$108,029Average Value$202Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
A cultural district known for its cottage industry is returning
With its cutesy local businesses lodged inside colorful Craftsman bungalows, the Cottage Shop District is unmistakable Lake Charles. "I get my hair cut in a 1970s house that was retrofitted to be a hair salon. It's definitely something unique to this area," says Cameron Fultz, executive director of the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana. In 2009, the Cottage Shop District became a Louisiana Cultural District — a state program for revitalizing communities with cultural experiences like businesses, arts and tourism. But following the back-to-back destruction of hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020, many of its essential businesses left, some moving a few blocks away, others leaving never to reopen. It's taken some time to recover, but the return of preexisting businesses — and the opening of brand-new ones — shows new winds blowing in the right direction.
Experience the vibrant culture of Lake Charles at the Cottage Shop District.
Enjoy the best of Lake Charles in the vibrant Cottage Shop District.
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Agave Tamale and other businesses are reopening
The neighborhood was "on an upward trajectory between the years of certification and natural disasters," says Francesca Vega, Director of Civic Design & Cultural Districts for the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development. But hurricane damage shooed away many of the classic businesses the district was known for. Some moved a few blocks away, like clothing boutique Catina Couture, now on Ryan Street, or the Mexican lunch counter Agave Tamale, now located south of Interstate 210. Others closed their doors permanently. New shops, like Not Just Christmas, which sells Mardi Gras throws and holiday trinkets all year long, sprung up on the scene in the years since the storm. Up Hodges Street, t'Pot Noir Cajun Kitchen serves regional favorites like crawfish etouffee or sandwiches with a side of Zapp's potato chips. Still, the local business scene isn't quite what it used to be. Chain and big-box shopping is still conveniently close: A Market Basket supermarket sits directly across Ryan Street, and a Walmart Neighborhood Market is less than a mile north. The Prien Lake Mall, a 95-store indoor shopping mall, is mile drive as well.
Discover year-round magic at Not Just Christmas in Cottage Shop District, Lake Charles.
Enjoy a pleasant shopping experience at Market Basket, Lake Charles.
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Mixed-use Craftsmans in need of repairs
The neighborhood’s cottage industry is the direct result of suburban sprawl. "As Lake Charles grew in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, they started converting all these homes along Ryan and Kirkman Street into businesses," Fultz says. Today, not many people actually live in the neighborhood. Much of the neighborhood is still zoned for either commercial or mixed-use, so structures have been built accordingly, sometimes with unusual floorplans. They could contain a home, a business or both in some cases. Additionally, Craftsman cottages and bungalows that comprise this part of town are small, usually no more than 1,500 square feet across a single story. Many of them were heavily damaged by recent storms. Properties needing moderate repairs have sold for as low as $70,000, while those that are turnkey ready sell for around $100,000.
Experience the unique charm of cottage houses in Lake Charles’s Cottage Shop District.
Ranch houses in Cottage Shop District offer serene, spacious living.
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Shop hops and Super Bowl parties
Although some business owners left after the 2020 storms, a strong community remains in the neighborhood. Pop-up sales and other events are some methods that stakeholders take to attract increased foot traffic to the neighborhood's businesses. Recurring "shop hops" that occur around major holidays like Christmas offer a way to meet business owners and fellow shoppers and enter raffles and other giveaways. For those seeking an alternative way of mingling, the neighborhood's watering hole, Pappy's Sports Pub, hosts trivia and annual parties for New Year's Eve and the Super Bowl.
Near Interstate 210, with bus connections
Two Paratransit bus routes make stops near the neighborhood along Ryan Street, but, like the rest of Lake Charles, residents of the Cottage Shop District are largely car-dependent. Heading roughly 5 blocks south on Ryan Street leads to entrance ramps for Interstate 210 – one of the city's faster-moving routes "because it's just a loop for people who want to go shopping in Lake Charles," says Realtor Steve Rackley of R Home Real Estate LLC.
Driving 1-mile to College Oaks Park
The south end of Lake Charles between 12th Street and I-210 is largely bereft of parks, including the Cottage Shop District. Indoor gyms on Ryan Street and other major roads are the main way locals stay active around the Cottage Shop District. However, the playground equipment across Common Street at Thomas S. Cooley Elementary offers a nearby location for kids to burn off energy. The closest city parks sit across I-210 from the neighborhood, just over a mile south at the LaGrange Soccer Park, an outdoor facility with three fields for play. Across the street from the soccer fields, College Oaks Park offers a location for softball games, while the community center hosts private events and programming.
Wildlife in action at a natural College Oaks Community Rec Center reserve.
LaGrange Soccer Park is a great place to get away from it all.
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Mardi Gras parades at Oak Park Middle
Neighborhood students begin school at Barbe Elementary School, rated C-plus by Niche. For grades 6 through 8, students attend the C-plus-rated Oak Park Middle, which hosts its own Mardi Gras parade for students during the Carnival Season. For the last four years of school, the neighborhood's oldest students attend C-rated LaGrange High.
LaGrange High School challenges and encourages children to learn.
Barbe Elementary School offers a space where all people can learn and thrive.
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Things to consider
Prone to high water, the neighborhood, like many in Lake Charles, constantly navigates puddles and soggy ground whenever it rains. However, the Cottage Shop District is not in a flood zone, so risk factors are lower than they are in other neighborhoods.
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Cleared Mixed-Use Lot Off Ryan Street – Prime Location with Endless Possibilities! This ready-to-build, cleared lot offers a fantastic opportunity in one of Lake Charles’ most convenient and high-traffic locations, just off Ryan Street. Whether you're planning a commercial venture, residential build, or multi-use development, this property’s Mixed Use zoning gives you the flexibility to bring
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
241
Median Age
39
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$54,091
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$56,412
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.4%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
24.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14%
% Population in Labor Force
62.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
60''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
49/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
61/ 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.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
