Tell me about, "Terrytown?" (New Orleans, Gretna: city hall, crime, houses)

[artrock]

I'm a singer/songwriter presently based in New Jersey. Recently, I wrote a little 60's feeling pop pop ditty called, "Terrytown." Prior to this, I had no idea that such a place existed. (I did a bit of Google research after the fact)

When I write, the lyrics often just sort of flow out naturally, as if, (Without trying to sound to deep) "They're guided by some deep internal or perhaps external force." (Hmm, intense, huh?)

So tell me, oh great folks of Lousiana, what is Terrytown?

[Thepreacherswife]

When I lived in New Orleans in the late 70s and early 80s, it was just a dumpy little unincorporated West Bank suburb, near Gretna in Jefferson Parish. Lower to middle class families, nothing special, you had to drive through it from where we lived (New Orleans West Bank) to get to Oakwood Shopping Center, otherwise there was no reason for you to be there. I seem to recall from school it was often the target of derision from anyone who didn't live there.

[artrock]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds a little more colorful than I'd imagined--that's a good thing!

[Drouzin]

I always thought Terrytown was a nice little neighborhood, (at least some spots), where some of the houses have that uber 1960's design. A friend of my sis lives there and their roof looks like it belongs on a fast food restaurant.

[artrock]

I like that, the, "uber 60's" comment, sort of fits much of the music we do.

Thanks!

[miserylovesco.]

Terrytown....ugh.

[artrock]

Ha!! Good answer. Sounds like you've had a positive experience or two.

[Doogie]

I would be careful about the opinion of someone who lived on the eastbank (New Orleans) because most of them have never even been to the Westbank (Terrytown, Gretna, etc.), they just like to insult it. Since it is unincorporated, Terrytown doesn't have a quaint city hall or a downtown or a police department. It is policed by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. There are some nice neighborhoods and some not so nice neighborhoods just like everywhere else but it is much more middle class than lower. There are far worse places on the Westbank as well as the Eastbank. There are generally not any areas where entire streets of houses should be torn down like there are in New Orleans (although Formosan termites can eat one up pretty quick if left untreated). I agree that most of the houses were built in the 60s and 70s.

Offhand I can't think of any buildings taller than 3 floors. 50 years ago it was mostly wooded area and was a popular hunting ground (hence the name of one of its streets, "Deerfield"). Most Westbank parades during Mardi Gras go through Terrytown. Although the crime could always be better, it's not nearly as bad as New Orleans.

[artrock]

Doogie:

Thanks for your thoughtful and informative reply. I am wrong to suggest that I'm sensing a bit of good ol' fashioned American class warfare regarding Terrytown?

"Deerfield." Isn't it funny how we name things after what used to be there?

Thanks

[WestbankNOLA]

People on the Eastbank just don't look at anything on the Westbank in a positive light even though there are areas on the Westbank that are nicer than those on the Eastbank, while the people on the Westbank tend to think of it as the Bestbank. When I lived on the eastbank I always heard things like "We let 'em think its the best bank so they'll stay over there".

But as far as Terrytown I think that it's an ok place. Nothing special, but definately not one of the bad spots. Maybe you should look at the area with the google maps streetview to get a better idea.