Minneapolis' Prospect Park neighborhood is known for its "Witch's Hat" water tower, its proximity to the University of Minnesota and -- now -- its anointment as the state's best enclave of vintage homes.
That's according to This Old House magazine (www. thisoldhouse.com), which recently published its fourth annual list. The magazine picks one "timeless" neighborhood from each of the 50 states. (Last year's Minnesota winner was St. Cloud.)
Sandwiched between the U's Minneapolis campus and St. Paul, Prospect Park has nearly 800 dwellings, with 92 percent considered reflecting "historic integrity," according to the magazine. Editors also liked Prospect Park's "mazelike streets," century-old trees and "pristine gardens."
"In Minnesota, we're serious about our gardens, and in Prospect Park, you can ratchet that up quite a bit," said Joe Ring, a longtime resident and historic preservation chairman for the Prospect Park East River Road Improvement Association, quoted in the magazine.
And if you're interested in buying an old house of your own, Prospect Park offers good value, at least compared with many other historic Twin Cities neighborhoods. "Bargain hunters may find deals as low as $150,000 for a 1,200- to 1,500-square-foot house in need of updates," the magazine reports.
