perfect combo...fun & safety! (New Orleans, Metairie: house, condos, university)

[twenty something]

Hi,
My two friends and I (ages 24-27) are hoping to move to the Big Easy around July '08. What areas would you recommend living in? I hear there are some less than savory parts of town. Our ideal place would be less than $1600/mo for 3br/2ba, but I guess thats flexible. We want to be safe, but close to bars and the nightlife. Should we stay away from the french quarter? Is it safe? I understand that the area around Tulane University is fairly safe; Broadway, Audobon, ect... is there any reliable public transportation from this area to the french quarter and the night life that it offers? Or is there nothing wrong with living in the French Quarter?
Thank you in advance for all your help!

almost forgot, walking distance to bars etc would be preferred, but from the other threads I've read, safety is a concern....
thanks again!

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by twenty something

Hi,
My two friends and I (ages 24-27) are hoping to move to the Big Easy around July '08. What areas would you recommend living in? I hear there are some less than savory parts of town. Our ideal place would be less than $1600/mo for 3br/2ba, but I guess thats flexible. We want to be safe, but close to bars and the nightlife. Should we stay away from the french quarter? Is it safe? I understand that the area around Tulane University is fairly safe; Broadway, Audobon, ect... is there any reliable public transportation from this area to the french quarter and the night life that it offers? Or is there nothing wrong with living in the French Quarter?
Thank you in advance for all your help!

almost forgot, walking distance to bars etc would be preferred, but from the other threads I've read, safety is a concern....
thanks again!

French Quarter is OK. St Charles is OK. The area around Tulane/Loyola is probably OK. Outside of those areas, you're taking chances. You may also want to look at Old Algiers. It's across the river and is accessible to the French Quarter by ferry.

[SBCmetroguy]

I thought Old Algiers was really bad? Or at least that's what I'd heard, so I never ventured over there. Have I been wrongly informed?

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

I thought Old Algiers was really bad? Or at least that's what I'd heard, so I never ventured over there. Have I been wrongly informed?

I had a friend who lived there, and he seemed to like it. Anyway, it's close to the French Quarter without living there. And Algiers itself has a mixture of good, bad, and in-between.

[Ronald120]

The good parts of Old Algiers (or Algiers Point, or "1 pernt 5" for those really from that part) are the expensive parts to be frank. The closer you get to Opelousas Ave., you will clearly see the decline -- and it saddens me to say, decay -- of the neighborhood. Near the river and the courthouse in that section of Algiers is your best bet. Nice condos, colorful and expensive shotguns. If you can afford it, by all means.

[Cookie0907]

Metairie or Kenner would be safest. Quite frankly, there aren't that many affordable safe ares in the city. The St.Charles area is pretty safe but expensive.

[Vampgrrl]

Living in Metarie or Kenner defeats the purpose of moving to New Orleans especially for a 20 something.
My fav neighborhood is the Lower garden District.

But Uptown near Univ. is good, GD, LGD is good, the Marigny Triangle is good and a bit trendy. Mid-City is ok in most areas. Lakeview is ok and coming back (but still a bit like living in Metarie)