Moving to New Orleans? (rent, insurance, crime)

[MaybeMoving?]

Hi,

I'm a '94 Newcomb grad and have received a great job offer in uptown New Orleans. Pre-Katrina, I would have moved in a heartbeat. I will do as much research as I can over the next two weeks, but can anybody provide some honest Post-Katrina advice? If we moved, we think we'd want to live in the Tulane/Uptown/Garden District area, close to where we'd be working. Are we crazy to be considering this? Right now we live in the midwest, which is lovely, but it is not for us. Should we just get over our love for New Orleans and settle here in the midwest? We are academics, don't have kids (although we do have two awesome dogs), we like running and biking, drinking coffee, decorating our home, eating out, all the normal stuff, etc. Is there anybody similarly situated who is reading this and has moved back? Has stayed? What are your biggest day-to-day problems and concerns? Were you able to get homeowners' insurance? Flood insurance? Is every day a constant reminder of what Katrina left? Or, can you enjoy the city? Please, be honest. Thank you in advance for any and all information, good, bad or neutral. Best, Bored in the Midwest.

[Vampgrrl]

I'm a '94 Newcomb grad and have received a great job offer in uptown New Orleans. Pre-Katrina, I would have moved in a heartbeat. I will do as much research as I can over the next two weeks, but can anybody provide some honest Post-Katrina advice? If we moved, we think we'd want to live in the Tulane/Uptown/Garden District area, close to where we'd be working. Are we crazy to be considering this? Right now we live in the midwest, which is lovely, but it is not for us. Should we just get over our love for New Orleans and settle here in the midwest? We are academics, don't have kids (although we do have two awesome dogs), we like running and biking, drinking coffee, decorating our home, eating out, all the normal stuff, etc. Is there anybody similarly situated who is reading this and has moved back? Has stayed? What are your biggest day-to-day problems and concerns? Were you able to get homeowners' insurance? Flood insurance? Is every day a constant reminder of what Katrina left? Or, can you enjoy the city? Please, be honest. Thank you in advance for any and all information, good, bad or neutral. Best, Bored in the Midwest.

I live Uptown right now and though I rent (I understand the homeowners ins. pricing is out of this world, although I do understand if you get around a $10,000 deductible it's much more reasonable..which is doable, I mean you wouldnt make a claim unless it was pretty catastrophic anyhow).
I moved from Georgia. I don't know that there are any big day to day concerns except for crime (which isn't as much of a big deal to me personally, i dont think it's worse than it was in the mid 90s). Uptown is pretty islolated from the worst hit areas. My world 99% of the time is from Carrollton down the River to the Marigny.
Rising a child if you dont have money for private school would be of concern if I had a child but outside of that, I love it here.

[mishigas73]

I have nothing to say from personal experience "post-Katrina", but I'm a 2001 Tulane law grad, and have been in touch with my dear "roots" down there in the wake of the tragedy.

I lived uptown, St Charles and Napoleon, and have been in touch with those I knew in the area. From what I've heard, I agree with Vampgrrl. It's doing fine, and as isolated from the rest of the city as ever.

Honestly, from what I have heard, I have to say, if you're not happy where you are, then do it. Realize that the same crap is there (lack of public schools, isolation from poverty, etc). But, if you're yearning for it, and can afford being in the uptown area, I don't see any reason to not do it (other than what you saw when you were there).

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by MaybeMoving?

Hi,

I'm a '94 Newcomb grad and have received a great job offer in uptown New Orleans. Pre-Katrina, I would have moved in a heartbeat. I will do as much research as I can over the next two weeks, but can anybody provide some honest Post-Katrina advice? If we moved, we think we'd want to live in the Tulane/Uptown/Garden District area, close to where we'd be working. Are we crazy to be considering this? Right now we live in the midwest, which is lovely, but it is not for us. Should we just get over our love for New Orleans and settle here in the midwest? We are academics, don't have kids (although we do have two awesome dogs), we like running and biking, drinking coffee, decorating our home, eating out, all the normal stuff, etc. Is there anybody similarly situated who is reading this and has moved back? Has stayed? What are your biggest day-to-day problems and concerns? Were you able to get homeowners' insurance? Flood insurance? Is every day a constant reminder of what Katrina left? Or, can you enjoy the city? Please, be honest. Thank you in advance for any and all information, good, bad or neutral. Best, Bored in the Midwest.

my mom is from new orleans. i was there shortly b4 katrina. new orleans had substancial problems b4 karina. a whole lot of ugly there now.
not safe. dont live there. do what you gota do to earn a living but take care of yourself. lots of racial stuff a lot of it directed towards hispanics,
but hate is not picky, it can find something else to munch on if it cannt find any mexican people.

not meant to be dramatic just tryin to do what you said in your post
being candid.
no offense intended to the memory of a great city now having a terrible struggle. the new orleans of our childhood is gone.

[Vampgrrl]

Things will change. THe old terrible voting blocs are gone, and the Feds are down here locking people up left right and center.

Nothing is ever perfect....but there is no other place I'd rather be than right here, right now.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Vampgrrl

Things will change. THe old terrible voting blocs are gone, and the Feds are down here locking people up left right and center.

Nothing is ever perfect....but there is no other place I'd rather be than right here, right now.

And there are some encouraging signs. The Orleans Parish School Board (rife with corruption and was unable to account for its funds) was taken over by the state. And the inept NO DA (who recently harbored a criminal) resigned after great pressure to do so.