Here's a neighborhood guide to Milwaukee's Lindsay Heights

On the near-north side of Milwaukee is a neighborhood where residents, entrepreneurs and organizations work to build a tight-knit community.

Here's what to know about the Lindsay Heights neighborhood:

Where is the Lindsay Heights neighborhood?

The Lindsay Heights neighborhood is on Milwaukee's north side, near downtown. It's bordered by West Locust Street to the north, West Walnut Street to the south, North 12th Street to the east and North 20th Street to the west.

The neighborhood's history dates to the mid-1800s. Between 1842 and 1884, it centered around agriculture. Samuel Brown was a farmer and abolitionist who used his home as a shelter for fugitive slaves like Caroline Quarlls to use the Underground Railroad that passed through Wisconsin.

Lindsay Heights is named after Bernice Lindsay by the Common Council

Clayborn Benson, founding director of the Milwaukee Black Historical Society and Museum, said Lindsay Heights is the only neighborhood in Milwaukee named after a person.

Bernice Lindsay was an advocate for youth and adults. Between 1939 and 1945, she acquired land that would later be dedicated for returning veterans to build their homes. She also worked at the Young Women's Christian Association, serving as a housing director and executive director. Lindsay was fired for pointing out the organization's discriminatory policies.

In the 1940s, housing for Black people was poor, so Lindsay developed a public housing complex called Carver Memorial Homes on North Fourth Street.

She improved the wellness of kids on Walnut Street as she collaborated with the YMCA to bring activities such as swimming contests, baseball leagues and dances.

"Her collaborations with these organizations provided 90% of the activities for Black people on Walnut," Benson said.

In honor of Lindsay, a park at 4360 N. 87th St. was named after her.

With help from local organizations, Lindsay Heights overcame housing challenges

In the mid-1900s, much of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood was gutted due to the construction of what's now Interstate 43 and the later-abandoned Park West Freeway project. According to The Cultural Landscape Foundation, more than 8,000 homes and businesses were lost .

Efforts were made by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority in the 1990s to rebuild the homes. The Heart of Milwaukee was the first initiative it launched to increase homeownership for low- and moderate-income families.

"With community support, 165 new houses were built, 221 homes were rehabilitated and 350 existing buildings were renovated," according to WHEDA.

Lindsay Heights has popular restaurants

What was a former bank is now a restaurant called Coffee Makes You Black , 2803 N. Teutonia Ave. Bradley and Laurie Thurman started the Black-owned business in 2001. When walking into the building, expect to see African-American culture embraced through food and music. The restaurant is also used for financial literacy courses, Jazz nights and brunch specials.

A few miles away, you can spot 1700 Pull Up at 1848 W. Fond du Lac Ave. The restaurant opened in 2022 and is owned by Rosetta Bond. It was given to her after Chef Caitlyn Cullen decided to close her restaurant called the Tandem. That happened after Cullen gave away 115,000 meals during the COVID-19pandemic. 1700 Pull Up has a menu that changes daily. Some days, it features food Bond is known for, such as stuffed turkey legs and mac and cheese.

Neighborhood encourages wellness, wealth, community engagement and development

Some key neighborhood places include Walnut Way Conservatory Corp. , a nonprofit that invests in the neighborhood's economy and developmental works; Alice's Garden urban farm, a community garden and gathering spot at 2136 N. 21st St.; and Walnut Way's Innovations & Wellness Commons , a building providing wellness and health services to residents.

New to the neighborhood? Here's how to access Milwaukee services

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