Dauphine Gardens: A Unique Bywater Condo Community
The Crazy Closing of a Difficult Deal Albert Walsh -- a client, close friend, and real estate developer -- remembers our crazy closing on a Bywater building this way: “The seller was difficult, and it had taken us a year to get to closing. It was Lundi Gras 2011, and we had a 5 pm deadline. Tracey and I had to battle through Mardi Gras traffic, cross the parade route, and then close the deal by the skin of our teeth!” And that was the least of it! It was a complicated deal that required winning over two different neighborhood groups, a zoning change that had to be approved by the City Council, and a $50,000 non-refundable deposit. And if the zoning change didn’t go through, my clients wouldn’t get their deposit back. It was a calculated gamble – mostly because we knew the city desperately needed more affordable housing. A Green Renovation Ahead of Its Time The dilapidated Bywater apartment building had been sitting unoccupied since Hurricane Katrina, and it needed to be completely gutted. Not only were Albert and his business partner George up for the challenge, they were also ahead of the curve – embarking on an ambitious green renovation that tackled everything from stormwater management and energy efficiencies to quality of life improvements. One of their first efforts was creating a unique gutter system that diverts storm water and greatly limits run-off from the property. They also removed as much concrete as possible, maximizing green space and planting native cypress trees and palmettos that suck up water like a sponge. In addition, they added multiple layers of thermal insulation to keep the units cool and acoustic insulation to keep them quiet, both in the floors and the walls. From new wiring and new plumbing to new layouts and upgraded finishes, they created environmentally-friendly, affordable housing that was very much in demand. Says Albert, “I think what we did has real world impact, and I think if more developers and homeowners tried to do things like that, it would make a difference.” A Refresh that Brought Affordable Condos to the Bywater After owning and renting the units for 10 years, Albert and George recently updated the building, turning the apartments into an affordable condo community. Located in a vibrant, eclectic neighborhood, Dauphine Gardens is a unique Bywater community offering 27 fully renovated one bedroom & one bath condominiums, with amenities such as gated privacy, assigned parking, on-site laundry, bicycle storage, extensive green space, and a location that’s steps from notable restaurants, coffee shops, bars, boutiques, and parks. I’m thankful that Albert has this to say about working with me: “Tracey’s the one who found this off-market Bywater property and told me it was promising. When she showed it to me, I was like, yes, I’ve gotta do this! She was a rock star on this deal, and it would not have happened without her. Any other agent, and it would have fallen apart! She’s tenacious! “Since 2005, I’ve probably worked over 25 real estate deals with Tracey and have probably referred over 50 listings to her. I’m an opportunistic shopper, and she has continued to bring me deals over the years that weren’t accessible to anybody else.” “If you don’t grow up in New Orleans, you can be considered an outsider. I kind of got grandfathered-in, so to speak. There was this grace period for those who moved here after Katrina to help rebuild the city. As time moved on, I realized, I’ll never break into the community. But I never felt that way with Tracey. She’s open-minded, welcoming, and happy to work with people outside the city.”
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 :-)
The Scoop on the Most Desirable Uptown Neighborhoods and What They Offer
Some of the most desirable Uptown neighborhoods in the city — from Audubon, Milan, and Touro, to Bouligny, West Riverside, Freret and more — feature beautiful homes and many charming architectural styles. But these Uptown neighborhoods also offer a full range of amenities to New Orleans residents — including lush green spaces, eclectic shopping and boutiques, a huge variety of casual and upscale locally-owned restaurants, neighborhood coffee shops, nearby public, private, and parochial schools, prestigious universities, and a charming streetcar line that runs down St. Charles Avenue. Why I Know the Area So Well With so much to offer, it’s not surprising that Uptown is where many of my clients are looking to buy and sell. And because I live there as well, I know the area intimately, including my neighbors and what’s going on from one block to the next — whether it’s homes that are on the market, properties that are being renovated, or residences that are aren’t on the market (yet) but might be amenable to an interested buyer. You’ll find single family homes, multi-family investment properties, affordable condos, and everything in between — and they’re all in high demand. And because I have great relationships and friendships with so many other agents who work Uptown, as well — and see them out and about in the neighborhood, I often know which homes will be available before they even hit the market. Some of my Uptown clients have included a Tulane employee who wanted to walk to work, a couple looking for their dream home, a family of five who needed more space, parents who fell in love with a large yard for their little one, a chef and an engineer who were moving to New Orleans from Baton Rouge, and a couple of friends who do beautiful renovations and flips, just to name a few. What I Love About My Neighborhood With boundaries that roughly include South Claiborne Avenue to the north, Washington Avenue to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and Carrollton Avenue to the west, this attractive area of Uptown is known for its oak tree-lined streets, the fact that it’s easy to get around, and the great, locally-owned small businesses that dot Magazine, Prytania and Freret Streets. From landmarks like the JCC at the corner of St. Charles and Jefferson Avenues, Audubon Park and the Audubon Zoo, to the Prytania Theatre, Tulane and Loyola campuses, and several historic churches and synagogues, it feels like I’m never far from my favorite places to exercise, enjoy the outdoors, learn, shop, dine, and spend time friends and family. Some of My Favorite Spots I personally appreciate that it’s a stable area on higher ground, and I love that I can stroll over to St. James Cheese Company and enjoy a meal, walk with friends to Audubon Park, hop on the streetcar a block away, grocery shop around the corner at Langenstein’s, grab a drink with friends at The Kingpin, and pick up a bottle of bubbly for a client at The Wine Seller. If you’re looking to buy, sell or invest Uptown, please reach out anytime to pick my brain and ask for advice – because I’m always here to help. Let’s talk.
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