Downtown Monroe
Neighborhood in Monroe, Louisiana
Ouachita Parish 71201
$143,233
Average Value
Luxury lofts and investment opportunities
Another priority for city leaders is to increase the housing density of downtown. According to Realtor Melinda Winn of THLT Realty, "There's not going to be new construction on single-family builds in that area. There'll be new construction for condos and apartments and lofts, but not site-built houses." Luxury 1- to 3-bedroom loft apartments have already gone on the market, often listed at rental rates between $1,700 to $2,100 per month. Of the few single-family homes that do sell, most come as cottages and quite a few require significant amounts of maintenance. A few move-in-ready cottages have sold between $115,000 and $180,000, but most sales are for properties requiring heavy maintenance, bringing their prices down to between $30,000 and $40,000.
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Planned bike trails and walking paths will lead to Forsythe Park
With only two small community squares, Anna Gray Noe Park and Henry Bry Park, residents often get in their car and drive to Forsythe Park for sports and other activities. But that is sure to change as the city prepares for new park amenities downtown. This includes new pedestrian bridges, a riverside walking trail and separated bike lanes that will provide easier and safer access to West Monroe, Forsythe Park, the Downtown Rivermarket and other areas of the city. Residents also have a planned dog park and skatepark to look forward to, which will make use of previously underdeveloped space beneath elevated highways east of downtown.
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The top elementary school in Ouachita Parish
Public school students living downtown begin school with grades K through 2 at Lexington Elementary School, which has a Niche score of A-minus and is ranked the best public elementary option in Ouachita Parish. Next comes Salle Humble Elementary, a B-plus rated school that provides instruction for 3rd through 6th grade. After that, students age up to Neville Junior High for grades 7 through 8, then enter Neville Senior High for their last four years. Both Neville's Junior and Senior schools have B-plus Niche scores.
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The Downtown Gallery Crawl and Mardi Gras parades
An ever-increasing number of events has led to ever-growing crowds downtown. The most distinguished event is the Downtown Gallery Crawl, an evening of community-based arts programming at the photography studios, music halls and boutique shops that make up Art Alley. Even local cafes like Standard Coffee Co. and restaurants like Cotton participate with temporary outdoor exhibitions of local and regional artists. Monroe is also known for its Mardi Gras parades that distinguish themselves from those in New Orleans with more family-friendly sights and sounds. And the Monroe Civic Center almost always has something going on, whether it be one-off concerts or annual events like the Black Bayou Open Rodeo, which locals love to tailgate. Smaller recurring events are frequent too, such as programming at the Northeast Louisiana's Children's Museum. From 6 a.m. to noon six days a week, residents stroll over to the Monroe Farmers' Market for fresh produce and garden tips from local farmers.
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A new Amtrak stop for the Interstate 20 Corridor Project
Abutted to the south by Interstate 20, even Downtown Monroe is a car-dependent area of the city. Yet there are improvements to look forward to that will soon offer more options for those who do not own a car. "Amtrak is opening a new route from Dallas to Atlanta, and we are one of the four stopping points," Downhour says. "The city is moving a lot of the utilities underground, they're adding bike paths for bicycle traffic and even walking trails for people that are going to be walking to and from the Amtrak station." For now, the Monroe Transit Transfer Station provides a single downtown location where riders can hop on any of the city's nine bus routes.Art galleries, bar trivia and inventive appetizers in Bridgetown
Downtown Monroe has quickly carved out a reputation for its array of restaurants, bars, shops and other public spaces. The centerpiece of downtown is Art Alley, a small entertainment area of 2nd Street between Desiard Street and the train tracks. Between perusing vintage clothing at the Good Daze or used vinyl records from Tracks Music Shop, visitors stop in at local art galleries and bars across the street, like the Lotus Club or Sideline's Sports Lounge. Further north, Enoch's Pub and Grill remains a preeminent spot for drink specials and live music, as well as weekly events like trivia. Near the center of downtown, in what locals call the "Bridgetown" area between the Lea Joyner Bridge and the Endom Bridge, several upscale restaurants are often busy with reservations. Doe's Eat Place has long been a go-to spot in town for special occasions commemorated with surf and turf. A few blocks north, Parish Restaurant & Bar is a little easier to get a table at and is popular for inventive appetizers like whipped burrata or bacon-wrapped duck medallions.
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Things to consider
Compared to adjacent neighborhoods like the Garden District, which enjoys a thick canopy of trees to muffle sound and protect the streets from the sun's rays, Downtown Monroe remains busy, noisy and hot. Frequent traffic slowdowns, ongoing construction, active railroads and the overall ambiance of downtown activity all come together in daily life. Moreover, although most of downtown is resilient to flooding, some areas adjacent to a drainage canal in the east of the neighborhood are in designated flood zones.
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Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Dimitri Fevrier
Video By
Sara Warthen
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Brian Bendily
Brian Bendily
Responds QuicklyJohn Rea Realty
(318) 772-1203
343 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Monroe
$90,000 Price
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Frank Smith
Frank Smith
Coldwell Banker Group One Realty
(318) 855-2781
233 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Monroe
$65,000 Price
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Harrison Lilly
Harrison Lilly
Harrison Lilly
(318) 737-1775
821 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Monroe
$155,000 Price
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Paula Beasley
Paula Beasley
Responds QuicklyColdwell Banker Group One Realty
(318) 737-2589
137 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Monroe
$67,500 Price
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Lisa Govan
Lisa Govan
Lisa Govan Realty
(888) 625-3109
230 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Monroe
$40K - $124K Price Range
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Mark Ouchley
Mark Ouchley
Coldwell Banker Group One Realty
(318) 450-6492
295 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Monroe
$68K - $146K Price Range
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
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- 3rd to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Anna Gray Noe Park
Forsythe Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Monroe | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 8 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 6 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 9 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 9 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9 | 4 |
| Larceny | 10 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 9 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,558
Below the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
20,908
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$1,450 - $1,825 per month
- Kress Building Apartments
- 1-2 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 920+ Sq Ft
- 217 Desiard St
- Monroe, LA
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
524
Median Age
42
Population Density
2 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.8%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$12,923
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$24,137
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
88.3%
College Graduates
15.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.6%
% Population in Labor Force
50%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
55''
Average Winter Low Temperature
37°F
Average Summer High Temperature
93°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
46
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
62
/ 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
Garden District
A charmingly picturesque historic neighborhood with small businesses and big parks
Midtown
The financial district of Monroe is growing with bargains on homes and in stores
Southside Riverfront
Housing and infrastructure improvements south of I-20 in Monroe
Brownsville
A rural community with a number of low-cost properties and land parcels
Ingleside
Bayou living with easy access to University of Louisiana Monroe
Southside
Increasing homes and jobs in an established neighborhood across I-20 from downtown
Reviews
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