Overview

The Golden Valley Road Apartments Historic District has seven apartment buildings. They were designed by master architect Perry Crosier. They reflect the Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles. 

• Location: Seven parcels located along Golden Valley Road between Sheridan Avenue North and Vincent Avenue North
  • 1900 Thomas Avenue North
  • 1900 Upton Avenue North
  • 2509, 2517, 2601, 2711, and 2721 Golden Valley Road
• Neighborhood: Willard-Hay

Map and guidelines

See the map and design guidelines for this district

Historic profile

The Golden Valley Road Apartments Historic District has seven apartment buildings. They were designed by master architect Perry Crosier. They reflect the Spanish Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles. They were built after the Broadway Avenue streetcar line was extended in 1923. 

This area had been settled by farmers. They built single-family houses. Then the streetcar system began in the late 1800s. It expanded in the early 1900s. The Broadway Avenue streetcar line was an important crosstown line. It connected North Minneapolis residents to Northeast and downtown. Streetcar lines sparked housing development. In the 1920s, apartment buildings became more popular. They increased density and housing options for families. 

Perry Crosier designed 10 apartment buildings on Golden Valley Road. They were built between Russell Avenue North and Vincent Avenue North. Three have been demolished. The remaining seven form this district. They are 2.5 stories tall. Most have walkout basements for a storefront. These are now housing units. Crosier designed over 100 apartment buildings in Minneapolis. He was also known for theater design. 

Period Revival architecture was very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most of the district reflects the Spanish Colonial Revival style. This style imitated the southwestern United States and Mexico. Elements include red terracotta roof tiles, archways, and patterned brickwork. Granada Court at 2517 Golden Valley Road has red minarets by the basement entrance. The Tudor Revival style recalled Medieval houses in England. A common feature was half-timbering on stucco walls. Brick cladding became more common after 1920. The building at 2601 Golden Valley Road is an example of this style.