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Desire Area

Desire Area

Suburban Neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana

Orleans Parish 70117, 70126

Neighborhood Reviews
3.2
$147,934 Average Value
$120 Average Price per Sq Ft
20 Homes For Sale

An isolated corner of the Upper Ninth Ward

Between the rush of vehicles on Interstate 10 and the foghorns of ships passing through the Industrial Canal is the Desire Area, which has seen its fair share of changes. Long gone is the Agriculture Street Landfill, as well as the streetcars and housing projects named Desire. What remains today is a disconnected corner of New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward that is being redeveloped gradually with new homes and community services.

Interstate 10 borders the northern edge of the Desire Area.
Interstate 10 borders the northern edge of the Desire Area.
The Giving Hope Community Center in the Desire Area has a large gym for kids to play in.
The Giving Hope Community Center in the Desire Area has a large gym for kids to play in.
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Crossing canals, highways and train tracks

Residents leave their neighborhood to reach businesses, work and other essentials. But the neighborhood is boxed in on all sides by highways, canals and train tracks, limiting options for pedestrians and cyclists. While bus routes do serve the neighborhood, they tend to run slow, so most residents rely on a car for trips out of the neighborhood.

The Desire Area is bordered to the east by the Industrial Canal.
The Desire Area is bordered to the east by the Industrial Canal.
RUBARB Community Bike Shop in the Desire Area is a volunteer run operation.
RUBARB Community Bike Shop in the Desire Area is a volunteer run operation.
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Fresh produce from Barcelo Gardens

The nearest concentration of businesses sits north of the Desire Area on Chef Menteur Highway. Residents cross the train tracks to shop for groceries at a Walmart Supercenter that anchors a few chain restaurants, discount stores and pharmacies. "It's a mixed income area, but for the people who don't have access to transportation, having to leave the area to get groceries is a problem," says Co-Owner of the Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market Ashley Webb, whose market is a popular location in the neighborhood for fresh mustard greens and other healthy eats. "We're just trying to bring produce to this area and kind of bring back health and an interest in growing things."

Chef Menteur Highway is a popular location for shopping in the Desire Area.
Chef Menteur Highway is a popular location for shopping in the Desire Area.
Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market has fresh produce in the Desire Area.
Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market has fresh produce in the Desire Area.
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Restorations and new builds for low buy-in

Housing options have changed a lot over the years. Following Katrina, the Desire Area was among the most heavily flooded neighborhoods in New Orleans. Since then, redevelopment has been slower than in other parts of the Ninth Ward because of environmental factors, so many lots still sit empty. These often sell for between $17,500 and $30,000 and are later populated with a newly built single-family home. New builds and restored properties tend to maintain the neighborhood's traditional architecture, resulting in bungalows and cottages with classic charm and modern design. These typically sell for as high as $175,000 but can also sell for as low as $50,000 if repairs are needed.

Shotgun style homes are common in the Desire Area.
Shotgun style homes are common in the Desire Area.
Contemporary style homes can be found in the Desire Area.
Contemporary style homes can be found in the Desire Area.
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Farmers markets and community luncheons

There's lots of ways to meet the community, such as kids cooking classes that Webb organizes regularly at her market stand. "The market is where we see more of the people coming together," Webb says. "Our first market was insane. I think a few hundred people showed up and they bought out every vendor." Local organizations based in the Desire Area also help put together events for engagement and community service, such as Thrive New Orleans, which hosts luncheons, environmental cleanup days and resource fairs at the Desire Community Square.

Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market is a popular location for healthy eats in the Desire Area.
Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market is a popular location for healthy eats in the Desire Area.
The Giving Hope Community Center helps residents through outreach in the Desire Area.
The Giving Hope Community Center helps residents through outreach in the Desire Area.
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Making a splash at Sampson Playground

Sampson Playground sits at the center of the neighborhood and acts as the main community space for residents and their families. Baseball and pickup basketball draw some of the largest crowds to the park while young children watch from afar on the jungle gym. But the park's main feature is its outdoor pool, which opens in the summertime to droves of locals looking to cool off.

Sampson Playground is a large park with a lot to offer.
Sampson Playground is a large park with a lot to offer.
Play some hoops at Sampson Playground.
Play some hoops at Sampson Playground.
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A nationally ranked arts high school

The Desire Area's students typically begin school at KIPP Leadership Academy, a D-rated school in the Marigny neighborhood, although there are several other private and charter options nearby. Some high school students attend their last four years of school in the neighborhood at G.W. Carver High School, which has a Niche score of B-minus. "The Ninth Ward also has one of the best performing arts schools in the country," says Realtor for Keller Williams Realty Troy Lee, referring to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, which has a Niche score of A.

KIPP Leadership Primary provides music classes for students.
KIPP Leadership Primary provides music classes for students.
G.W. Carver High School serves 9th - 12th grade students in the Desire Area.
G.W. Carver High School serves 9th - 12th grade students in the Desire Area.
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Things to consider

There are a few factors to consider with the Desire Area. The site of a former landfill, parts of the Desire Area were named a Superfund site in 1994. The effects of this contamination are still an ongoing issue for some residents. Another factor is crime. The Desire Area has a CAP Index score one point above the national average of 4, but most residents are not regularly affected. "I would say its reputation is that it's more dangerous, but I find it quieter because there's not a lot here," Webb says. "I feel like a lot of the crime happens in more commercial spaces or where people are hanging out."

Tom Jakob
Written By
Tom Jakob
Andrew Williams
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Williams
Victoria Sharpe
Video By
Victoria Sharpe

Agents Specializing in this Area

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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

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Doris Lumpkin, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International

24 min drive

Bus

Chef Menteur Blvd. & Gentilly Woods Mall

Bus

Chickasaw St. & Louisa St.

Bus

N. Galvez & Clouet

Bus

Winn Dixie & Desire Parkway

Bus

Chef Menteur Blvd. & Louisa St.

Bus

Louisa St. & Higgins Ave.

Bus

N. Galvez & Congress

Reviews

Niche Reviews
3.2 3 Reviews
3.0 Niche User
12/16/2014 Niche Review
The service isn't all that great, there's not much opportunity. I've been searching for a job for almost two years now.
Are you familiar with the Desire Area neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Desire Area US
Homicide 9 4
Sexual Assault 5 4
Assault with Weapon 8 4
Robbery 6 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 6 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$125,450
Median Single Family Price
$129,000
Median Townhouse Price
$207,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$120
Number of Homes for Sale
20
Last 12 months Home Sales
60
Months of Supply
4.00
Median List Price
$139,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
6%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
8%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
396
Median Year Built
1976
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,251
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
4,138

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Doris Lumpkin, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
4,656
Median Age
36
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
31%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$28,633
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$34,373

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
82.3%
College Graduates
18.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.1%
% Population in Labor Force
57%
Below the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
67''
Average Winter Low Temperature
46°F
Average Summer High Temperature
93°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

36 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

27 / 100

Minimal Transit

Transit Score®

23 / 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

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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Desire Area