Metairie

There is neither a country club nor estates in the Metairie neighborhood of Country Club Estates. There used to be, however, which is how the neighborhood got its name and reputation for being an epitomic New Orleans suburb. In the years since the Beach Club's sale, the neighborhood still maintains countless suburban features and, in fact, has gained some over the years too, such as larger, newer homes. The one thing that has changed, however, is the neighborly spirit. Residents know each other perfectly well but aren't quite as involved in one another's lives as they were when tennis matches and meetups at the restaurant were a weekly tradition. Still, the neighborhood pulls in a lot of buyers, mostly for its location, but also for the undisturbed lifestyle its location offers. "Human nature is to be closer to water," says Realtor Michael Lester of Keller Williams Realty, who grew up around the neighborhood and frequently went to the now-closed Beach Club while visiting his grandfather's home, which backed up to the club. "You're a bit more confined in that area as opposed to being in the middle of everything that's happening in Metairie. And you're backed up to the lake, so you know that everybody that's going back there for the most part lives there." Homes in Country Club Estates can vary quite a bit, although some trends, such as backyard pools, are consistently popular. Some streets contain whole rows of vernacular designs like red brick ranchers and split-levels built across the decades, which usually sell for between $225,000 to $500,000. Closer to Lake Pontchartrain, homes tend to get bigger as multi-story Colonial Revivals with tall columns become more frequent. These tend to form the middle of the neighborhood's price range, with most selling for between $500,000 and $700,000. The highest end of the range are also some of the newest homes in the neighborhood, often boasting no less than 5,000 square feet with undisturbed lake views. Prices for these typically begin around $750,000 and often reach as high as $1.5 million. Young public school students in the Country Club Estates begin their education at Harold Keller Elementary, then attend John Q. Adams Middle School for grades 6-8. Both schools have a B-minus Niche score and are located in the neighborhood. For high school, students attend Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School, which has a C-minus Niche score and offers multiple career education programs, including pre-nursing, automotive engineering and restaurant apprenticeship. While scenic activities such as long walks along the 12-mile-long Pontchartrain Lakefront Trail and picnics on the levee are popular, the main neighborhood green space is Girard Park. Residents gather at the 11.5-acre park for all sorts of activities, including tennis matches, playground meetups and practice for the big game in some batting cages. Residents can also head to Girard Park for rainy day workouts at the park's indoor facilities. If looking to get out of the neighborhood for a more leisurely activity in a peaceful setting, "It'll take you ten minutes to get to Lafreniere Park from Country Club Estates," Lester says. "I bring my daughter to feed the ducks in Lafreniere Park from time to time and she loves doing that." "I think the fact that the country club is gone did probably diminish that whole neighborly aspect of it a little bit," Lester says. "But just because of the history of that area and it always being very family-oriented, I think it still is, they just don't have the neighborhood meetup area like they used to." Girard Park is today's main gathering place. Like many neighborhood parks in Metairie, Girard Park also hosts a Little League Baseball team – the Vikings – that plays regularly and is the main community touchpoint. The neighborhood's 55-plus residents can meanwhile head inside the park's indoor facility to attend meetings for the Golden Age Club, a Jefferson Parish parks and recreation program that organizes biweekly activities such as group lunches, shopping outings, Mardi Gras Balls and more. “West Esplanade has restaurants scattered along it, while Veterans Boulevard has lots of restaurants and shopping, like at Lakeview Mall,” says local Realtor David Claus with GNO Realty. The intersection of Esplanade Avenue and Transcontinental Drive is where most residents of Country Club Estates do their weekly shopping at a Robért Fresh Market location, get supplies for home improvement projects from an ACE Hardware store or go to get their hair done. Some residents also head there to visit their favorite nearby eateries, such as a dozen fritters and beignets from Tastee Donuts. Across the street, Austins Seafood & Steakhouse offers a location for an upscale evening of raw oysters, surf and turf, and bread pudding. The neighborhood's location in Metairie affords it easy access to the city and the rest of Jefferson Parish. There is no public transportation in the neighborhood, so most residents rely on a car to get around. Access to Interstate 10 is only about 2 miles away. However, traffic slowdowns during peak commuting hours can be frequent, especially as one gets closer to Causeway Boulevard. Some homes in the neighborhood are located in Flood Zone AE, which puts them at higher risk of water damage than homes in the neighborhood that are located in Flood Zone X.

