948 Northeast 18th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN

Saved by the local community

A 137-year-old Minneapolis landmark was almost demolished for a parking lot.

The John Cook House at 948 18th Ave NE in Northeast Minneapolis was built in 1889 by local mason and builder John L. Cook, who originally constructed the Queen Anne-style brick home for himself.

The house is one of the city’s more unusual surviving examples of Queen Anne architecture. Features including its cream-colored brick with red brick accents, hexagonal corner tower, stained-glass windows, and decorative woodwork helped earn the property official Minneapolis historic landmark designation in 2021.

The home also reflects the history of Northeast Minneapolis itself. After Cook moved to another nearby property, the house became a multi-family residence and later housed members of the area’s Scandinavian immigrant community, many of whom worked in Minneapolis mills, railroads, and local businesses during the neighborhood’s early growth.

Over time, the property fell into severe disrepair. It was added to the city’s vacant building registry, condemned in 2020 for lack of maintenance, and became the center of years of preservation hearings, demolition requests, neighborhood opposition, and city debate.

The property owner sought approval to demolish the structure for redevelopment, but the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission denied the demolition request, citing the home’s historic significance and the possibility of restoration.

Now, a coalition of Northeast Minneapolis residents, business owners, preservation advocates, and contractors has stepped forward with plans to purchase and rehabilitate the property instead.

For now, one of Northeast Minneapolis’ oldest surviving homes remains standing.

948 Northeast 18th Avenue, Minneapolis, MN

Almost demolished, the local community stepped in, pooled resources, and purchased the John Cook House at 948 18th Ave NE to give the 137-year-old Minneapolis landmark another chance at restoration.

The future of the home is still uncertain, but for now, one of Northeast Minneapolis’ oldest surviving Queen Anne homes remains standing.