One of the things I love about the New Orleans area is the fact that we don't have too many cookie cutter houses. There are wonderful areas to live that are not part of "subdivisions"...they are neighborhoods in the true sense of the word. Some of the most beautiful areas to live in are older, established and, in some cases, deemed historic.
To me, any house over 75 years old is a historic home. Lucky for us, we have a large selection of homes that give us a peek into the history of our city and the surrounding area. Some of them have been restored to their original grandeur, some have been completely modernized and some are waiting for the right person to come along and give them a facelift.
Relocating to the New Orleans area? When looking for a home in a historic neighborhood, don't dismiss the potential of converting a double into a single family home. At the time these homes were originally built, most people didn't live in really large houses and the kitchens were not the center of the home like they tend to be now. The process of converting a double to a single allows you to increase your living area by rethinking the entire footprint of a home and how the spaces are used. Kitchens and bathrooms can be relocated to more convenient locations, rooms expanded to accommodate our desire for open floorplans and updated mechanical systems can be installed.
There are some great local places that carry architectural items that can be used during renovation to maintain that old New Orleans look and feel. Some sources for replacement architectural items include:
- Crescent City Architectural Salvage
- Ricca's Architectural Sales of New Orleans
- Carrollton Lumber & Wrecking Company
What is available in the historic housing market?
There are currently over 60 historic homes for sale on the West Bank of New Orleans, with the majority of them located in Algiers Point. Since Algiers Point is the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, it makes sense that they have the largest number of historic homes available for sale. However, Gretna, Marrero and Westwego also offer a few of these gems for sale as well. Whether you are looking for a home that is ready to move into, or one that you can put your own personal stamp on, there is a historic home for you. Call me today and we can get to work finding the perfect one.
When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.
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Elaine, we do have some of the most beautiful homes in the country. Even in some of the poorest neighborhoods there are architectural gems to be found since we are such an "old" city.
Danny, we have some very active groups who work on maintaining the historic integrity of housing. When I visit some cities, every house looks the same. Not what I would be looking for.
I wonder where the ghosts have gone that used to dwell here before this burb was built-
:-)
Lisa,
It's posts like this that really make me miss Nawlins. I used to play ultimate frisbee in Audubon Park three days a week. There were some great houses around there. I really should try to get back since its been 17 years.
Adam, thank you. There is so much more to this city than the French Quarter (not that there's anything wrong with the Quarter) that visitors don't get to see. I love old houses...they have so much character and history behind them - something you can't get with a newly built subdivision.
Inna, I can't imagine living someplace where everything is comparatively new! We have plenty of housing built in the late 60s and early 70s as well, but those old homes just grab me.
Martin, there are some fabulous houses all around Audubon Park! And yes, you should definitely come back...visit, shop, stay...