupied. The newer homes fit in well among an architectural mix of older housing styles, spanning more that a century of construction that was spurred earlier by recreation and rural ambiance and later by transportation that linked the once-isolated Como area with the central city.





"West Como" 2 story, newly built gazebo with vaulted ceilings, wired and includes hot tub, kitchen has "eat in" nook and central air. Lynn Sold in March, 2003 for $213,000.

Just two blocks to the Lake on one of Como's prettiest blocks! Original owner has cared for and updated-neutral décor, fireplace, picture window, inviting kitchen with huge dining area, knotty pine basement with bath, expansion space for future growth-What a gem! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $247,000.

Full renovation! Totally new mechanicals! Classic two plus story with charming oak woodwork, hardwood floors, lead glass windows, buffet, finished 3rd floor suite, 2 brand new ceramic baths, eat-in kitchen, Short walk to Como Lake! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $235,000.

Very domesticated bungalow in pleasant neighborhood. All repairs and mechanicals professionally completed and recorded. East front porch entry, living room and dining room placement encourages entertaining and well maintained yard. Lynn Sold in 2004 for $180,000.

North End

More than a third of North End housing was built before World War II, with the very oldest, around Oakland Cemetery, dating to the 1880s. Today, North End housing, nearly evenly divided between single and multiple family dwellings, is less expensive than housing in nearby neighborhoods. The low-cost housing has made the North End a desirable place for low-income families to live.



Great two story with large front porch, newly romodeled kitchen, new carpet, natural woodwork and hardwood floors. Lynn sold it for $111,000.



West Seventh Street Area

Although it's within the shadow of more affluent neighborhoods, West Seventh retains its working-class character. Though not so elegant as mansions in nearby Irvine Park and Ramsey Hill neighborhoods, refurbished West Seventh area historic homes provide affordable and attractive housing for working people with a greater range of income. It's not just the housing, but rugged endurance, ethnic pride and comfortable neighborliness that draws them to the area.

Bright & open with maple and oak wood floors, new sheetrock & new woodwork-sparkling new kitchen with marmoleum flooring, new cabinets, counters, appliances! Sparkling new bath, newer windows, exterior, electric, roof & plumbing. This one is really sweet! Lynn Sold in 2004 for $159,000.

Nestled next to the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus, St. Anthony Park offers serenity, civility and low rolling hills perfect for an afternoon of strolling. This neighborhood is like a small village unto itself, with its own post office, Speedy Market and every service imaginable. There is an eclectic smattering of architectural styles and other "treats" that make up this peaceful neighborhood which is so charming many residents never want to leave.

The charm of the park! Lush greenery, adorable front porch, hardwood floors, great living room with fireplace, formal dining room and eat in kitchen. Lynn Sold for $245,000 in September 2001.

Just over the Ford Bridge

I know its in the "other" city but the Longfellow Community in Minneapolis is so close (just over the Ford Parkway or Lake Street bridges) and is loaded with affordable homes in a charming residential neighborhood. You will find lots of bungalows, which have been rediscovered and appreciated for their thoughtful design, cozy but open interiors and high-quality materials. Minnehaha Falls and Park as well as all the Mississippi River Gorge Parks are right there for your walking and biking pleasure.

One owner home with super front porch, back porch and patio, great redone kitchen with sunny eat-in area, walk-in closet in bedroom and unfinished expansion with dormer. Lynn Sold for $150,000 in September 2001.

Fabulous stucco 1.5 story with old world charm, front porch, hardwood floors, built-ins, back screen porch, lovely expansion bedroom and nursery with skylights! Lynn Sold for $160,000 in March 2001.