What's in the neighborhood

Green space: Eloise Butler Wildflower garden, Theodore Wirth Park, North Commons Park, North Mississippi Regional Park, Webber Park, Victory Memorial Drive.

Eateries/coffeehouses: Sauced, Brickhouse BBQ, Papa's Pizza, Steamworks Coffee, Milda's Cafe, Bean Scene, Joy Luck, Tootie's, Broadway Pizza, Emily's F&M Cafe.

Shopping: Cub and Aldi Foods, Guilded Salvage Antiques, North End Hardware, Hardware Hank.

Other: Webber pool and library, Homewood Studios, Capri Theater, North Regional Public Library, Lundstrum Center for Performing Arts.

Upcoming revitalization projects

Mulitfamily housing. Two housing projects, totaling 96 units, along W. Broadway are scheduled to break ground next year.

Penn-Plymouth intersection. The project will yield a $90 million expansion of the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center and will include a new YMCA fitness facility and a new University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC).

North End Hardware expansion. The locally owned store has been on Penn and Lowry since 1929.

Capri Theater makeover. The W. Broadway theater is slated for renovation and expansion.

Technical assistance to North Side entrepreneurs. Two organizations, the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) and Women Venture, are currently providing technical assistance to North Side business owners.

Source: Minneapolis City Planning Department

Home buyer and repair assistance

• Financial assistance programs are available from the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corp.

• The Neighborhood Revitalization Program has low-interest loans to rehab homes in specific neighborhoods.

• Down-payment assistance is available in the form of zero-interest deferred loans for homes in the Folwell, Webber-Camden and McKinley neighborhoods.

• The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency also offers low-interest fix-up funds and down-payment-assistance programs.

• For information on programs, call the Northwest Housing Resource Center, 612-588-3033.

GLBT Northsiders Tour

Home buyer tours will be held Sept. 28 and Oct. 26. For details go to glbtnorthsiders.blogspot.com or send e-mail inquiries to MyNewNeighbor @gmail.com.

SPOTLIGHT NORTH MINNEAPOLIS