There's so much to like about Crocus Hill.
One of the St. Paul residential districts encompassed by the larger Summit Hill district, the Crocus Hill neighborhood is among the city's most popular. Bounded by Interstate 35E to the east, Lexington Avenue to the west, and Summit and St. Clair avenues to the north and south, it's easy to get to and hard to leave.
"A few houses were built before 1900, but the majority of the houses in Crocus were built from 1900 to 1920," said longtime resident and real estate agent Mary Hardy. "The further you go east, the older they are."
That's because after St. Paul was founded along the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s, development spread uphill and to the west from downtown.
"Between 1900 to 1910 would be your classic Crocus [home] with the big front porch and the three stories," said Hardy, who sells homes in the area for Edina Realty. "It's one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city, I think. There are beautiful homes, lots of pride of ownership."
Two things that stand out for most people are Crocus Hill's walkability and friendliness. Residents can park their cars at the end of a work day and walk to the restaurants, bars and shops on Grand Avenue. They get to know one another along the way, and have neighborhood get-togethers.
Proximity to Grand Avenue has other advantages. It is home to the annual Grand Old Day street festival, held the first weekend in June. Grand Old Day draws thousands to the city's longest street for music, food, entertainment, shopping and people-watching. The day kicks off with a race and a family fun run, followed by a parade.
Children may take part in city-sponsored summer camps at Linwood Recreation Center and recreation there throughout the year, including a skating rink. Linwood also has a gym, yoga and fitness classes, and a community garden.
