Milwaukee Avenue tour celebrates neighborhood’s 30-year preservation
Residents of Minneapolis’ Milwaukee Avenue Historic District will host their first-ever Historic Milwaukee Avenue Home Tour, on Sunday, September 23, noon to 5 p.m.

The self-guided tour celebrates the 30th anniversary of a remarkable preservation success story. Visitors will learn about this unique urban district in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis and enjoy a rare opportunity to look inside an array of charming workmen’s homes, many dating from the 1880s.

At least seven houses will be open for touring, representing a range of housing types that were either restored, rehabilitated or designed as infill. All are in close walking distance along a car-free pedestrian mall, also a notable part of the 1970s preservation effort.

“The effort to preserve Milwaukee Avenue is a great success story,” said Bonnie McDonald, executive director of Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. “Seward neighborhood residents and the City of Minneapolis have remained committed to preserving this very unique avenue lined with the modest workers’ homes. It is a tangible view into the lives of those who really built Minneapolis.”

Tour proceeds will benefit the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and the Seward Neighborhood Group. Tickets will cost $10 in advance of the event, and $15 on the day of the event. Purchase tickets by calling the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota at (651) 293-9047.

About the Milwaukee Avenue preservation effort: Thirty-some years ago, the City of Minneapolis made plans to raze several city blocks in west Seward in an effort to improve urban housing stock. Visionary neighbors, many of who still live on or near the block, fought to save these homes and succeeded in preserving many of them. In 1977, the avenue earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its status as an urban district whose homes commonly housed immigrant laborers.

To see photos of Milwaukee Avenue by Bob Roscoe of Design for Preservation and others, click here. Bob Roscoe is also featured in this WCCO-TV report on Milwaukee Avenue. I also found this piece by Julia Schrenkler on Gather.com ... it features photographs of flowers and trees on bucolic Milwaukee Avenue.

About Preservation Alliance of Minnesota: The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) is the only statewide, private, non-profit organization advocating the preservation of Minnesota’s historic resources. PAM was established in 1981 by citizens concerned about the loss of irreplaceable segments of our state's heritage: structures, neighborhoods, community fabric. Today, PAM works with groups like the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to preserve our communities.

About Seward Neighborhood Group: The Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG) is one of the oldest neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis. SNG was established in 1960 to make Seward a better place to live, work and play and is recognized by the City of Minneapolis as the official citizen participation organization within the boundaries of the Seward neighborhood.