Lyndale Neighborhood
A Story of Success

The Lyndale Neighborhood has a remarkable story of success.  Over the past 30 years Lyndale residents have worked together to fight crime, transform the neighborhood’s housing stock, initiate economic development, provide youth enrichment programs, and most importantly build community.

The Lyndale neighborhood is located in the heart of South Minneapolis (The boundaries are Lake Street on the north, 36th Street on the south, Lyndale Avenue on the west and 35W on the east). 

The Lyndale Neighborhood developed and operates under the “Lyndale Model.”  A nationally recognized asset based model of community organizing that encourages individual residents with the resources, respect, and encouragement they deserve to propose, develop, and lead programs for the neighborhood.  Using this model has helped Lyndale develop one of the strongest and most active neighborhoods in Minneapolis.  Lyndale’s programs and activities involve over 1,000 Lyndale residents each year as both volunteers and participants.

As a neighborhood Lyndale has always worked tenaciously to leverage outside resources to provide for the Lyndale’s needs.  This has resulted in Lyndale leveraging over $50 million dollars for neighborhood activities and programs.

Awards

• Do Something Brick Awards to Joseph Barisonzi (1997)
• Neighborhood of the Year by Neighborhoods USA (1999)
• Fostering Agency Excellence Award by the United Way in recognition of fostering outstanding program excellence, community involvement, and integrated service delivery (2001)
• Best Community Building Project by NRP Neighborhood Conference for Lyndale Initiatives: Block Clubs Deluxe, Mujeres Latinas en Accion, Youth Leadership Initiative (2001)
• Strong Communities Award to Laura Johansson for her outstanding community service by the Blaisdell YMCA (2001)
• First Place Minneapolis Blooms Award presented to the Lyndale Environment Committee for the Lyndale Community Rain Garden (2006)

Housing and Economic Development
Leverage: Over $50 million in private dollars has been leveraged for the neighborhood by home, business, and apartment owners in Lyndale.   This includes attracting the Tubman Family Alliance, $8 million for the 3310 condo project, $2 million for the 31st Street Town Homes, Agape Hospice, and investment through grant and loan programs for hundreds of Lyndale property owners.

Accomplishments:  Through the use of NRP programs and the funding that is leveraged with these programs, Lyndale has been able to revitalize the neighborhood’s housing stock, improve the physical “look” of local businesses and develop significant new homeownership options for single family homes, town homes, and condominiums. 

Lyndale has developed partnerships with developers, the city, county and state government, other CDC’s, business owners, residents, and many others to achieve our housing improvement and development goals.  Through Lyndale’s work:

• Home values have significantly increased
• The first new housing in many years was built on South Nicollet Avenue
• The first LEED for Homes development in Minneapolis is currently under construction.

Human Development
Leverage: Over $1 million has been raised to accomplish neighborhood goals from a variety of public and private sources including: The State of Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning, McKnight Foundation, Otto Bremer Foundation, United Way, Best Buy Children's Foundation, Butler Family Foundation, Kopp Family Foundation, and First Universalist Foundation

Accomplishments:  Through its work with youth and families, Lyndale has been able to make stronger connections between residents from all backgrounds and experiences. Specifically, Lyndale has developed the Lyndale Program Fund, which has used leveraged funds to sponsor activities, such as

• Community Meals at Zion Lutheran Church
• The world music series at Hosmer Library
• A computer lab in the neighborhood office

Lyndale’s Latino and Somali organizers have worked hard to develop connections with Lyndale’s diverse populations.  Through their efforts Lyndale has active women’s groups for both Somali and Latino women living in the neighborhood.  In turn, these groups give back by helping organize cultural events for the whole neighborhood like the annual La Posada and Eid celebrations. 

Crime Prevention and Safety
Leverage: Over $650,000 has been raised to accomplish neighborhood goals including: The State of Minnesota Department of Drug Policy and Violence Prevention, State of Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning, McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation and United Way.

Accomplishments:  Lyndale has made significant strides in crime prevention through its Crime and Drug Committee.  The Committee actively partners with the 5th Police Precinct, residents, apartment owners, and businesses to fight crime.  Activities have included:

• Establishing the Lyndale Walkers – one of the first neighborhood walking patrol programs in Minneapolis.
• Paying for a neighborhood “Bike Cops” program
• Safety and security trainings for members of Lyndale’s cultural communities 

Lyndale has also worked to organize residents to become more active in preparing and submitting victim impact statements to address the most serious crimes committed in the neighborhood by the most chronic offenders as part of an emerging Court Watch program. 

Lyndale has also been able to recruit, train and keep over 30 block club leaders organized out of the 50 blocks that exist in the neighborhood.  Block club leaders are responsible for keeping members of their block in the loop on what’s happening and for Lyndale’s increasingly successful National Night Out activities and events.

Environment
Leverage: Over $100,000 has been raised to accomplish neighborhood goals from a variety of public and private sources including: Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA), The Solid Waste Coordinating Board, Honeywell Foundation, and Smikis Foundation.

Accomplishments:  Lyndale’s Environment Committee has been working to transform Lyndale into an environmentally sustainable neighborhood.  The Environment Committee has been extremely successful in its work.  From ownership and management of three gardens to raising funding to assist and educate residents, the Environment Committee has been able to bring environmental issues to the forefront of the neighborhood’s focus. 

The Lyndale neighborhood has an official rain garden, a Youth Farm and Market Project garden and a garden open to residents as well as a small pocket park that residents use to gather and play.  Lyndale has provided training and funding for residents who wish to develop their own rain gardens, increase their impervious surfaces and plant native plants. 

The Environment Committee has also created programs to reduce waste in the neighborhood, including “Litter Outta Lyndale” which has become an annual series of event to encourage residents to take an active role in keeping the neighborhood clean and free of litter.  The Environment Committee has also been very active in assisting developers in the neighborhood to access environmental resources and to add “green” aspects to their developments.

Art and Culture
Leverage: Over $200,000 has been raised to accomplish neighborhood goals from a variety of public and private sources including: Metropolitan Regional Arts Commission (MRAC), COMPAS, Dayton Hudson Foundation, and the Target Foundation.

Accomplishments:  Lyndale Arts and Culture activities have included annual events such as the Lyndale Bazaar and Fish Fest, which are events designed to build community while acting as a showcase for the work of Lyndale artists.  Lyndale was also responsible for the fish murals on the water lift station at Garfield and 33rd.  Lyndale is now using arts and culture activities as an innovative tool to organize Lyndale residents in their 20s and 30s as well as apartment dwellers through LEAP (Lyndale Event and Activity Planners) who organize monthly arts and culture activities for Lyndale residents.