Some might consider Clearview Estates an easy neighborhood to overlook. It is, after all, primarily commercial and filled with everything from a major medical center to an old-fashioned Italian family restaurant. But to disregard the area due to its lack of single-family houses would be a mistake. Instead, those living in Clearview Estates choose condominiums as their residences, which helps open up the rest of Metairie and Greater New Orleans to them. The neighborhood rests next to Interstate 10 and Clearview Parkway, as well as West Napoleon Avenue and South I-10 Service Road West. The abundance of roadways keeps travel and commute times low, just as the many eateries, bars and retail shops make it an inviting place to call home. “The story in this area is that it is most multi-family homes with a minimal inventory of single-family properties,” says Christopher Falk, the president and broker of Falk Realty Group, Inc., who has been in the market for over 25 years. “If you live there, it does have excellent access and proximity to Interstate 10.” In such a confined area, with more than 80% of the property being commercial, opportunities to move into Clearview Estates only occasionally. City streets are lined with a scattering of trees that shade sidewalks underneath. Those looking to rent can take advantage of multiple apartment and condo complexes, but there is a chance to purchase either a townhouse or a row home. Condo prices can start at around $85,000, while a row home costs approximately $450,000. “The market has taken a hit. Properties are still selling, but with the interest and insurance rates on top of that because New Orleans is in a flood area. Those factors have taken a toll on the market,” Falk says. Students attend the Jefferson Parish Schools, which scores a B-minus on Niche and is the largest district in Louisiana and the 98th-largest in the country. While school choice for parents is an option, the districted route is Hearst Elementary, Harris Middle and Bonnabel High School. According to Niche, the schools grade as a C-plus, C, and C-minus, respectively. Bonnabel High has multiple buildings on its campus, including one exclusively for freshman to help smooth their transition into high school. Residents can head to the Clearview City Center shopping center, an open-air facility with multiple storefronts. Locals can shop for groceries and beyond at Target, visit Bed, Bath and Beyond or catch a flick at the AMC Theatre. Clearview Estates is known for many local restaurants, including Randazzo’s Family Restaurant, a New Orleans-style Italian place known for its massive portions. Another unique spot is the memorably named Spudly’s Super Spuds. Opened by a brother and sister team in 1980, the café only offered “A Meal in a Baked Potato” at first. While those overstuffed spuds are still its calling card, the menu has expanded over the years to include soup, salads, and specialty sandwiches. One of the last undeveloped places in East Jefferson, Lafreniere Park, has turned into a lush green space less than 3 miles away. The large park, a community staple for three decades, features multiple-use lawns, fountains, picnic areas, gardens, trails, paths, a dog park, and a championship disc golf course. In the summer, the park opens a spray park for children to beat the heat. Just north of the community is Interstate 10, the southernmost transcontinental highway. It is a straight shot into downtown New Orleans for commuters, stretching from Jacksonville, Florida, to Santa Monica, California. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Armstrong is less than 7 miles west on I-10 for those heading out of the area. Clearview Estates is less than 10 miles east of downtown New Orleans. Less than 10 miles west of New Orleans, residents are a stone’s throw away from all the action of a major United States city. There is always something going on from Bourbon Street's restaurant and bar scene, professional sports with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints or NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, or multiple museums like the National World War II Museum. Lakeside Hospital is found just off the interstate and is a significant employer in the area. In early 2023, community-care-based LCMC Health and Tulane Medical Center, a leading research university, combined to expand access to healthcare in South Louisiana. The complex can help those with general and specific medical needs, including bone and joint care, women and infant care, and cardiovascular health.

