What it is like to live in Lake Vista and Lake Shore.
Lake Vista and Lake Shore sit on land reclaimed from Lake Pontchartrain and developed from the late 1930s onward. Lake Vista is laid out around pedestrian lanes, so houses face green space and garages are reached from the back. The architecture is mid-century: ranches, modernist and Colonial Revival, on large lots. It looks and functions unlike anywhere else in New Orleans.
The streets, and what the mornings are like.
The plan is the thing. Lake Vista was designed around a set of green corridors, so the front of the house faces a walking lane and a shared park while the car arrives at the back on a service drive. The lanes are named for plants and the addresses take some getting used to. Nothing about it resembles the rest of the city, which was the point.
Lake Shore, just east of it, is more conventional in layout but shares the setting: wide lots, low houses, and the lakefront levee at the top of the neighborhood. You can walk to the water from most of it. Early mornings on the levee path are the reason people stay, with open sky, wind off the lake, and a view back at the city that most of New Orleans never sees.
The houses are a different conversation from the rest of this site. Mid-century construction means slab foundations rather than piers, steel or aluminum windows in the older ones, and mechanical systems that were state of the art in 1955. The upside is that many of them are structurally straightforward. Renovation here tends to be about updating rather than rescuing.
Elevation and protection are the questions worth asking. The lakefront sits behind the levee and floodwall system, so the flood history here is tied to that system rather than to street drainage. Get the elevation certificate, understand which flood zone the specific lot falls in, and have the insurance conversation before you write an offer rather than after.
The housing stock.
Mid-century ranches and modern houses on big lots, unlike anywhere else in the city.
House types
Mid-century ranches, modernist houses, and Colonial Revival homes, many on lots larger than you will find in older neighborhoods. Some have been expanded or rebuilt in recent years, so you will also see newer construction. Condos and doubles are rare.
Condition and era
Most houses date from the 1940s through the 1960s. That means slab or low foundations, fewer of the old-house quirks, and often more room, but also original baths, kitchens, and systems that may be ready for their first full update.
What to watch for
Roof age, drainage, and any past water intrusion. Ask about the age of the electrical panel, plumbing, and HVAC, and get an insurance quote early. Insurance, Flood & Elevation covers what to check.
What is around.
What your days look like once you live here.
Eating and drinking
The neighborhoods themselves are almost entirely residential. Harrison Avenue in Lakeview, a few minutes away, has most of the nearby restaurants, coffee, and groceries, and the lakefront at West End is close by.
Walking
Walking here means the lakefront and the neighborhood’s own pedestrian lanes rather than errands. Most people drive for groceries and dinner, and walk or bike for pleasure.
Green space
The lakefront along Lakeshore Drive, with miles of seawall steps, grass, and open water. In Lake Vista, the interior parks and lanes mean many houses face green space instead of a street.
Getting places
Downtown is about 15 to 20 minutes by car and the airport about 20 to 25. The University of New Orleans is next door. It is one of the more car-dependent neighborhoods in the city.
Homes for sale in Lake Vista & Lake Shore
Three questions about Lake Vista and Lake Shore.
The ones people ask me most as a New Orleans real estate advisor.
Is Lake Vista a good place to live?
Yes, for people who want quiet streets, bigger lots, green space, and a short drive to everything else. The trade-offs are fewer restaurants and shops within walking distance, and more mid-century houses than historic ones.
How does the lakefront handle storms?
The lakefront neighborhoods sit on filled land that is higher than much of the city, behind the lakefront levee system. They generally fared better in 2005 than Lakeview just to the south, though some homes still took water. Roof condition and wind coverage matter here too. Always check the specific address.
What does a house in Lake Vista cost?
It varies with size, lot, and how much the house has been updated. An original ranch and a fully rebuilt house on a large lot can be far apart in price. What Your Money Buys has current price bands, and I am happy to pull this month’s sales for the blocks you like.
Read next.
Honest price bands by neighborhood.
What to check before you make an offer.
What caring for an older house involves.
More house for the money, and the Canal streetcar.
Oak canopy, Magazine Street, and Audubon Park.
Luxury Real Estate Advisor License ID: 995701126
+1(504) 617-5184 | richard@richardhebertrealtor.com
The Lake Vista and Lake Shore guide.