Best residential neighborhood around Algiers/Westbank? (New Orleans, Metairie: best neighborhood, foreclosure, insurance)

[nolac]

Hi all,

I am on the hunt to buy a house on the Westbank and would like to get some input from current residents on the best neighborhood to live. I am already looking in Gretna, but would like to expand my search elsewhere...the problem is I grew up in Metairie so I don't really know much about other potential neighborhoods.

I would like to be somewhere:
1.) high and dry (in a good flood zone, or in an elevated house. not looking to go into foreclosure due to yearly flood insurance costs!)
2.) SAFE (my current neighborhood is anything but this, so this is a high priority for me. I would love to be somewhere where I could walk my dog without fear/raise a family, etc.)

Other than that criteria, I am very flexible. So, hit me with your best Westbank neighborhoods please and I will go check 'em out

[rburnett]

I've attached an elevation map of the westbank. Dark green is just above sea level, and dark blue is way below sea level. Your flood insurance is going to depend on your flood zone and the elevation of the first floor. You can find the new flood maps here: ~Region 6 Flood Information Portal~ Be aware, though. Just because you're above sea level, that doesn't mean you're immune to street flooding during heavy rains. Some streets drain better than others regardless of their elevation.

The Point and Old Aurora are nice areas on the west bank of New Orleans. The Point is one of the oldest neighborhoods on the westbank. It's historic, walkable, 10+ft above sea level and has ferry access to the French Quarter. Use Opelousas Ave. and Atlantic Ave as boundaries. Old Aurora is a newer, 70's era suburban style neighborhood. Look from Holiday Dr. down to Sullen Pl. On the other side of Gen. DeGaulle, Tall Timbers and Brechtel are also good options. English Turn is further out. It's a gated, golf course type community and is one of the premier neighborhoods in New Orleans ($$$).

Outside of New Orleans, (from closest to furthest) there's Gretna, Harvey, Marrero and Westwego. Old Gretna between the expressway and the river is well above sea level historic and has a walkable "small town downtown" feel. The older parts of Harvey, Marrero and Westwego, along the river aren't quite as nice.

The rest of it is pretty much "what you see is what you get". Timberlane, Stonebridge are premier neighborhoods. Terrytown closer to Belle Chasse hwy is ok. My FIL lives close to West Jeff Hospital in Marrero and that immediate area is ok. That's about all I know. Hopefully some west-bankers will chime in.

[Chilly Gentilly]

I just got to the Westbank, so unfortunately I can't give you a fully informed perspective. Based on the week I've been here in Marrero, I'd say you don't want to be this far out on the Westbank.

I'd say you're looking for Gretna or Terrytown.

[AmandaJU]

Originally Posted by nolac

Hi all,

I am on the hunt to buy a house on the Westbank and would like to get some input from current residents on the best neighborhood to live. I am already looking in Gretna, but would like to expand my search elsewhere...the problem is I grew up in Metairie so I don't really know much about other potential neighborhoods.

I would like to be somewhere:
1.) high and dry (in a good flood zone, or in an elevated house. not looking to go into foreclosure due to yearly flood insurance costs!)
2.) SAFE (my current neighborhood is anything but this, so this is a high priority for me. I would love to be somewhere where I could walk my dog without fear/raise a family, etc.)

Other than that criteria, I am very flexible. So, hit me with your best Westbank neighborhoods please and I will go check 'em out

Hi nolac,

I know that your post was from a year ago, but often it takes much longer than that for people to find a house. So I was wondering if you still needed an answer to your question? I have extensive knowledge of the westbank. I've lived on the westbank my entire life and in just about every city on the westbank (I moved around a lot growing up, but always on the westbank), and I still have family in just about every city as well.

I know which neighborhoods were once very good that are now very bad and I know which ones that are now good and many might tell you that are very good, but I know that they are on the way to becoming bad. In cases like that, you are going to lose property value and should you want to move later down the road, especially if the neighborhood becomes like the one you mentioned and you want to get out, you will probably have a lot of trouble selling and wont be able to get nearly as much for it as you originally put in.

I have also just finished the very long process of trying to find the perfect house on the westbank, so I have probably done a great deal of the leg work for you.

Let me know,

Amanda

[DeezNats]

Amanda,

Please send me your write up. Looking to move at the end of summer.

[gianduja2003]

Originally Posted by AmandaJU

Hi nolac,

I know that your post was from a year ago, but often it takes much longer than that for people to find a house. So I was wondering if you still needed an answer to your question? I have extensive knowledge of the westbank. I've lived on the westbank my entire life and in just about every city on the westbank (I moved around a lot growing up, but always on the westbank), and I still have family in just about every city as well.

I know which neighborhoods were once very good that are now very bad and I know which ones that are now good and many might tell you that are very good, but I know that they are on the way to becoming bad. In cases like that, you are going to lose property value and should you want to move later down the road, especially if the neighborhood becomes like the one you mentioned and you want to get out, you will probably have a lot of trouble selling and wont be able to get nearly as much for it as you originally put in.

I have also just finished the very long process of trying to find the perfect house on the westbank, so I have probably done a great deal of the leg work for you.

Let me know,

Amanda

Hello Amanda, It would be great if i could learn from your experience. Wife and i are looking for a beautiful home in a relatively safe neighborhood (knowing well that no "safe" area really exists) which isnt too far from downtown. Looking at Algiers, Aurora to be exact. Do you have any idea about the area? Nice area? Flood insurance, Taxes Etc. Then there's Gretna and Marrero we have driven through just to see some of the quiet subdivisions and it seemed really nice. Any thoughts?

Thanks
MS

[Chilly Gentilly]

Nice neighborhoods in Algiers:

1. English Turn
2. Lakewood Estates
3. Park Timbers/ Tall Timbers
4. Walnut Bend(older homes, but the NOMTOC parade route is here)

All of these neighborhoods are very clean and suburban-esque, yet the streets are horrible...potholes galore!

For more of a quintessential New Orleans experience, I'd highly recommend Algiers Pointe. Homes here are typically historic shotguns in a quaint, dense setting with huge old trees right next to the Mississippi River.

The Old Aurora section of Algiers is a bit more "gritty" to put it nicely. Homes there is still very affordable, but nice neighborhood run into not-so-nice parts of General Meyer.