nolaatwillow

Willow Street has some excellent, and not so excellent blocks. The area East of Carrollton is the area towards the University and is nice but not hte focus of this post -these are two different neighborhoods. The area referenced here is on the west side of Carrollton. Records show the houses were built between 1895 and 1920, but will vary for each. The area is currently not listed locally as a historical district, but should be - the Garden District and French Quarter and other affluent areas have taken precedence for that category.

The street is very wide and within walking distance to many great restaurants, bars, coffeeshops, antique stores, yoga studio, spa, one gym, dry cleaners, daycare, pilates, ice cream shop, and more on Oak Street and Carrollton Avenue.

The street care barn is 1 block off of Carrollton Ave, on Willow Street. The store across the street to the street car barn, on Dante and Willow, is a Fatal Flaw of this street and really brings down the neighborhood, reduces quality of life of residents, reduces property values and promotes litter, noise drug sales, loitering and violence. The store has grandfathered in status and primarily sells booze to old drunks nad cigarrettes to thugs who loiter nad sit on milk crates. The patrons of the store, Stop and Go, loiter and litter up the entire neighborhood and no immediate neighbors shop at the store. Avoid the store - there is only canned food expired in 2005 and some other stinky smelly junk food. Police do not monitor the store regularly and the store owners do not care about the neighborhood or neighbors at all and do nothing to promote a healthy neighborhood or that respects neighbors. This store also contribues to a high amount of traffic that does not live in the neighborhood. The neighbors are trying to get officials to control and monitor the store - check for updates.

The rest of Willow Street is great except once you get past Leonides towards the River. The area has been neglected and unmaintained by the property owners and here are several blighted properties that the city has failed to address. That portion of willow had a reputation of having high crime, however, check the current records. Realistically in New Orleans all areas are "high crime" so it is unclear on whether this western section of Willow St. differs much from the rest of New Orleans.

Other than that the neighborhood really is friendly and quiet, the neighbors know each other and talk often/daily, and they keep their homes very clean and neat. The general area has undergone several transitions since its origin and is mostly filled with traditional shotgun, double shotgun and camelback architecture. Since there is no Historical Preservation status locally there are currently no regulations on upgrading with untraditional (and unsustainable products) materials such as Vinyl Siding, but it is still rare to see this type of product in the area. Several FEMA trailers remain in some blocks still 2 years after Hurricane Katrina.

The neighborhood is currently culturally diverse, pet walking friendly, musician friendly, and minimally art-friendly and gay/lesbian friendly, and is also historically predominately African American. African Americans began moving into the Willow Street portion of the neighborhood around the 1960's. The area appears to have a high percentage of homeownership, and some rentals. Houses are well maintained bwtween Carrollton and aroudn Leonides - patchy after that to the river with some abandoned neglected blighted properties. The area is considered Flood Zone B, which is very good - very "high" for New Orleans. Do not know of any houses that acutally took water in on Willow on the west side of Carrollton, during/after Katrina - please update this info if you have a block that did on the west side of Carrollton.

The street is very wide (for New Orleans) and often used as bike route for people who ride their bikes - please use caution and a helmet as people do speed in New Orleans and no bike awareness adnn education has been promoted to many drivers.

Unparented children/youth do walk and run around parentless and shout interesting sterotypes. In general, many children in New Orleans run around parentless and lack play ground facilities and parents and any guidance or protection or authority.

The closing of a store around Joliet Street was an imporvement to the neighborhood. It improved the neighborhood drastically to have the business closed down becuase of the high drug trafficking associated with the store. The neighborhood has since made a huge turn for the better with increased property values and increased quality of life ofr neighbors.

The Pigeontown Steppers grace Willow Street for an Easter parade. Oak Street, just two blocks away has many locally owned one-of-a-kind famous businesses.


The Street Car will be back up and running Soon! Check the RTA website for updates. The area falls under the CRRA Carrolton Riverend Neighborhood Association and there website can give you information on events, updates, local volunteering, local crime, local activities and historical information.