It is our goal at The Parks at Plaquemines to keep our buyers informed about the latest information from the local, state-level, and national real estate industry. We post content to our blog that we hope that you as our custom home buyer will find helpful. Look here for information about financing your new home, building restrictions for new homes, and real estate legislation that will impact you as you are looking to buy or build a new home in the Greater New Orleans area.

Jefferson Parish’s West Bank Expressway Will Get a Facelift

The West Bank Expressway is a corridor for panhandlers who ask vehicles for money but this will go away once a $1.35 million project will enhance the roadway. Projects included include new landscaping and signage at all the intersections from Terry Parkway to Ames Boulevard and new trees that will line the landscaping from Westwood Drive to Nine Mile Point Road. The improvements will also include removing the walkways along the road so that the panhandlers will not have a place to panhandle motorists.

“We’re trying to sell a quality of life and a better place to live here in Jefferson Parish and especially on the West Bank. It doesn’t take much for you to look around at this eight miles and say that you’ve ever been proud with what’s here, because I don’t think any of us have,” comments Parish Council member Ricky Templet.

This elevated part of West Bank Express has been the perfect hub for the homeless. The improvements will help alleviate this problem. Sen. Patrick Connick has filed a bill that will transfer this portion of the land from the state to the parish so that the parish can place ordinances against camping.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

New Library in Jefferson Parish

A new library will be built and named after community leaders Joseph and Constance Caroll. The $2.2 million dollar project will be located in Avondale and will be around 4,500 square feet. “For many years, this community has asked about a library. Our young children who often need guidance…..this is going to be a resource for them and their families,” says Parish Council member Byron Lee.

The library will house meeting spaces, study rooms and a dozen public computer stations and will be located at 588 Avondale Garden Road on the west bank. “Whatever financial gaps or whatever digital that may exist, it won’t exist for very long once this beautiful building is built,” commented Lee.

Joseph and Constance Carroll have been community leaders in Avondale for a long time. They have had a hand in education so this is fitting for them. Their names will be put on the learning institution which is dedicated to education. The library will also have music education in some form or fashion in honor of Mrs. Caroll’s dedication as a music teacher.

The library is needed to fill a gap in the community. It will serve as a safe haven for citizens as well. “Libraries are no longer simply about housing collections. We are about making connections,” boasts Jessica Styons, the new library’s director.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

A New Bakery In Gretna

There is a new Vietnamese bakery in Greta, called Dough Nguyener’s Bakery, named after the family owners, which opened its doors March 17th. The unique business is not only a retail bakery but also a production bakery.

The restaurant serves both American and Vietnamese dishes and has a unique twist on fried chicken. This dish includes a whole fried chicken that is called the Ngyener Nguyener chicken dinner. Their take on the New Orleans style French bread is a little different and made more the Vietnamese way. The differences are in the crust and shape, the crust is a bit softer, the bread more dense and the shape more like a Parisian baguette.

A good portion of the menu for the retail restaurant is more of Vietnamese tradition. These include an iron skillet of beef stew with curry flavor, slices of steak and fried eggs and pate called bo ne. Pastries include pate chou meat pis and steamed buns. For dessert, there is che khuc bach which is a colorful dessert made of tropic fruit salad, jellied fruit garnish and almonds.

“We’re digging into our roots more here. We’re introducing new things from our tradition, says Achote.

The famous fried chicken can also come as Nguyener wings glazed with a soy-based fish sauce chili glaze and a traditional multi piece fried chicken plate with sides. The whole bird dish is coated first with tapioca which makes it a bit more chewy. The sides consist of both east and west flavors including macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, kimchee salad, and garlic noodles to name a few.

Come enjoy some unique and fun bakery items and food items at Dough Nguyener’s Bakery in Gretna. Known for yummy carnival cakes since Carnival season in 2022.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

A New Rapid Bus Line From Algiers to New Orleans East Gains Support

The $250 million Regional Transit Authority plan has been approved after the second attempt. The plan will use dedicated lanes and rail-style stations that stretch 15 miles from New Orleans East to Algiers.

This will be the first rapid bus line that will receive federal funding even though some Algiers residents are opposed. They are worried about the traffic that it will create over the Crescent City Connection.

The new line will run from Read Boulevard in New Orleans East through the Central Business District and then it will go over the bridge. It will have separated lands and traffic signal priority. This will help with the buses running in 10-minute intervals.

The Regional Transit Authority hopes to obtain federal funding for half of the project’s total cost. If approved after the April submission, the bus line could open as early as 2027. This is a great project for the future of New Orleans as it is one of seven out of the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan regions without some type of rapid transit service.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.

Is the Housing Market Both a Seller’s and a Buyer’s Market?

The pandemic hit and the housing market went crazy with buyers. In fact, many potential home buyers felt desperate and defeated due to all cash offers and multi-bidding wars. Those in the industry say that this is not the case anymore as the market is starting to become an even playing field.

“Those moments of…..there are 20 offers coming in are gone now. Buyers can take a bit more time . The buyer has a little bit more power or control on their side, ” says Jay Farner with Rocket Mortgage.

This is the 10th month in a row that home sales have dropped due to the rise in the mortgage rates. This has been the longest decline in home sales since around 1999. The market is not as hot as it was during the pandemic for sellers, but still is not a buyer’s market either due to the still historically low housing inventory.

“I’d say it’s an even market. A few years ago, it was clearly a seller’s market. We were doing verified approvals, people were getting a full underwrite within 24 hours to ensure they could present almost like a cash buyer to make an offer on that home. Now, they have a bit more time. They have more homes they can look at…..We’re not seeing 15 offers on one home,” replies Farner.

Even though the home prices are slowing down, they are not dropping. Since the demand is decreasing a bit, so is the supply. Higher mortgage interest rates have caused a slump in the market due to high inflation. The 30-year fixed at the week ending January 12 was around 6.33% which was down from last fall but up from this time a year ago.

“A recession here is on the horizon. People are changing their spending habits, credit card debt is rising, savings and bank accounts are dropping. All of those things tell me that we’ve set the table for a recession here in 2023,” says Farner.

Click Here For the Source of the Information.