The historic Old Metairie neighborhood is filled with vibrant parks and excellent schools, as well as magnificent homes and condos. It hasn’t always been so glamorous here, however. When European settlers began using Metairie Ridge, a natural levee that provided high ground for homes in the 1700s, the area was largely marsh all the way to Lake Pontchartrain. In fact, the neighborhood had less than 100 buildings at the turn of the 20th century. It was from the 1920s to the '50s that most development took place, and it was marketed as an exclusive residential area in the '50s and '60s. More accessible now, the community is a tight-knit one where neighbors still know each other and might just bring you a bowl of gumbo on a chilly day. <br><br>“I’ve lived in old Metairie most of my life, and it just feels like home. It’s a great community for getting to know people, and there’s a lot of walkability in the neighborhood. Actually, it’s very convenient to get anywhere in the city,” says Peggy Bruce, a Realtor with McCarthy Group Realtors. “There's a lot of development in the area that’s offering more retail and restaurant choices, too. The Old Metairie Civic Club puts on farmers markets once a month, and there’s a movie night for kids. It’s a great way for the community to come together.”<br><br>Living in Old Metairie, you’ll inevitably travel down Metairie Road. It’s the oldest road in the New Orleans area and boutiques and bistros line the thoroughfare. Surrounding those businesses are picturesque houses of varying sizes which may date back to the turn-of-the-20th century. The homes of Old Metairie range from small bungalows to wooden cottages to mid-century modern homes and large custom-built houses. They’re made of brick, wood, or a combination of the two. Many homes have a driveway, but street parking is always an option too. In addition to separate houses, Old Metairie also has attached townhomes, condominiums and small apartment buildings. Prices range from $165,000 for a one-bedroom and two-bath condo to $3.25 million for a newly constructed mansion with five bedrooms and seven baths. <br><br>Adjacent to the city of New Orleans, Old Metairie is in Jefferson Parish and offers easy accessibility to the city and the Northshore. A very walkable area, you can often leave your house and meet friends for dinner just steps from home. There are also plenty of green spaces to visit in the area. Playgrounds are popular here and can be found in the heart of the neighborhood as well as along its borders. <br><br>One of the most popular parks is Wally Pontiff Jr. Playground, which happens to be the oldest public playground in Jefferson Parish. The complex began construction in 1945 and was dedicated in 1952. It contains six baseball diamonds, two football fields, two tennis courts, a track and a gymnasium. There’s also a meeting center, picnic shelters, a bird sanctuary and, of course, playground equipment. In 2017, a dog park opened here on 25,000 square feet of underused ground. Dogs can play off-leash inside the fenced area where there are benches and water fountains for humans and canines. <br><br>Another aspect that draws people to Old Metairie is the wide variety of shopping and dining to be found here. One such store is Fleurty Girl. Created in 2009 by a single mother with just $2,000, the business has grown into one of New Orleans’ most popular shops. It sells everything from custom shirts to candles to specialty gifts. Another popular spot is Langensteins Grocery. Founded more than 100 years ago, this is the oldest family-owned grocery store in the region, and customers can’t get enough of the Louisiana delicacies on sale. <br><br>Should you find yourself hungry in Old Metairie, there are more than a few restaurants worth checking out. Rock n Sake is a sushi restaurant brought to Old Metairie in 2016, and it serves up some of the finest Japanese cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails in the area. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, Shipley Do-nuts can quickly satisfy your craving. Making doughnuts the same way their founder did since 1936, the business serves breakfast favorites from its home on Metairie Road. <br><br>The oak-lined streets, stately homes and colorful crepe myrtle trees of Old Metairie welcome residents to a historic neighborhood steeped in Southern charm.

Just 11 miles outside of downtown New Orleans is Bissonet Plaza — an active community stationed toward the north side of Jefferson Parish just south of Lake Pontchartrain. Pocketed on the west side of Metairie, Bissonet Plaza is in proximity to all of New Orleans' nightlife and attractions without sacrificing its quieter complexion. "Metairie is close to everything. To get from Metairie to New Orleans is about 3 seconds, and to get the other parishes, it's about 3 minutes or so, so it's very convenient to go downtown," says local Realtor Carolyn Talbert of Keller Williams Realty Services, who has been in the real estate industry since 1979. "Our taxes are better, the schools are better. I just think everything is better." Bissonet Plaza's gridded, sunbathed streets boast a mixed bag of home styles. Ranch-style homes with hipped roofs are prevalent, though larger homes with colonial elements are present as well. Many homes were constructed in the 1980s, though newer builds have been added since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the town in 2005. Smaller 1,500-square-foot homes often price between $200,000 and $300,000 while larger properties with four or more bedrooms range from $300,000 to $450,000. Bissonet Plaza's housing market is relatively competitive with some homes selling within five to six weeks of their listing. Students in Bissonet Plaza are served by the Jefferson Parish School District. Children from prekindergarten through Grade 8 can go to Bissonet Plaza Elementary School, which earns an overall grade of B-minus from Niche, before advancing to Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School off Bruin Drive. The high school earns a C-minus Niche grade and offers a wide range of extracurriculars from a competitive athletics program to a standout marching band. Residents don't need to travel far to enjoy the outdoors. Lafreniere Park sits just a mile south of Bissonet Plaza. Pet parents frequent the dog park with their canine companions while lovers of wildlife enjoy the bird sanctuary, which attracts numerous bird species from geese and ducks to ibis and herons. Meanwhile, the neighborhood YMCA on Riverside Drive offers a fitness center as well as a pool to help stave off Louisiana's hot, humid summers. Locals are also in proximity to Sky Zone — a trampoline park suited for children featuring obstacle courses and a wall for freeclimbing. For daily essentials, residents often visit the Rouses Market on Power Boulevard while additional shopping options can be found at the nearby Lafreniere Plaza Shopping Center, which contains retail stores and locally-owned eateries. Thai Zaap Cafe, for example, is a local favorite for its shrimp and fried tofu while the nearby Pho Bang serves Vietnamese entrees. New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. is another area staple for its gumbo and half-pound burgers. Chain restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks can also be found along Veterans Boulevard. "There are wonderful places to eat in Metairie. Anybody that knows New Orleans knows that New Orleans and Metairie have good places to eat, especially if you like seafood," Talbert says. Bissonet Plaza is walkable, though residents will need a car for longer excursions. Luckily, locals enjoy strong road and highway access with Interstate 10, which feeds directly into downtown New Orleans, serving as the neighborhood's southern border. Residents can also get around on the Jefferson Parish Transit bus, which includes stops along Veterans Boulevard. To travel by air, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport sits just 4 miles to the west.

