Garden District of New Orleans Real Estate and Community Info

Named one of Travel + Leisure’s Most Beautiful Neighborhoods, the Garden District is located minutes from downtown New Orleans. The neighborhood is known for its gardens, of course, as well as its 19th century mansions on St. Charles, Magazine, Jackson, and Washington streets. The neighborhood is home to Mardi Gras luminaries as well as Anne Rice, the popular horror writer, whose novels depict the district’s Lafayette Cemetery. Other celebrities who call the Garden District home include Archie and Peyton Manning, Nicolas Cage, John Goodman, and Sandra Bullock. The district was also the site of the award-winning film, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” But despite its prominent history, the Garden District is anything but pretentious. The neighborhood is an eclectic mix of old and new, traditional and modern, funky and refined. There are some distinctions made between the Garden District and Uptown, although the two communities share commercial areas.

History

After the Louisiana Purchase, people flocked to the city. Racial tension and overcrowding in the French Quarter caused the newly arrived to migrate, where they settled in Lafayette, now part of the Garden District. The district itself was laid out by Barthelemy Lafon in 1806. The topography of the area shows a system of correlating parks with basins, fountains, and canals. During most of the 19th century, much of the nouveau riche made the Garden District their home. Their grand Victorian homes often showcased English-style gardens, which were considered to be the mark of high style and elegance. Lots were divided into “Gingerbread” style homes so that a home with 20+ rooms was surrounded by smaller structures.

Shopping and Dining

St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street are two of the city’s most well-known and loved commercial areas. Locals take streetcars to the many bookstores, antique shops, clothing boutiques, coffee houses, cafés, bars, and restaurants. Many of these locally-owned businesses are housed in renovated Victorian homes, adding to the district’s charm. Prima Donna’s Closet, Contemporary Creations, Funky Monkey, C. Collection, Azby’s, and The Encore Shoppe are some of the popular clothing shops. The Garden District Book Shop in the Rink (a former 19th skating rink) is Anne Rice’s favorite bookstore and where she holds her first signings. Maple Street Bookstore, Maple Street Children’s Bookstore, Blue Cypress Books, McKeown’s Books and Difficult Music, and Octavia Books are also in the neighborhood.

The Garden District also has a plethora of antique and home design shops, which draw residents from around the city, including Home Hook and Ladder, Orient Expressed Imports, Wirthmore Antiques, Piranesi Antiques, Ann Koerner Antiques, and Driscoll Antiques, Restoration & Design. After an enjoyable day of shopping, or for a delightful night out, the district has a number of popular and award-winning restaurants. One of the city’s best known is Commander's Palace. The Rum House, Sucré, Coquette Bistro & Wine Bar, The Grocery, Slim Goodies Diner, and The Bull Dog are just a few local favorites.

Parks and Recreation

Guided and self-guided walking tours offer a glimpse into the Garden District’s illustrious past. Historic landmarks include Lafayette Cemetery, The Commander’s Palace, The George Washington Cable House, Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel, and The Rink. The neighborhood has a number of smaller parks and squares, including Coliseum Square and Clay Square. It is also minutes away from Audubon Park, which has a zoo, aquarium, insectarium, golfcourse, IMAX theater, and sports fields.

Living

The neighborhood’s history, location, and amenities have made it a desirable place to live. Garden District real estate includes condos in the $200,000s and 8 bed/6 bath homes in the mid-$500,000s. At around $70,000, the median household income is higher than the city’s average of around $37,000. The average value of detached houses is considerably higher than the city’s overall average. Garden District real estate’s average value of houses, townhouses, and other attached units is also higher than the city’s average at around $290,000, compared with the city’s approximate $100,000 average.

Schools, Health, Transportation

Orleans Parish School Board serves the Garden District. Students attend Mary MacLeod Bethune Elementary, Benjamin Franklin Elementary, Laurel Elementary, McMain High School McDonogh 35 High School, and the private McGehee School and Trinity School. Tulane and Loyola universities are minutes away. LSU Hospital and Oschner Baptist Medical Center are local hospitals. The streetcar and New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) provide public transportation. The city airports are New Orleans Lakefront and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International. Major arterials are Pontchartrain Expressway (10) and Route 90.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (985) 307-1058 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.