Charpentier Historic District
Building history with locally sourced timber
Early and recent history is still alive and well in the neighborhood. In 2020, back to back hurricanes damaged many structures, creating a need for new housing in the area. What has been built recently emulates the style of the many more historic homes that are still standing, including Craftsman-style cottages and bungalows and even more well-preserved historical home designs rarely found outside of Southern Louisiana. "There are some very large showcase houses called the 'Michigan Man' houses," Cormier says, referring to the Eastlake Victorian-styled homes built by carpetbagger sawmill owners from northern cities, who came to Lake Charles post-Civil War to capitalize on a booming lumber industry. "Essentially, it was a visual catalog of what a particular mill was able to do." This mix of preserved and weathered properties causes the average price range for homes to be wide and low for a district on the National Register of Historic Places. Single-story properties like cottages and bungalows sell for between $80,000 and $350,000, depending on their condition. Meanwhile, the Eastlake Victorian-styled Michigan Man homes sell for a higher price of $300,000 to $450,000. And newly built townhouses built with the neighborhood's historic architecture in mind are usually priced between $250,000 and $300,000.
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Socializing at Bark Du Lac Dog Park
Multiple parks are a short distance from the neighborhood. Some within walking distance, like Bark Du Lac Dog Park, serve as an important social outlet for residents and their pets. Further west, the lakefront area is a long chain of public park land extending from Millenium Park's inclusive playground in the south to beach areas along the lake's north shore. Residents also have indoor facilities nearby that offer activities for a rainy day. A Calcasieu Parish library branch in the neighborhood offers frequent programming like arts and crafts classes, story time and archaeology discussions.
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The Living History Cemetery Tour and other city-wide events
Urban cemeteries and their mystical allure are especially prominent in Southern Louisiana. In Lake Charles, the annual Living History Cemetery Tour in November celebrates this every year on All Souls Day. Visitors pour into one of four cemeteries located around the neighborhood and Downtown Lake Charles, stopping at gravesites and listening to reenactors tell stories of historic figures buried there. Meanwhile, actors dressed as unnamed spirits float between the sites, adding another eerie element to the fanfare. Additional city-wide events are frequent downtown, like ChuckFest, as are smaller recurring events like the weekly Cash & Carry Farmers' Market, open every Tuesday evening.Nightcaps at MacFarlane's Celtic Pub
Few businesses occupy the streets of the Charpentier Historic District, although shared borders with Downtown Lake Charles ensure there is plenty to do and see. Popular establishments like MacFarlane's Celtic Pub are just as important to the neighborhood as they are to downtown culture. There are businesses specific to the neighborhood too, most of which are along Broad Street, including antique shops like Recent Relics Antiques & Collectibles and clothing boutiques like Iron Shop Provisions. Further east, Las Victorias #1 is popular with those seeking a filling Mexican meal on their lunch break. For groceries, a Market Basket location is less than a mile east of Enterprise Boulevard.
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Fairly walkable with immediate Interstate 10 access
Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings at major intersections make the Charpentier Historic District a fairly walkable neighborhood. Multiple bus routes also pass through the neighborhood and converge on busy streets like Mill Street. But Lake Charles is an otherwise car-dependent city, with most residents relying on a car to reach work or school. With Interstate 10 directly north of the neighborhood, commutes across the lake can be easy when traffic is light.Personalized learning at Ray D. Molo Magnet Middle School
Students begin school with grades K through 2 at John J Johnson Elementary, which has a Niche score of B. Following that, students age up to Ralph F. Wilson Elementary, a C-rated school, for grades 3 through 5. Once they reach sixth grade, students begin attending Ray D, Molo Magnet Middle School, a C-rated school that offers personalized learning through online resources like IXL. High school students attend Washington-Marion Magnet High School, a C-rated school, for grades 9 through 12. 9th graders begin at Washington-Marion's Freshman Academy, which helps acquaint them with high school before fully entering it.
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Things to consider
Although the neighborhood and its older homes have been affected by heavy storms before, it is one of Lake Charles's more resilient communities. Although aging drainage systems cause high water when it rains heavily, the neighborhood is not in a flood zone. The city has invested many resources into improving drainage systems ever since the 2020 storms, including some in and around the neighborhood.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Khiem Huynh
Video By
Adam Barkley
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Keith Ryder
Keith Ryder
CENTURY 21 Bessette Flavin
(337) 485-6225
74 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$264,900 Price
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Lauren Dunn
Lauren Dunn
Coldwell Banker Ingle Safari Realty
(337) 508-1876
81 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$45,000 Price
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Paige Fontenot
Paige Fontenot
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Realty Lake Charles
(337) 509-1925
68 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$219,500 Price
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Morgan Denman
Morgan Denman
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Ingle Safari Realty
(337) 570-2195
97 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$338,950 Price
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Deborah Anderson
Deborah Anderson
Responds QuicklyCENTURY 21 Bessette Flavin
(337) 485-6949
190 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$108,700 Price
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Jeff Meaux
Jeff Meaux
Responds QuicklyLatter & Blum Compass-LC
(337) 564-7093
96 Total Sales
1 in Charpentier Historic District
$60,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 2nd
- Public
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Transit
Charpentier Historic District Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Charpentier Historic District, Lake Charles sell after 17 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Charpentier Historic District, Lake Charles over the last 12 months is $899,900, up 195% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$899,900
Median Sale Price
$899,900
Median Single Family Sale Price
$899,900
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
4
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
195%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$275
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
280
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
2017
Months of Supply
3.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,036
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,576
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
2,178
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
960
Median Age
44
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$52,105
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$69,260
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
85.7%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
32.4%
Advanced Degrees
15%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.5%
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
58
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
70
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Prien
Suburban south side of Lake Charles known for its new homes, parks and top schools
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