Slashing across the heart of Metairie, the Clearview Transcontinental neighborhood is a densely populated enclave with easy access to the recreational pleasures and stunning views of Lake Pontchartrain, as well as major thoroughfares Interstate 10, Clearview Parkway and Veterans Memorial Boulevard. It also offers plenty of reasons to stay close to home, and that figures to be the case for a long time to come, thanks to a revitalization project dubbed Clearview City Center. “It’s centrally located, close to the city and has lower taxes than Orleans Parish,” points out Realtor Brittany Picolo-Ramos with Godwyn Realty, Era Powered. This makes it popular for those seeking modern homes, nearby amenities, yet a slightly suburban vibe. Traditional design, ranch-style homes and bungalows behind low picket fences are common throughout the neighborhood, although much of it is open due to a lack of mature trees. The low fences are a good fit for the residents who have grown up alongside each other - “It’s a close-knit community with people who have lived there for generations,” says Picolo-Ramos, “The neighborhood offers a very comfortable family feel.” Most homes feature off-street parking in driveways, while some feature car ports and garages – however, it’s common to find these converted into bonus rooms or enclosed porches. Single family homes generally sell for between $200,000 and $450,000, with larger four-bedroom homes garnering the higher price. Condos can usually be found in the $150,000 to $200,000 range. Mixed in throughout the community are apartments and townhouses catering to the renter. Clearview City Center mixes small local and regional chains with national franchises and major retailers in a reborn shopping center. Local mini-chain Ruby Slipper Ruby Sunshine is brunch-only, but goes hard, serving mimosas and Bellinis alongside its specialty benedicts including bayou shrimp, eggs cochon, or chicken St. Charles. Shenanigans Kitchen and Cocktails provides lunch and dinner in an upscale watering hole with occasional live music, often going late into the night. Getting groceries is as easy as stopping by neighborhood staple Zuppardo’s Family Market. Family owned and operated for almost 100 years, it was the first self-service supermarket in the New Orleans area, and proudly sells local produce, meats and seafood. With homes, industry, and commercial so tightly packed, residents head out of the neighborhoods for festivals and events. The biggest of these is Family Gras, Jefferson Parish’s kick-off to Mardi Gras, which takes place Friday through Sunday before the week gets underway. Headlined by national acts that have included everyone from the Beach Boys to Amy Grant to Zac Brown, it’s a family-friendly festival with food, children’s activities and more. Served by the Jefferson Parish Schools, students in the neighborhood can benefit from the unique school choice system that allows them to head to magnet schools or those outside the attendance zone. Children within the attendance zone will start out at Hearst Elementary, graded a C-plus by Niche, and then split up depending on where they live. Some will head to Adams Middle School, then to East Jefferson High School, graded B-minus and C respectively. Others will move to Meisler Middle School then to Bonnabel High, earning a C-plus and C-minus respectively. Of course, with the school choice system, parents may apply for their children to stay with friends and head to a different school in the parish – or even to a magnet school such as the Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies, an A-minus rated school just blocks from the neighborhood. Crescent City Christian School provides a private, faith-focused option. As tightly packed as Clearview Transcontinental is, green space is non-existent. Luckily for residents, Lafreniere Park is nearby, a lush park with numerous soccer fields, a disc golf course, a children’s garden, a dog park, and walking trails. Anytime Fitness provides an indoor spot for residents looking to get a solid workout in. Public transit is limited, although the neighborhood is quite walkable and bikeable thanks to a through network of well-maintained sidewalks and quiet side streets. Being adjacent to Veteran Boulevard and Route 10 makes it easy to get around the city – Tulane-Lakeside Hospital, with a 24-hour emergency room, is only a half-mile south and can be reached in mere minutes. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, for flights across the country and beyond, is roughly five miles west. Living between major roadways and near a shopping center brings convenience – but it also brings noise, and Clearview Transcontinental certainly suffers from this. Similarly, like much of New Orleans, there is an above-average flooding risk in the neighborhood, with canals lining the north and east borders.

