The Changing Face of the Twin Cities in 10 Before-and-After Photos

Straddling the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis – largest city in Minnesota – and Saint Paul—the state capital – make up the second-largest economic center in the Midwest. That means a lot of opportunities for people to live, work, and play in a vibrant and exciting urban landscape that’s still surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

While Minneapolis and Saint Paul are perhaps the most well-known example of the phenomenon of “twin cities,” they are actually remarkably distinct from one-another in a lot of ways, allowing for residents to experience the best that both cities have to offer. As the slightly younger of the two, Minneapolis was once called the “Mill City,” a heritage that can still be seen at the Mill City Museum, built in what was once the largest flour mill in the world, overlooking the Saint Anthony Falls. As such, Minneapolis boasts more modern skyscrapers, while its slightly-older sibling Saint Paul has been compared to a European city, complete with distinctive neighborhoods and well-preserved late-Victorian architecture.

Today, both cities are growing and offering new and exciting opportunities for residents throughout the region. Thanks to the magic of Google Street View, RentCafe is here to take you on a short trip through the recent history of the Twin Cities to show you how the city’s streetscape has changed over the past decade.

To switch between the old and new images, simply drag the arrow back-and-forth.

1. Latitude 45 (2015) – Downtown West, Minneapolis

Upscale city living comes home to Minneapolis at the newly-completed apartments at Latitude 45. Located just minutes away from the new Vikings stadium, the North Loop, Wells Fargo’s downtown campus, and the green space of the Downtown East Urban Park, this 320-unit rental community boasts high-end amenities including a rooftop pool, a wine bar, a penthouse-level sky lounge, and the full-service Ryan Burnet Restaurant on the ground floor.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

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2. The Nic on Fifth (2014) – Downtown West, Minneapolis

Created as the first luxury high-rise apartment development in downtown Minneapolis in almost thirty years, The Nic on Fifth was designed to align with the city’s plans to double the downtown residential population by 2025. The 26-story building includes more than 250 units with 26 penthouses, and boasts 30,000 square feet of amenity space, as well as 20,000 square feet of retail space on the street and skyway levels.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/2-The-Nic-on-Fifth.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

3. WaHu Student Living (2013) – Prospect Park, Minneapolis

Located just off the University of Minnesota campus, the brightly-colored buildings of the WaHu Student Living apartments are hard to miss! With a range of amenities designed around student life – including an outdoor fire pit, 24-hour gym, theater room, study lounges, and a Blaze Pizza location right on-site – WaHu Student Living helps students to embrace both their social and their academic side, all in one convenient location. The apartment complex was 2015’s biggest rental development to hit the Minneapolis market, with 329 units.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/3-WaHu.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

4. University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital (2014) – Cedar Riverside, Minneapolis

Located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, at 2450 Riverside Ave, the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital was redesigned and renamed in 2014 after a $25 million donation from Minnesota Masons. The newly-refurbished Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital offers a vast array of pediatric services all under one roof, including surgery, imaging, neonatal and pediatric intensive care, as well as programs for blood, marrow, and organ transplants.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/4-University-of-Minnesota-Masonic-Children-s-Hospital.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

5. TCF Bank Stadium (2009) – Prospect Park, Minneapolis

When it was completed in 2009, the TCF Bank Stadium became the first new football stadium in the Big Ten since 1960, as well as the first LEED certified college football stadium in the United States. With a seating capacity of more than 50,000, the TCF Bank Stadium also boasts one of the largest high definition video displays in college sports, measuring 48′ high by more than 100′ wide.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/5-TCF-Bank-Stadium.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

6. Phoenix On the River (2008) – Marcy-Holmes, Minneapolis

Situated in the midst of a vibrant urban neighborhood on the banks of the Mississippi River, offering stunning views of St. Anthony Falls, the Stone Arch Bridge, and the Minneapolis skyline, all visible from the landscaped river terrace on the sixth floor rooftop, it’s difficult to top Phoenix on the River for luxury living in the heart of Minneapolis. A variety of floor plans are available, all equipped with lavish amenities, and all the conveniences you’ve come to expect from upscale urban living.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/6-Phoenix-On-the-River.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

7. Radisson Blu at the Mall of America (2013) – Bloomington

For those who don’t call the Twin Cities home but still want to see what this stunning region has to offer, the new Radisson Blu at the Mall of America offers luxurious rooms and easy access to the nation’s largest indoor mall and entertainment area. From your room, you can simply walk across the skyway to the Mall of America, and find all the restaurants, shopping, and fun right outside your front door!

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/7-Radisson-Blu-at-the-Mall-of-America.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

8. 8200 Tower (2007) – Bloomington

Built with sustainability and efficiency in mind, the LEED-Gold certified 8200 Tower is a stunning addition to the Bloomington skyline, located on the shores of Mt. Normandale Lake. The 11-story office building offers more than 270,000 square feet of rentable office space, as well as an attached parking ramp including climate-controlled executive parking, all in the midst of the amenities offered by the Normandale Lake Office Park, including restaurants and retail on-site.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/8-8200-Tower.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

9. One Southdale Place (2014) – Edina

With three connected buildings filled with more than 200 apartments surrounding a courtyard pool, One Southdale Place is condo-style living at its finest, offering floor plans to suit any lifestyle. Situated in a neighborhood that offers fine dining, high-end retail, spas, and green space all right outside your front door, One Southdale Place also boasts a wide range of on-site amenities, including a Sky Lounge rooftop terrace and a club room with a private theater.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/9-One-Southdale-Place.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

10. Peter J. King Emergency Care Center (2011) – West Seventh, St. Paul

With more than two-dozen private examination rooms that have been specially designed to prevent cross-infection, as well as a dozen observation rooms and six secure psychiatric rooms, the new Peter J. King Emergency Care Center is ready to provide the highest quality care for everything “from heart attacks to tornado victims”, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Link to Street View

Use the code below to embed the image on your website:

<iframe src=”https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2016/03/10-Peter-J-King-Emergency-Care-Center.html” width=”100%” max-width=”570″ height=”540″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”></iframe>

Home to beauty, history, and culture, the Twin Cities only seem to grow more beautiful with each passing day, thanks to the addition of striking new architectural landmarks throughout Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and beyond. Let us know if we missed any of your favorite locales in the Twin Cities, and don’t forget to send photos! You never know, they might just show up in the next installment…