From the category archives:

Minneapolis Lake Living

Last week I had the chance to tour the recently listed historic mansion on Lake of the Isles, located at 2427 Lake of the Isles. It is a beautiful Spanish Revival home that was built in 1911 by architect Frederick Soper. Most of the homes surrounding Lake of the Isles are priced above $1 Million and vary in architectural style. You’ll find Tudor Revivals, Queen Anne Victorians, Spanish Revivals, and more, all with-in a short distance from the Lake. Two of the most expensive homes, including the one photographed above, are priced above $5 Million. Inside these homes, the interior details are just as extraordinary as the exterior facades.

Lake of the Isles is a high demand area, what with the luxury homes and the short commute to downtown Minneapolis. It also offers an extensive trail system around the lake and down to Lake Calhoun, which is part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.

Below are some of the luxury historic homes currently
for sale in Minneapolis, on Lake of the Isles.

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Lake Nokomis is located just southeast of downtown Minneapolis and has always been a desirable place to live in Minneapolis. It’s origins began from glacial activity in the area which created a shallow depression, forming a marshland after the glaciers receded. The current 210 acre lake was originally named Lake Amelia in 1819, with its current name of Nokomis being given in 1910. In 1907, the lake only measured a maximum depth of 5 feet, but after a century of dredging, the current lake can go anywhere from 15 -33 feet deep in spots.

Residents love the area not only for the great neighborhoods surrounding the lake, but also for the recreational features Lake Nokomis provides. With almost three miles of walking paths, two beaches, a community center, softball fields, canoeing and sail boating, there is plenty to do in the summer and winter. If you are a hockey fan, there is even pond hockey available once the ice is thick enough, and you can play to your hearts content during the winter. You might be nudged out for a week though when the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships take over the lake, but at least you can enjoy the sport not too far from home.

As for the real estate surrounding Lake Nokomis, homes range in value from $100,000 up to a $900,000+, though the luxury homes are rare and very, very few. Most of the homes were built 1930 or later, so anyone thinking about buying in the area will find out that brand new homes, for the most part, do not exist in this area. Occasionally a home is torn down and a new home is built on the spot, but some of the lots can be small so only a small home can be placed on the lot.
Another feature of many homes surrounding Lake Nokomis is the detached garage. Behind each row of homes is an alley with which one can access the garage and backyard, or you can park on the street. Street parking can become tricky in the winter, though, when it is time for the snow plows to come. There are no homes that “sit” on the lake, or have lake frontage as part of their lot. The lake has roads around the 195 acres of parkland, and homes across the street are few and very desirable. At least this way, everyone has access to the lake.
Interesting Lake Nokomis Links:

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A local Realtor, Virginia Lord, has put together a great video about the history of Lake Minnetonka. She adds some great humor to telling the story. Sit back and enjoy!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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Dreaming of buying that waterfront property on Lake Minnetonka so you can sail around the lake? The neighbors belong to the local yacht club and you want to as well,but….Oh, that’s right, you don’t know how to actually captain a sailboat, let alone know the difference between the stern or bow. What is an adult to do?

This year you are in luck. No longer are classes available to just the youth, now adults can learn how to sail as well, thanks to the Upper Minnetonka Yacht Club. Beginning in June, they will be offering a sailing class for adults at the cost of $395. Sessions run four times, three hours each, and the sailing school says you will be able to sail without an instructor after the final class. I am seriously thinking about doing this myself!

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If you live any where near a lake in Minneapolis, chances are you might take up a winter sport. A big sport here in the winter is cross county skiing. In a big city, finding the space could be hard, but if you live on Lake Calhoun, as pictured here, you can have miles of track available to you just a few steps from your door. The scenery is quite nice too as you trek along!

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I have just added a Luxury Home Slideshow to the Minneapolis Luxury Real Estate Blog that highlights homes for sale in and around the Lake Minnetonka area. Prices of luxury homes in the area range from $53 Million down to $1 Million. My hopes are that you love it as much as I do and have a further opportunity to see what Luxury means in Minneapolis.

I would really appreciate any feedback you have about this new feature. Do you like it, hate it? Does it make the page too busy? Should I place it further down the page? Does it distract you from reading my great posts? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

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Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but most people don’t know we actually have over 15,000 lakes with 10 acres or more of lake bed.

This photo is of Diamond Lake in Minneapolis. After days of gloom, the sun finally decided to come out. The clouds are the gloom of the previous week being pushed East. I got to the lake just in time for the light to hit the water, catching this photo and a couple more. Ten minutes later, another cloud came by and blocked out the sun.

*all photos are Copyright of Jennifer Kirby and cannot be used without consent.

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If you are looking for a great place to sit back on a sunny afternoon and enjoy a beautiful fall day, then look no further than Minneapolis’ own backyard. Stop by Lake Harriet where you can enjoy swimming, fishing, walking, music, and much more. The Lake has 344 acres of water and 67 acres of land. With almost three miles of trails available, the park could be crowded but you would never know it.

Check out the Streetcar that travels from Linden Hills to Lake Harriet. The restored line takes you back in history and is another fun adventure for your day trip. The rides are seasonal so be sure to check out their schedule before you go. The #1300 I photographed below is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

According to the Minneapolis Park and Rec website, “Music has been part of the scene at Lake Harriet for over 100 years. The current band shell is the fifth music facility since 1888 and its design echoes the history of the area. The first music pavilion, built in 1888, was destroyed by fire in 1891. A new one was built, but in 1903 it, too, was destroyed by fire. The next pavilion, built in 1904, featured a classical rooftop. It was destroyed by a windstorm in 1925. In 1927, a temporary bandstand was erected and remained until 1985 when the current band shell was constructed.” See photo in filmstrip for current bandstand Pavilion.

You might wonder why I took a photo of the restroom. Well, this women’s restroom, as well a separate male restroom building, are actually quite historic. In 2002 they were restored to their original appearance and are the oldest two building in the Minneapolis park system.

If you have time, walk around some of the neighborhood streets that surround the lake. There are some beautiful examples of French Provincial, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Prairie, and Craftsman home design.

View some turn of the century photos of life on the lake: Swimmers and Row Boats, the second pavilion in 1895 and the third in 1904, the path around the lake in 1910.

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Last month a luxury estate, Southways, hit the real estate market at a record price of $53.5 Million. The home, which is listed with Coldwell Banker Burnet, sits on 1700 feet of Lake Minnetonka shoreline and boasts almost 13 acres. Located in Orono, the home was built and designed in 1918 by Harrie T. Lindeberg. It was used by the Pillsbury family as a summer retreat for 72 years! The current owners are the only others to ever own this grand home.

Take a peek at the inside and surrounding ground photos.

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With so many lakes in Minnesota it could easily get confusing on the quality of each lake. Thanks to the Department of Natural Resources, they do the research for you. All you have to do is fumble through the data.

On their website, you can look up the lake of your choice and then obtain information on water quality, water clarity, what types of fish the lake stocks, topography charts, and more. The DNR also offers Fish Consumption Advisories and lets local real estate owners know if certain species have higher than normal amounts of Mercury.

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