You might imagine a roadway named Airline Highway would be tied to aviation in some way, but this thoroughfare got its name from the straightness of the road instead of planes taking off. It wasn’t until years after the completion of the highway that airports for Baton Rouge and New Orleans were built along the 115-mile stretch of asphalt. Today, Airline Highway runs along the southern edge of Metairie Terrace, a small residential neighborhood, and this helps make the area easily accessible to New Orleans, Kenner and Baton Rouge.<br><br>“This is a tightly knit, older neighborhood that’s in high demand. Houses move fast here, and there are both single- and multi-family homes,” says Christina King Noto with Nola Living Realty. “It’s convenient for commuters, or anyone going to downtown New Orleans, and is close to great shopping, restaurants, parks and schools.” <br><br>Living in Metairie Terrace gives residents the best of all worlds. It’s a bedroom community without much commerce although everyday essentials and specialty shops are nearby. It’s also located between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River so recreation options like boating and fishing are readily available. Homes in the area are overwhelmingly traditional in design, and cottages, bungalows, doubles and ranch-style residences line the streets. There’s also a small selection of condominiums and town houses. Lawns are well-kept, and many houses have mature trees dotting the yards. Prices range from $185,000 for a one-bedroom and bath cottage to $600,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bath condo. <br><br>Students in the area have the choice of private, parochial or public schools. Joseph C. Moscona School was known as Ella Dolhonde Elementary until recently. This is one of the most diverse public schools in Louisiana according to Niche and offers both before and after care for children. Metairie Academy for Advanced Studies was the first elementary magnet school in Jefferson Parish and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Opened in 1939, it also received national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School. Riverdale High School opened in 1962 as an all-girls school and has evolved to become one of the most diverse public high schools in the state according to Niche. The facility is an International Baccalaureate World School that awards diplomas recognized and respected across the globe. <br><br>Having a dedicated green space is important to many communities, and living in Metairie Terrace provides access to Cleary Playground. Home to the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department’s youth and adult programs, the park has three baseball fields, a football field and a softball field. There are also four batting cages, a tot lot and a concession stand in the six-acre space. If you prefer to work out indoors, the gymnasium includes a fitness center, mini kitchen and meeting rooms. <br><br>Hub Hobby Shop is another enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. The store opened in 1951 and was originally a radio repair shop that sold small appliances. The new owner added hobby supplies and quickly found they were outselling everything else. Making a pivot, the store became a dedicated hobby shop and helped introduce radio control boats and airplanes to the New Orleans market. Packed with everything you need to start or continue a customized pastime, the hub carries ships, rockets, trains, scenery materials, model-making supplies, glue and tools. <br><br>Metairie Terrace residents frequent the neighborhood’s corner store and tavern. Guillory’s Deli and Tamales opened in 1972 as a small grocery shop and meat market. The neighborhood store is now a full-service deli and catering business. A favorite of local food critics, the shop developed its tamale recipe in 1998 and has been perfecting it since. Guillory’s even introduced Krispy Krunchy Chicken to the New Orleans area in 2002. Today, the store sells daily hot plate lunches along with crawfish pies, chicken fried steak, pork chops and more. <br><br>Fulco’s Bar has been a true neighborhood hangout since 1943. One of the oldest bars in Metairie, it’s the home of the Jefferson Parish St. Patrick’s Day Parade and has a Wall of Grand Marshalls displayed beside other memorabilia. Originally a grocery store, the bar features outdoor seating as well as a daily happy hour. Stop by and take in the laid-back atmosphere while you sip a drink and wave to your friends. <br><br>Metairie Terrace offers residents a quiet space where they can get to know their neighbors while having easy access to major roadways and the city of New Orleans.