A Garden District Mansion Gets a New Lease on Life
This elegant, Italianate mansion that sits at 1126 Second St. was constructed in 1894 and is one of my favorite homes in the Garden District. And I was fortunate to sell this beauty as the dual agent – which means I was the listing agent for the sellers, as well as the agent for the buyers. Back in September 2019, the sellers were Mike and Caroline, who after raising two boys in the home had decided to move to Baton Rouge to be near Mike’s elderly mother. Having a Vision Because it was a hot market, the sellers didn’t want to leave any money on the table. But after 112 days listed, we reduced the price to $2,550,000. That’s when the buyers – Jayson Seidman and Paris Neill -- approached me. They had a vision to do a full renovation and take the home to another level; so, they wrote an offer right after they saw it. Paris and I have some mutual friends, and Jayson is in hospitality real estate investment as the owner of some iconic properties in New Orleans, including the Drifter, Columns, and Hotel Saint Vincent. We went under contract on March 9th, just a few days before the pandemic shutdown, and though that presented its own crazy issues, everything worked out! A Full Renovation and Historic Rehabilitation After sustaining water damage from Hurricane Idea, the home underwent mold remediation. Currently undergoing a full, top-to-bottom renovation and historic rehabilitation with many talented folks involved in its rebirth, it was featured at a recent Preservation Resource Center “Beams & Brews” event. From adding modern conveniences to restoring original architectural elements, the painstaking process is going to make this mansion a stunner once again. I can’t wait to see what Paris and Jayson do with it! Stay tuned -- maybe we’ll get a sneak peek :-)
A Front Row Seat to Mardi Gras Festivities
Mardi Gras is the greatest free show on Earth, but living on a parade route (or within a few blocks) gives you an incredible front row seat to the festivities -- offering a unique experience you won’t find any where else in the city. Think about it -- there’s no need to plan how you’ll get to your viewing spot when Mardi Gras parades roll, or where you’ll go to the bathroom, or even what you’ll need to bring to eat and drink. Because all you have to do is casually stroll to your own doorstep. Sounds nice, huh? If you’re a diehard Mardi Gras fan looking for that perfect spot to call your own, check out these listings. 5611 Annunciation Walkable from the start of Muses, Hermes, Krewe d’Etat, Morpheus, and more, this listing and location is a gem. Those who live near Jefferson Ave & Magazine St love to catch these Uptown parades right at their starting point. The float riders are excited, the crowd is family-friendly, and you don’t have to stay up late to see the whole show! 1101 Napoleon Ave. #C It just doesn’t get any better! This beautiful condo is literally at the start of the parade route for the majority of Uptown parades. And with its amazing balcony, you’ll be eye level, havin’ a great time, and catching all the best throws! 2004-06 Foucher St 2008-10 Foucher St These two cute duplexes are just 4 blocks on the lake side of St. Charles Avenue, which means they’re close enough to walk to the Uptown parades, but far enough to be out of the fray. And sometimes that’s the best way to do Mardi Gras. Also, these properties are on the ‘outside’ of the Uptown parade route that goes from Tchoupitoulas to Napoleon to St. Charles Avenue – which means you can easily get to and from your home in the middle of Mardi Gras parades. Ready to buy, sell, or invest? Let’s talk.
The Design Transformation of an Off-Market Fixer-Upper
Ellen Sitkin and her husband Ben lived in Brooklyn for 15 years, but after having their second child, New York City started to feel overwhelming. While she’s from Boston, and he’s from Birmingham, New Orleans was a place they’d always been charmed by – and decided to call it home. They can both work remotely, so that helped make the transition to living and working in New Orleans (and spending summers in Maine) a reality. “It’s such a nice balance, and we’ve worked really hard to put ourselves in a position to make it possible.” Finding A Diamond in the Rough Moving to New Orleans in 2018, they rented a place sight unseen, in order to get a feel for the city before deciding where to buy. Having renovated old houses before, they were looking for a project – and settled on the Irish Channel as their chosen neighborhood. Knowing that they wanted a fixer-upper with historic details, a large yard for their daughters to play in, and a location within a mile radius of work and school, they came to me to help them find a diamond in the rough. Says Ellen, “Tracey seemed like a good fit because she was native to New Orleans but had lived in New York for a long time. So that immediately made me feel like she’d understand our situation.” And I was happy to help. With my knowledge of the Irish Channel and my ability to source off-market properties, I knew of a Chippewa Street house on a double lot that had great potential. And I knew the owner was interested in selling. In fact, I’d shown it to a few other clients, including friends of Ellen’s. An Amazing Renovation Explains Ellen, “I’m a graphic designer, and I dabble in interiors, so for me, I wanted a house that was at least 100 years old, that I could really make my own.” And after seeing this one, she concluded, “Given my design background, I had enough vision to say ok, we can turn this into something.” It would end up being the biggest renovation they’d ever tackled, but it turned out so beautifully that it was recently featured in Domino magazine. What My Client Had to Say I absolutely love that Ellen had this to say about me: “Tracey’s amazing. I remember meeting up with her to look at a place, and she was decked out in her Saints gear and gold high tops, and I was like, I love this woman! She’s so cool, she’s so easygoing, and she knows her shit. From day one, I immediately trusted her. She had lived in NYC for a long time, so that felt good, and she’s super connected here, knows the city, the neighborhoods, like a good real estate agent should. And the fact that she knew a lot of the nuances about the neighborhood – like all those details you need when you’re trying to find that special place – that made it just feel right.” Photo credit: Jacqueline Marque
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