Metairie Terrace

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Photography Contributed By

Andrew Williams

Video By

Becky Gaskill