A village of trendy warehouse-turned-condos captures those wanting to live in the downtown area but not in The Quarter. The bells from the Old St. Patrick's Church, the warmth of it’s residents, the charming farmer’s market, fine eateries and shops are just a few of the treasures to enjoy. The warehouse arts district was originally established as an active industrial area in the 1800’s that fed the important Port of New Orleans. After decay and abandon of near a century the art community and then hip residents started renovating, restoring and reinventing lofts and condos in 19 century buildings and lined them up with a wealth of museums, art galleries, restaurants and shops. Now is called “the SoHo of the South”. The Central Business District originally referred to as the American Sector (in juxtaposition to the French Quarter after the Louisiana Purchase) was developed within the same square mile of the Warehouse Arts District. Office and professional buildings for the old and new city defined the skyline of New Orleans then and now. A walk thru the CBD and Warehouse Arts District is a cultural travel experience that includes trade history. Our condo is located on the third floor of a historic warehouse of the turn of the 20 century, a fastener company for the shipping industry and later house of the Swift Meat Packing Co. It is nestled among the finest restaurants, bars and live music venues of the city. The bright immense windows gaze to the famous galleries exhibits at Julia Street Art District from the living room. Within blocks are most of the museums: the WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center. Mardi Gras Parades are 2 blocks away, a weekly farmer’s market, the Saint Patrick Church, the weekly free concerts at Lafayette Square are all within sight. A visit to the Mardi Gras World where the magic happens and the Convention Center, the Cruise Ship terminal in Julia, the Harrah’s Casino, the ferry to the historic Algiers Point, all blocks away. Shopping is convenient, high end outlet mall, Rouses Market, the Shops at Canal Place, (and the movie theaters in Canal Place, a theater/dining experience), and Riverwalk, Royal Street and Magazine Street all within short walking distance. Walk 5 minutes to the French Quarter and Saint Louis Cathedral, the Aquarium of the Americas, Insectarium, Mississippi River, Riverboat Excursions, the Old US Mint and the French Market and 3 more minutes to the jazz clubs of S. Peters, Loyola Ave and of Frenchmen Street The Orpheum, the Saenger and the Joy Theater, all recently restored and the state-of-the-art Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts (residence of the Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet, Opera and Broadway touring productions) , tucked in the Louis Armstrong Park where local musicians regularly serenade visitors, are all within a walking mile. The Superdome (Saints) and New Orleans Arena (Hornets) are 10 minute walk. Nearby are the mansions and gardens of the Garden District, the Lafayette Cemetery, the Audubon Park, Zoo, & Golf Course, the proud Saint Charles Avenue, Loyola and Tulane universities, the tree-shaded Esplanade Avenue, the City Park, the largest urban park in the country, the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Sculpture Garden. All of it accessible via the legendary charming streetcar, that lazy travels with its dreamlike rattle only 2 blocks away.
