Lake Shore-Lake Vista

In the 1920s, developers saw the huge potential for homes, beaches, and parks in the swampy area along the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Miles of old piers and lakefront fishing camps were demolished, and swamps were drained and filled to add significant acreage to the area and a seawall and levee to protect against flooding.

Lakeshore and Lake Vista are two communities now occupying this space, with immediate access to the lake to the north and City Park to the south. Plenty of trees, old-growth landscaping, quiet streets, and an array of home styles ranging from modest to luxurious make this a sought-after suburban enclave. It feels far from the city’s hustle and bustle but is less than 10 miles from Jackson Square in downtown New Orleans.

Lake Vista’s non-traditional street layout consists of a circular series of cul-de-sacs that wraps around an axis of five long, pedestrian-only greenways. Lakeshore, located immediately to the west, has a more traditional layout. Canal Boulevard bisects the neighborhood, dividing it into Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West. Each half has its own centrally located park and jewel-themed street names.

Though the expansion of the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline was carried out during the 1920s and 1930s, most construction of Lakeshore and Lake Vista didn’t start until after World War II. There are a few apartments and condos, but residences are primarily stand-alone homes. Architectural styles include ranch, traditional two-story, contemporary, and mid-century modern, with a range of home prices creating options for all budgets.

Though mainly residential, Lakeshore and Lake Vista contain medical and commercial conveniences, including a few pharmacies, medical offices, cafes, and a local upscale grocery store. A greater selection of chain grocery stores, hospitals, and retail options are available outside the neighborhoods’ bounds.

A marina on the western edge of the Lakeshore neighborhood offers lake access and boasts some of New Orleans’ only lakefront restaurants. Just beyond them sits the New Canal Lighthouse Museum and Education Center. The original structure was erected in the mid-1800s to guide vessels into the Basin Canal, which once connected Lake Pontchartrain with downtown New Orleans.

In northern Lakeshore East, you’ll find the Mardi Gras Fountain. Dedicated in 1962, the fountain is complemented by around 70 two-foot-tall tile plaques celebrating the city’s past and present Carnival krewes. The eastern edge of the Lake Vista neighborhood is home to the ruins of an 18th-century Spanish fort, offering visitors a glimpse at the area’s past.

Convenient access to City Park and Lake Pontchartrain provides Lakeshore and Lake Vista residents with an enormous selection of year-round events and activities. Mardi Gras, perhaps the most notable New Orleans event, is celebrated with parades and parties throughout the city from January through February. While most of these parades are in the French Quarter or closer to downtown New Orleans, the city’s pride in this annual event can be felt in every neighborhood.

The New Orleans Yacht Club hosts over 30 annual regattas within the Lakeshore and Lake Vista neighborhoods. Every December, the New Canal Lighthouse has a holiday-themed festival and boat parade. Just south, historic City Park puts on concerts and festivals and has museums, an amusement park, mini and full-sized golf courses, gardens, and much more.

There is no shortage of parks and green spaces for residents of Lakeshore and Lake Vista. Both Lakeshore East and West have centrally located parks and symmetrical parks on either side of Canal Boulevard that welcome visitors to the neighborhood. Lake Vista includes five long pedestrian greenways that provide easy access for all residents. There are also picnic shelters, a playground, and the Mardi Gras Fountain to visit along the lakefront.

Historic City Park is immediately south of the neighborhoods, and its 1,300 acres feature live oaks, playgrounds, picnic areas, scenic bayous, and pedestrian and bike paths. The expansive park also has museums, gardens, an amusement park, and more.

Though there are plenty of options nearby, the only schools within the boundaries of the neighborhoods are St. Pius X Catholic School and Crescent City Montessori School, which are right at the center of Lake Vista. Like much of New Orleans, most schools in this area are either religious, private, or charter, and they are among the best in the city.

For additional options outside the neighborhoods, some top-rated public schools include Benjamin Franklin High School, Lusher Charter School, Belle Chasse Academy, and Edward Hynes Charter School. The local private schools include Mount Carmel Academy, Holy Cross High School, and Christian Brothers School. Where post-secondary education is concerned, both the University of New Orleans and Delgado Community College’s City Park campus is minutes away.

Lakeshore and Lake Vista residents live on some of New Orleans’ prime real estate, providing all the benefits of comfortable suburban living without a long commute to the city. Both neighborhoods feature quiet streets and abundant trees and green spaces, and Lake Pontchartrain provides a scenic backdrop.

Downtown New Orleans is less than 10 miles away, accessible via nearby highways, neighborhood streets, or city buses. It’s home to some of the city’s largest employers, including Entergy Corporation, Ochsner Health System, Tulane University, Whitney Holding Corporation, and Boh Bros Construction.

Although it may feel more removed, Lakeshore and Lake Vista are only about 10 miles from downtown New Orleans and under 15 miles from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport. Canal Boulevard, which bisects the Lakeshore neighborhood, provides an easy route directly downtown or to the nearby junction of Interstates 10 and 610, which can take commuters downtown, west to the airport or Baton Rouge, or east to Slidell and the beach communities along the Gulf Coast. Allen Toussaint Boulevard serves as both neighborhoods' southern boundary and has multiple public transportation bus stops.

Photography Contributed By

Dale Rushing

Video By

Jacob Cardwell