Lake Edina/Parklawn

According to Lynn Hooper, a longtime real estate appraiser who’s worked in 16 Minnesota counties, stability in a neighborhood exists when “someone moves in and they stay a long time.” By that definition, the Lake Edina/Parklawn district of Edina measures as one of the most stable in the Twin Cities metro area. “You have people who have lived here for 40-plus years. There’s not a lot of turnover,” he says. It’s common to see second-generation homeowners he says, and there still remain, although more rarely, a few original owners. Hooper himself knows something about multi-generational ventures. As the owner of Customer Driven Realty, Hooper is a third-generation real estate professional.

Most homes in Lake Edina/Parklawn are historic ramblers or split-levels built in the 1950s and ‘60s, with lush lawns and mature trees that sit along quiet roads. It’s not unusual to find a boat sitting in a yard, waiting to be launched in any of the eight lakes in the area. A large price difference exists between homes, Hooper says, depending on whether they are remodeled. While some houses go on the market as-is, he notes that some contractors “are taking everything down to the bare walls” and putting $200,000 or higher into remodeling homes. Buyers who can be patient and wait can often find a home for a "very good" price, he says. A renovated four-bedroom, two-bathroom midcentury rambler can list at $649,000, while a two-story Four Square house with an updated interior can go for $829,000. You can find some renovated condos in a walkable area of the neighborhood; a one-bedroom, one-bathroom renovated unit with a private patio can list for $145,000.

Hooper emphasizes the “exceptional” quality of local schools in Lake Edina/Parklawn as a big draw to move into the neighborhood. “Edina overall is a really in-demand suburb, and it’s the school system that drives that,” he says. Students in Lake Edina/Parklawn attend Cornelia Elementary School, given an A rating by Niche, which offers after-school enrichment programs in arts, fitness and STEAM. Valley View Middle School earns an A-plus from Niche, and it allows students to participate in college prep elective courses that focus on areas like time management, study skills and writing. At Edina Senior High School, also rated an A-plus by Niche, students can compete to have a self-designed science experiment conducted on the International Space Station.

Arneson Acres Park is the location of the Edina Historical Society and its museum, which tells the story of the community that began as a pioneer enclave on Minnehaha Creek. The 13.2-acre park, donated to Edina in the 1970s by Morton and Katherine Arneson, also features a greenhouse, gazebo and gardens filled with native flowers, such as lily-of-the-valley, and a meadow of hostas. The Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail runs through Fred Richards Park with paved walking and biking trails. Currently featuring a picnic and playground as well, the park has plans to include pickleball and basketball courts, a clubhouse and wildlife habitat preserves.

Hooper says the area is “a great private little neighborhood, but within five to 10 minutes, you can be at an incredible mall, fantastic restaurants.” Red’s Savoy Pizza – self-proclaimed home of “‘Sota style pizza” – fires a house specialty pizza made with Savoy’s Original Sausage, and an Angry Aloha Hawaiian pizza, among others. Tavern 23 Grill in nearby Centennial Lakes hosts brunch, lunch and dinner with house cocktails and Minnesota craft beer, and it features a gluten-free menu for those who need it. Retail sits just a short drive down West 70th Street, with the Galleria Mall offering high-end stores, such as Coach and Tiffany & Co. AMC Southdale 16, a multiscreen movie theater, stands in the same location and shows the latest films on Dolby digital, IMAX and REALD 3D screens. For points of interest in Minneapolis, such as Vikings’ and Twins’ games or the Minneapolis Museum of Art, Interstate 494 and state Route 100 outline the neighborhood, providing easy access by car in roughly 20 minutes.

Hooper points out the “cutting-edge healthcare” available in the area. Providers such as Edina Sports + Family Medicine and Allina Health serve the local community, and M Health Fairview Clinic, run by a partnership between University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services, employs more than 3,000 providers in over 100 specialties.

Written By

Colleen Seidel

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Rowell

Video By

Kellan Beaver