3137 Garfield St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418

3137 Garfield Street NE: a Q&A with the Sellers

1.  What compelled you to buy THIS house?

a) Brick exterior, steel I-Beam construction. This house is SOLID. We've yet to have a contractor or inspector in this house who isn't like "whoa, this house is going to last forever. They don't build 'em like this anymore..."

b) All the natural finishes and elements of this house -- the fieldstone fireplace and flagstone entryway, along with the cherry wall in the entryway took my breath away when we saw the house. I was actually opposed to a rambler/one-story until we saw this house. We're huge fans of the period woodwork, the hardwood floors, the pink bathroom, the unadulterated charm of a mid-century home.

c) The house had one occupant before us. It was built in 1957 by Waldo and Walda Henne, first-generation Lebanese immigrants. Waldo ran a grocery store on 33rd and Stinson (now a habitat house) and Walda cooked. Neither married and they basically built this house, lived in it and left it alone until they were too old to live here anymore.

d) As we were pulling away from the showing, the neighbors across the street shouted from their car "you want to live there! Buy that house! This neighborhood it awesome!" He is now the father of one of our son's friends. And he was right -- the neighborhood camaraderie here is unsurpassed.

e) Giant backyard. We like being outside.

2.  What is it about this house that makes it better than other homes?  What can other homes not match?

a) flow. This house was thoughtfully planned -- bedrooms in one end, entertaining central, with a healthy kitchen for its era. All the 'romper room' stuff in the basement, away from the more formal aspects of the house.

b) we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the radiant heating. So many homes have forced air, and that's OK -- the radiant heating is efficient, cost effective, and [at least in our experience] doesn't blow dust around. Like, at all.

c) location. Like I said above, you won't find a better block to live in Audubon or Waite Park. Fight me.

d) the brick exterior is unique among homes in this neighborhood.

e) The yard. Having a double lot makes this feel a lot less like a "city" house.

f) the picture window. It's just a lovely gazing point to watch the kids play, the turkeys wander through the front yard, the snow fall, the leaves turn. Sigh. I'll really miss the big picture window.

g) a fully functional lower level. Many houses in Northeast have a partially finished basement or some room -- but the head clearance and modern, solid nature of this house allows for the two extra bedrooms/rooms and bathroom, plus a monster-sized family room.

h) we adore the five-burner gas cooktop.

i) have we talked about the GarageMahal yet? oversized two-car garage, room for tons of tools and bikes, insulated and finished walls and floor. We sit in the garage and watch the neighborhood go by. It's kind of a palace.

3.  What unique activities did you do in this house?

Lots of backyard fires.

GARDENING. I didn't mention the monstro veggie garden in the backyard during question 2. Funny story: we met because of our mutual love of growing and preserving our own food. Then when we bought this house, the STrib picked up our story and wrote an article about young people moving to older houses that had turned over in the city and gardening in them. We turned the backyard into urban permaculture -- strategically. We've been permitted for backyard chickens (super fun), we have  native perennials that are proven strong pollinators for fruits and vegetables. The two raingardens on the south side of the property ensure that excess rainwater goes back into ground water and doesn't run off into the streets, lakes, and rivers.

We had a huge canning and preserved food operation, largely because we had the storage to do so.

Commuting on bike. You can't always commute on bike, but from this neighborhood and this house, it's a snap (nice garage + location.)

Fires during snowstorms: It's so great to cozy up to a wood-burning fire during a snowstorm and watch it pile up while you are nice and snug.

morning coffee in the porch

Entertaining: we love to entertain. Two full levels of space means we hosted thanksgiving most years -- some folks crashing into food comas in the family room downstairs while others sat around with wine and dessert upstairs. Two separate dining areas allows for huge parties.

THE BAR: FYI, that bar is called the Jam Jar Lounge (see our canning/gardening stories above) and if a buyer knows that reference, I want to sell them this house. We entertained at the bar. Often.

SHUFFLEBOARD: speaking of downstairs, who else plays shuffleboard during indoor winter parties?

4.  What have been your favorite activities to do / places to visit in the neighborhood and surrounding areas?

Walk to the parks nearby (Audubon and Waite both within walking distance; the dog park isn't too far away either)

Hazels, Sarah Jane's donuts, The Coffee Shop NE, Knit & Bolt (formerly Craft Planet) -- all great walks.

Honestly, this neighborhood is ridiculously bikeable and walkable. just a daily stroll around the hood is glorious. I'll deeply miss that, too.

We're close enough to all the Northeast hotness -- Art a Whirl, Breweries, etc. -- and far enough away that Pedal Pubs don't come down our street.

I deeply regret moving so far away from the Northeast Co-op.

Even the basics: Target, Cub, Home Depot -- are a stone's throw away at the Quarry.

Also, our fabulous gym is within walking/biking distance.

We walked our kids to preschool and elementary school.

Tons of festivals and fun -- Johnson street businesses do a spring festival and trick or treating every year. Art a Whirl is a bike ride away. No joke, there are 30 breweries within cycling distance.

5.  What do people say when they come here to visit you?

"OMG, it's so much bigger than it looks on the outside!"

"I love your... floors, woodwork, bathroom, fireplace, basement, kitchen, garage, yard"

Lots of comments on the views

The fenced backyard always gets compliments -- space, the gardens, and the inviting nature of it.