Moving to New Orleans, Never Been There...Help! (Metairie, Gretna: appointed, crime rate)

[Portraitofluv]

Hey all!! My husband and I are more than likely moving to New Orleans, to work around the Perido St area. (think that is how u spell it) Not sure where that is or what towns are good/safe to be in as we have never been to New Orleans. We have no kids so that is not an issue but we do have two very large dogs.
If anyone could tell us anything about the area it would be tremendously appreciated. I look forward to coming down that way, we are coming from upstate NY. We are planning our first visit end of next month and I am so excited.
Hope to hear from you all and appreciate your time to help me out with advice.

THANK YOU!

[MetroBTR]

Okay, I'm gonna assume you'll be working on the section of Perdido Street in the Central Business District. Most neighborhoods between St. Charles Avenue and the Mississippi River are good. Also, the neighborhoods on the Lakefront are good. For someone who has never been to the New Orleans area I would suggest looking for a place in Metairie or on the Northshore of the lake.

[notasmoker]

Originally Posted by Portraitofluv

Hey all!! My husband and I are more than likely moving to New Orleans, to work around the Perido St area. (think that is how u spell it) Not sure where that is or what towns are good/safe to be in as we have never been to New Orleans. We have no kids so that is not an issue but we do have two very large dogs.
If anyone could tell us anything about the area it would be tremendously appreciated. I look forward to coming down that way, we are coming from upstate NY. We are planning our first visit end of next month and I am so excited.
Hope to hear from you all and appreciate your time to help me out with advice.

THANK YOU!

I moved from New Orleans (my hometown) to Rochester, NY 23 years ago. You are in for a real culture shock but you will enjoy it! The North Shore/Metairie suggestion is a good one.

[Portraitofluv]

Thank you both for responding, seems alot of people use this site, but no one else responding to my post.......why?

I'm only looking for advice here on the best places to live.
I want to be close (walking distance) to things to do, festivals, shows, stores, etc...

Let me know what you can please!

Thanks!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by Portraitofluv

Thank you both for responding, seems alot of people use this site, but no one else responding to my post.......why?

I'm only looking for advice here on the best places to live.
I want to be close (walking distance) to things to do, festivals, shows, stores, etc...

Let me know what you can please!

Thanks!

I don't think you can have bnoth walking distance to that stuff and good schools/safe area. The French Qtr and Marigny would fit the walking thing but not the safe/school part. Maybe someone else can advise you more specifically but me, I'd go for the schools first.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by Portraitofluv

Thank you both for responding, seems alot of people use this site, but no one else responding to my post.......why?

I'm only looking for advice here on the best places to live.
I want to be close (walking distance) to things to do, festivals, shows, stores, etc...

Let me know what you can please!

Thanks!

If you want to be in walking distance to shops and things, you should definitely look into the area of uptown between St. Charles and the river. Magazine Street, which is lined with all types of stores/shops runs right through the middle of that part of the city.

[ndrone1]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

If you want to be in walking distance to shops and things, you should definitely look into the area of uptown between St. Charles and the river. Magazine Street, which is lined with all types of stores/shops runs right through the middle of that part of the city.

Um.. isn't that area horribly crime-ridden? Just my two cents.

[wandererpt]

The Northshore is beautiful, has a small town feel, has less crime, etc. But if you are moving here for New Orleans, you will be sorely disappointed. Driving across the Causeway (bridge over Lake Ponchartrain) day after day gets tedious. On the weekends, you won't feel like driving back across it to explore the city. Plus, it closes in severe weather and the speed limit drops to 35mph in heavy fog. Add to that the cost of gas these days at it's probably not the best option for you. The Magazine St area is a good suggestion. I don't live there so hopefully someone else will post more info on that.
I would suggest looking at Algiers on the Westbank. I have friends that live on Algiers Point and love it. It's a small, close-knit community. There is even a gated-community with construction on-going. There are small restaurants, cafes, art studios, and tons of free events year-round. They are just finishing Wednesdays at the Point right now with local musicians playing for free outdoors on Wed nights. You are near the levee so you can take advantage of that. (Don't panic...it's not a concrete one like in the 9th Ward). You can walk your dogs along it; sit up there with a lawn chair and watch the ships go by; bike to Gretna for the Farmer's Market (tiny but enjoyable); or hop on the ferry. It lets you off near the Aquarium or you can walk to the Quarter, Jackson Square, or hop a street car to ride elsewhere. On the 4th of July, you can grab a lawn chair and sit on the levee to watch the fireworks without battling traffic.
There is so much going on around the city at any given time that I think you would miss out on it if you lived on the Northshore.
Good luck and enjoy!

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by ndrone1

Um.. isn't that area horribly crime-ridden? Just my two cents.

No. It's actually one of the safest areas of town. Central City is now the worst neighborhood with the lower 9th out of commision.

[Candiloulou]

If your looking for safe,New Orleans is definitely NOT one of your destination stops. We have a very HIGH crime rate here in the big N.O.