West Bank commuter suburb surrounded by wetlands offers competitive home prices
Fully surrounded by canals, the West Bank community of Woodmere maintains unspoiled wetlands and relatively affordable homes for its many commuters. As the rest of the region adapts for future needs, Woodmere is doing the same to its parks and infrastructure, albeit gradually, which some locals prefer the pace of compared to the rapid changes happening across the river in New Orleans. "It's a working-class neighborhood where you get a lot of house for your money. If you want to say you're a 'true New Orleanian,' you're not moving to Woodmere, you're moving to a raised, drafty 600 square foot house that was built 100 years ago," says Realtor Kent Larrimer of Re/Max Select. "Woodmere is a great value where you can get a big house for a fairly small price. There's opportunity for owners and there's opportunities for investors."
Woodmere rest just minutes from downtown New Orleans.
Woodmere is a small community on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish.
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Larger homes for less than New Orleans
Woodmere began concurrently with the region's 1970s and 80s oil boom, housing workers for nearby plants and shipping points. By the mid-80s, the industry was in decline, but the slab foundation ranch-style homes, cottages and shotgun houses the industry spawned remain standing. There hasn't been much new construction since then, but prices for established homes have also remained steady. The community sees a median single-family home price of $225,000, considerably less than the median in New Orleans of $340,000. Not to mention homes are much more spacious than those typically found in New Orleans city limits.
Traditional single-family homes can be found throughout Woodmere.
Ranch style homes are common in Woodmere.
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Community parks and easy access to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Woodmere is among the southernmost heavily developed areas of Jefferson Parish. Long, quiet roads shoot southward from Woodmere out to mangrove swamps surrounding the community and nearby Lake Salvador, providing easy access to vast protected areas like the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and expansive recreational parks, like the disc golf course at Park Des Familles. Two community parks offer an assortment of recreational amenities in the community. Woodmere Playground is the larger of the two, home to an indoor exercise room, baseball diamonds and a playground, plus additional amenities planned for the near future. "We're about to complete the 'airnasium,' which will have six basketball goals, a full-size high school court and a volleyball court underneath a covered pavilion," says Gerry Constance, Capital Projects Administrator for Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation. "Woodmere Park we actually call the 'Woodmere walking trail,' because it has an asphalt walking path with exercise equipment."
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is a hidden gem in the New Orleans area.
Parc Des Familles offers many activities for visitors.
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Providing temporary relief for St. Ville Elementary students
Students in Woodmere are zoned for Jefferson Parish Public Schools, rated B by Niche. The district maintains more than 100 schools across Jefferson Parish's 665 square miles, accommodating a student population of over 50,000. New schools keep popping up, and Woodmere is helping with that. Currently, students from St. Ville Elementary attend Woodmere Elementary as construction for a new St. Ville Elementary continues. Some parents of K-8 students avail themselves of public schools, choosing to send their children to nearby charter schools instead, like the Laureate Academy, which is rated B-minus.
Woodmere Elementary has an overall Niche grade of C.
Laureate Academy has an overall Niche grade of B-.
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Church groups, civic organizations and rec sports keep neighbors together
Woodmere maintains an active community of residents through its civic association and a half-dozen churches. Residents also find ways to keep up with one another through their local parks. Woodmere Playground hosts a number of youth and adult rec sports games, including baseball, soccer, and track and field. The park also hosts an annual summer camp for kids interested in STEM. "Woodmere's got an elementary school, it's got a park, it's got a playground, it's got a civic association, and those are all pluses," Larrimer says.
The Woodmere Park Community Center host the Woodmere Civic Association.
St John Bosco Catholic Church is one of many churches in the Woodmere area.
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Local shopping centers and nearby commercial corridors
Woodmere Square is the closest option for basic commercial needs, such as groceries, quick bites from fast food chains and laundromat services. Additional shopping centers with grocery stores, like Lapalco Village, are a bit further west on Lapalco Boulevard, which is one of the region's busiest corridors for car dealerships.
Woodmere Square is the closest option for basic commercial needs in Woodmere.
Additional shopping centers, like Lapalco Village, are located near Woodmere.
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Limited routes create long commutes to downtown New Orleans
Residents can catch Jefferson Transit buses at the northeastern corner of Woodmere. Most residents rely on a personal vehicle to get around. Woodmere is only 6 miles away as the crow flies from downtown New Orleans. But the West Bank's many segmenting canals and the Mississippi River's limited number of bridges funnel thousands of commuters into one of only a few routes. Even in light traffic, it can take almost 45 minutes to commute from Woodmere to downtown, which is not an uncommon commute, as the core of New Orleans is a major magnet for jobs in tourism and healthcare. "We've got hotel workers, restaurant workers, cab drivers, medical workers – We've got all the things that service the public, but we don't have big industry," Larrimer says.
Rising insurance costs despite major flood control improvements
Since Hurricane Katrina, home insurance costs in Jefferson Parish have increased. After the storm, the Army Corps of Engineers invested billions into repairing and reinforcing the region's pumps, canals and levees. These days, rain still creates puddles in the streets of Woodmere, but few, if any, homes are located within a special hazard flood zone anymore. Yet, there are still hurdles to consider. "It's not the flood insurance that's getting people today. It's the homeowners insurance," Larrimer says.
Specific crime data for Woodmere is not accessible. But part of Jefferson Parish's appeal is its generally lower crime rates than Orleans Parish. Violent crime rates in Jefferson Parish marginally exceed national figures but are still lower than state figures, whereas violent crime rates in Orleans Parish exceed both state and national figures. Property crime rates are fairly proportionate with state and national figures, although some forms of property crime have increased since 2020.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Williams
Video By
Brad Davis
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