The Longfellow neighborhood is a local favorite for people looking for older, charming homes, a tight-knit neighborhood feel, and great walkability/bikeability to Iowa City’s downtown district. The Longfellow neighborhood is located on the east side of Iowa City about about one mile from downtown and characterized by older, generally well-kept homes and tree-lined streets. For a visual peek of the neighborhood, be sure to watch my YouTube video tour of the Longfellow Neighborhood, which can be found here.
If you’re in the market for a “classic Iowa City” home, this neighborhood should be high your list for desirable locations. With a healthy mix of single family homes and rentals, this neighborhood appeals to many! While many of the homes are small to medium sized, Summit Street is stomping grounds to some of Iowa City’s grandest large old homes. Home in a variety of price points are available in this neighborhood.
Most of the homes in the neighborhood were built between 1910 and 1940 and were built in small to medium styles showcasing the styles of the time. The Longfellow neighborhood was named after the neighborhood elementary school, Longfellow Elementary, which was completed in 1919, and underwent major recent renovations, finishing up in 2018. The Longfellow District is one of seven Historic Districts of Iowa City and also on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you’re visiting Longfellow neighborhood, or considering a move to the area a stroll along its quiet, tree-lined streets would be an excellent way to get a feel for the area. You could also take walk along the Longfellow Nature Trail, which runs along Ralson Creek. Access to the trail can be found along Sheridan Ave., between Grant and Rundell Streets. If you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, be sure to visit Deluxe Cakes and Pastries, a chic cottage bakery that specializes in French-style pastries, cookies, cakes and croissants, as well as sandwiches, brunch items and reimagined soft serve ice cream.
Another fun event in the area is the neighborhood’s Front Porch Music Festival, which happens in the summer, and is a grassroots event celebrating community and local musicians. Spectators are encouraged to walk from porch to porch of participating homes and listen to the musical offerings of performers, ranging from young to old and amateur to professional!
