Lower Garden District

Lower Garden District townhouse with double galleries, Corinthian columns and dormers behind crepe myrtles, New Orleans
Recessed front door with transom, sidelights and carved brackets on a Lower Garden District townhouse, New Orleans

Greek Revival townhouses, Italianate double galleries and shotguns around Coliseum Square, between the Garden District and downtown.

Curved staircase with turned balusters and a stained-glass window in the front hall of a Lower Garden District home, New Orleans

The Homes

The Lower Garden District has some of the oldest residential streets above Canal Street. Barthélémy Lafon laid out the neighborhood in 1806 and 1807. He planned it around Coliseum Square and named the streets for the nine Greek muses: Terpsichore, Melpomene, Euterpe, Polymnia, Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalia and Urania.

Most of the houses date from the 1830s through the late 1800s: side-hall Greek Revival townhouses, Italianate homes with double galleries and cast-iron detail, Queen Anne houses, and shotgun singles and doubles.

Many of the larger homes were split into apartments during the Depression. Since the 1970s, a lot of them have been restored as single-family houses. Others are now condominiums, which gives buyers a range of sizes and prices on the same block.

Before You Buy

The Lower Garden District is a local historic district under the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission, so exterior work usually needs approval before it starts, including windows, doors, porches, roofing, demolition and additions. In a former multi-unit house, check what the permits and the zoning allow. If a condo is involved, read the association documents, budget and reserves.

Older houses need a close look at the roof, foundation and piers, plumbing, electrical, termite history and drainage. Insurance and flood zones vary block by block, so get quotes before you are under contract. I help you investigate those issues early, so you know what you're buying before you make an offer.

Magazine Street runs through the neighborhood with restaurants, coffee shops, galleries and antique stores. Coliseum Square and Annunciation Square are the neighborhood's green spaces. The St. Charles streetcar runs along the lake side, and the Warehouse District, the Central Business District and the Garden District are each a short walk or bike ride away. During Carnival, the St. Charles Avenue parades pass along the edge of the neighborhood. That limits parking and access for a few weeks, and it also puts you a few blocks from the route.

I have photographed many of the homes in the Lower Garden District. That work has given me a close, firsthand view of how well these houses were built, how the neighborhood fits together and how easy it is to reach many of the city's major events and attractions from here.

Questions Buyers Ask About the Lower Garden District

  • Yes. It is a local historic district under the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission. Exterior changes, demolition and new construction generally need commission approval before work begins.

  • It depends on the zoning of the specific property. In residential districts, New Orleans allows one license per block face, awarded by lottery, and the operator must live on the property. Check the zoning and license status of the address before you buy.

  • The ground near the river is generally higher than much of the city, but conditions change from block to block. Check the FEMA flood zone for the exact address and get an insurance quote early.

  • Greek Revival and Italianate townhouses, Queen Anne homes, shotgun singles and doubles, and condominiums in converted historic houses and some newer buildings.

  • You can walk to Magazine Street, Coliseum Square and the streetcar on St. Charles Avenue, and downtown and the Garden District are close by. Expect some Carnival traffic each year and older homes that need steady upkeep.