Lake Street Station

Pros

• The station has beautiful facilities.
• The southside entrance is pretty well maintained, with no disgusting smells.
• The station is very convenient.
• The station looks great and features nice stone work.
• The station is safe, and police do a good job when they come through.
• The station sign is operable with ETAs of buses.
• The light rail station is very good.

Cons

• The station is described as the most trashy-looking station ever seen and is never clean.
• It is disgustingly dirty, with trash, broken glass, and a strong odor of urine.
• There are too many drug users on the platform and frequent drug deals.
• Transit police are regularly around and perceived as harassing people.
• The south-end elevator is out of order, hindering access.
• The area around the station is plagued by homelessness, drug use, and constant urine smells.
• The heating lamps do not work, contributing to an uncomfortable environment.

Review

Lake Street's light rail station sits at a curious crossroads of praise and alarm, a place where people notice both striking architectural details and a heavy, unsettled reality in the same breath. Several comments point to its "beautiful facilities" and solid design - two stories, nice stone work, an elevated platform, and shelters that offer some protection from the weather. Yet many reviewers immediately balance that with a stark counterpoint: the station can feel dirty, neglected, and in some visits downright harsh to navigate. The juxtaposition isn't accidental; it's the throughline of the place's reputation.

Several observations center on the practical quirks and occasional misfortunes of the station. On the upside, commuters note the convenience: it's "very convenient," with a well-placed location and an elevated platform that protects riders from the elements. There are also signs of ongoing accountability and investment: private security is sometimes praised, and Metro Transit staff and fare checkers reportedly make regular appearances, suggesting improvement and enforcement that some riders welcome. People anticipate a full refurbishment in the coming years, hinting that even the grimmer assessments may someday be tempered by updated infrastructure and better operations.

But the other side of the coin is hard to ignore. A chorus of reviews describes pervasive cleanliness issues: trash everywhere, broken glass, and a smell that's hard to miss. Some riders go so far as to call the station dismal or "the most trashiest looking" they've seen, with references to urine and odor permeating entrances and stairwells. A not-uncommon nickname arises from these conditions: the "Lake Street Piss station," a stark, unvarnished reminder of the human and societal challenges visible around the transit hub. For many, this isn't just about aesthetics - it's about what the environment communicates to riders daily.

Safety and behavior are a consistent source of tension. Several accounts describe drug use under the station's overpass, ongoing drug deals, and crowds that include "sketchy characters." Some riders report feeling harassed or approached in unsettling ways, while others insist that police perform well when they actually patrol. There are mixed impressions of law enforcement presence: complaints that transit police harass people in some posts contrast with other remarks that police do help and that their presence improves the environment. The stories are contradictory, but the underlying concern is loud and clear: safety and respect in public space vary dramatically by moment and patch of the station.

The social dynamics surrounding the station cast a long shadow. Comments frequently refer to homelessness and drug activity in and around entrances and stairwells, including mornings when the area feels particularly bleak or unwelcoming. The northside entrance near a strip mall is described as particularly repulsive at times, while the southside entrance by a school and office building is seen as better maintained. Some reviewers emphasize the contrast between the station's aesthetic ambition and the reality of daily life around it, noting a gritty urban feel where unpredictable encounters - ranging from hard drug use to substances spilled on floors - color the morning and evening commutes.

There's also a strong sense of volatility and place-specific identity. Reviewers recount a space that can swing from "super convenient" to a place you'd avoid with good reason, sometimes in the same week or even the same day. Expressions like "life changing" capture the extreme end of sentiment, suggesting that for some riders the station is a meaningful gateway to the city, while for others it's a source of anxiety or discomfort. The heating lamps that don't work, the occasional door of opportunity closed by maintenance delays, and the unpredictability of cleanliness all contribute to a sense that this is a stop that keeps you guessing.

In the end, Lake Street's station emerges as a complex mosaic. It is praised for its architectural strengths and practical accessibility, and it's criticized for conditions that range from neglect to outright problematic behavior. The recurring theme is not easy to distill into a single verdict but rather a candid portrait of a transit space in flux: a place that has real potential and real problems in nearly equal measure. If you're planning a trip, you'll encounter a station that is undeniably convenient and striking on one hand, and sometimes uncomfortable and fraught on the other - an environment that may improve with refurbishment and stronger policing, or may continue to test riders' patience as it currently stands.

This part of Minneapolis, Minnesota offers a mix of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a vibrant community. With a variety of restaurants ranging from American to Thai cuisine, there are plenty of dining options to explore. Additionally, the area has several parks nearby for leisurely walks or picnics, as well as hospitals and pharmacies for medical needs. For spiritual fulfillment, there are places of worship within a short drive. The transportation options make it convenient for seniors to get around the city with ease. Overall, this neighborhood provides a diverse range of resources and opportunities for senior living in a bustling urban setting.

Restaurants

• Matt's Bar (0.8 miles)
• Maxwell's American Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Sawatdee Thai Restaurant - Minneapolis (2.2 miles)
• Surly Brewing Company (2.2 miles)
• 19 Bar (2.2 miles)
• Hell's Kitchen (2.3 miles)
• Owamni (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Longfellow Park (1.2 miles)
• Franklin Terrace Off-Leash Dog Park (1.2 miles)
• Lake Hiawatha Park (1.7 miles)
• Gateway Dog Park - Off-Leash Play Area (2 miles)
• Mill Ruins Park (2.3 miles)
• Loring Park (2.5 miles)
• Wabun Picnic Area (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank Campus (1.6 miles)
• Csc Gi Lab (1.9 miles)
• Hennepin County Medical Center (1.9 miles)
• VA Medical Center (3.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Whittier Clinic (1.8 miles)
• HealthPartners Health Center for Women Clinic St Paul (2.2 miles)
• Dermatology Consultants P.A. (3.6 miles)
• Parkway Family Physicians (4.1 miles)
• Southwest Dermatology Specialist (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westminster Presbyterian Church (2.3 miles)
• WW Studio (4.2 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Roundtable Cof (2.4 miles)
• Dunn Brothers Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Spyhouse Coffee (2.7 miles)
• Groundswell (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Jinx Tea (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)

Transportation

• Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub (3.9 miles)
• Concourse E (4.7 miles)
• Concourse D (4.7 miles)
• Escape Lounge (4.7 miles)
• Concourse F (4.7 miles)
• Terminal 1-Lindbergh (4.8 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (4.9 miles)