Some houses are haunted by ghosts. Others are haunted by bad decisions. And then there is 2737 E. Lake of the Isles Parkway.
For those who have followed this ongoing neighborhood saga, welcome back.
For those who haven’t, here is the short version: Terry Persaud bought this beautiful home in 2012. It has been vacant for more than a decade. Yes, you read that correctly. More than a decade.
How We Got Here
After years of neglect, unpaid taxes and fines, Hennepin County seized the property in 2023.
“Apparently, the plan was to have a plan.”
Neighbors thought perhaps this was the moment the story would finally have a happy ending. The house could be sold to someone who would restore it, bring it back to life and once again make it a home.
Instead, the county gave Mr. Persaud the opportunity to get the property back after he paid roughly $63,000 in taxes and fines. He told officials and neighbors that he would renovate the house and move in. He had a plan.
Apparently, the plan was to have a plan.
More than a year after his promise to fix up the house, the promised renovation has not materialized. The house remains vacant. The ground level is now completely boarded up.
And the yard once again becomes a summer attraction for weeds. The weeds don’t seem to recognize property lines. They grow tall, spread toward the park across the street and creep toward neighboring properties.
“A promise to renovate a property without actually renovating it begins to sound less like a plan and more like a ghost story.”
A Mystery on the Parkway
So here we are. A beautiful old home on one of Minneapolis’ most beautiful parkways sits empty and deteriorating while the surrounding neighborhood tries to move forward.
And there is something almost comical about the mystery.
Why would someone spend tens of thousands of dollars on property taxes and fines to retain a house they apparently have no intention of living in or fixing?
Perhaps the gate to hell really is in the basement. Perhaps there is buried treasure underneath the foundation. Perhaps there are bodies. We don’t know. Maybe Mr. Persaud does.
What we do know is that he has repeatedly said he intends to fix the house. And at some point, a promise to renovate a property without actually renovating it begins to sound less like a plan and more like a ghost story.
There is another irony here. Mr. Persaud is a landlord. One would assume that a person who owns rental property understands that being a property owner comes with responsibilities beyond writing a check for the property tax bill.
Where the City and County Stand
To be fair, the city of Minneapolis has taken enforcement steps, including placing the property in its prolonged-vacancy program.
The county made a decision that allowed the owner to retain this property despite years of vacancy and deterioration. The county is collecting its property taxes. But a vacant, deteriorating house does not produce the same value to the community as a restored, occupied home.
This isn’t about demanding every property be perfect. It is about a house that has sat empty for more than 10 years while the surrounding community has had to live with the consequences.
Take a Walk
Neighborhoods surrounding Lake of the Isles remain among the city’s great assets. People walk, run and stroll these streets and parkways.
They come from all corners of the larger community to enjoy the park, and sitting right there for all to see is the haunted house of East Isles.
As Halloween approaches, perhaps it deserves a little more attention. Come take a walk around the lake. Take in the scenery. But keep an eye out.
You might see a ghost or a monster or even someone working on 2737. That last one, frankly, might be the scariest sight of all.
Mike Erlandson writes for the Hill & Lake Press. He lives in East Isles.
