“Sumner-Glenwood” might not ring a bell for everyone. But its story is woven into the very fabric of Minneapolis. We are standing in what is now called Heritage Park. But this area was historically known as Sumner-Glenwood.
Sumner-Glenwood sits in the Near North community. This neighborhood is small. It includes about 15 city blocks. You will find it bordered by 11th Avenue North. Glenwood Avenue marks the southern edge. Interstate 94 is to the east. Girard Terrace and Emerson Avenue North are to the west.
Once, this area looked very different. In 1938, the WPA built the Sumner Field Homes here. These were the first federally subsidized homes in Minnesota. Later, high-rise housing projects went up in the 1960s and 1970s.
But by the late 1990s, things had changed. The Sumner Field Homes and other projects came down in 1998. The population plummeted. From 3336 residents in 1990 to a mere 144 in 2000. That is a staggering 95.7% loss.
The city had a plan. They wanted to rebuild Sumner-Glenwood. The goal was to blend it back into the surrounding street grid. New buildings would follow a “New Urbanism” style. Affordable and market-rate housing would stand side by side.
This new community became Heritage Park. McCormack Baron Salazar developed it with HOPE VI grants. One of the new streets bears a special name. It is Van White Memorial Boulevard. Van White was the first African-American on the Minneapolis City Council.
Sumner-Glenwood has a fascinating demographic history. Before the demolition, it was home to many. In the 1980s, a large Hmong community lived here. By 1998, 66% of residents were Asian, Hmong, or Pacific Islander. 29% were Black. Only 5% were White.
Today, the neighborhood is more diverse. In 2020, the population was around 2003 people. About 78.5% are Black or African American. 12.2% are White.
Sumner-Glenwood and Heritage Park represent change. They show a commitment to building a mixed-income community. It is a place with a rich past and an evolving future.