Lower Garden District

The Lower Garden District is often confused with its more famous neighbor, the Upper Garden District, but it has a unique, eclectic flavor all its own. Centered around Coliseum Square, the area is one of graceful vistas and curving streets, replete with classical names like Dryades, Melpomene, and Terpsichore. Indeed, Lee Circle, originally named Tivoli Circle, was envisioned as an anchor for the nine streets that extend from it, all named after the nine muses. The houses here actually predate those of the Garden District proper, since they were built in the early years of the 19th century during the city's upriver expansion from the French Quarter. Since the area is still in the process of being revitalized, many magnificent homes can be purchased here at reasonable prices, especially for those willing to invest a little "sweat equity."

A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District area, the Lower Garden District's boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St. Charles Avenue, Felicity, Prytania, Thalia, Magazine and Julia Streets to the north, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Crescent City Connection and Mississippi River to the east, Felicity, Magazine and Constance Streets, Jackson Avenue, Chippewa, Soraparu, and St. Thomas Streets to the south, and First Street to the west.

The Lower Garden District was already in a revival process before Hurricane Katrina, and the area remained dry and relatively undamaged during post-hurricane flooding. Today, as in the past, the Lower Garden District is a neighborhood ripe for discovery, filled with architectural gems, magnificent old streets, interesting residents, and a rich cultural heritage that only gets better with time.