West Lake Forest, New Orleans
Encyclopedia
West Lake Forest is a neighborhood
in the city of New Orleans
, Louisiana
, United States
. A subdistrict of the New Orleans East area, its boundaries as determined by the City Planning Commission are: Interstate 10
to the north and west, Read Boulevard to the east, and Dwyer Road to the south.
West Lake Forest has a mixture of single-family detached homes, apartment complexes, and townhomes. The neighborhood was developed mostly during the late 1960s and 1970s. New Orleans and the state of Louisiana experienced an economic decline in the late 1980s, which slowed development. Lake Forest Plaza
, an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) shopping center in the heart of West Lake Forest, was hit hard by the downturn. The opening of newer, larger malls in the Greater New Orleans area also depleted its customer base.
By the 1990s, the neighborhood saw an increase in the number of low-income residents as public housing developments in other parts of the city were closed. The total population of West Lake Forest rose 5.75% between 1990 and 2000, while New Orleans as a whole declined by 2.5%.
West Lake Forest was significantly impacted by Hurricane Katrina
in 2005. Over 70% of residential properties as well as nearly all commercial properties in the neighborhood received flood damage, wind damage, or both. Approximately 33.4% of West Lake Forest's pre-Katrina household population had returned to the neighborhood as of June 2008.
, West Lake Forest has a total area of 1.37 mi2. 1.35 mi2 of which is land and 0.02 mi2 of which is water.
New Orleans neighborhoods
In 1980 the New Orleans City Planning Commission divided the city into 13 planning districts and 72 distinct neighborhoods.While most of these assigned boundaries match with traditional local designations, some others differ from common traditional use...
in the city of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A subdistrict of the New Orleans East area, its boundaries as determined by the City Planning Commission are: Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
to the north and west, Read Boulevard to the east, and Dwyer Road to the south.
West Lake Forest has a mixture of single-family detached homes, apartment complexes, and townhomes. The neighborhood was developed mostly during the late 1960s and 1970s. New Orleans and the state of Louisiana experienced an economic decline in the late 1980s, which slowed development. Lake Forest Plaza
Lake Forest Plaza
Lake Forest Plaza was a shopping mall in eastern New Orleans that was opened in 1974. It was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and demolished 2007....
, an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) shopping center in the heart of West Lake Forest, was hit hard by the downturn. The opening of newer, larger malls in the Greater New Orleans area also depleted its customer base.
By the 1990s, the neighborhood saw an increase in the number of low-income residents as public housing developments in other parts of the city were closed. The total population of West Lake Forest rose 5.75% between 1990 and 2000, while New Orleans as a whole declined by 2.5%.
West Lake Forest was significantly impacted by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in 2005. Over 70% of residential properties as well as nearly all commercial properties in the neighborhood received flood damage, wind damage, or both. Approximately 33.4% of West Lake Forest's pre-Katrina household population had returned to the neighborhood as of June 2008.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, West Lake Forest has a total area of 1.37 mi2. 1.35 mi2 of which is land and 0.02 mi2 of which is water.
Adjacent Neighborhoods
- Little Woods (north)
- Pine VillagePines Village, New OrleansPines Village is a neighborhood in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. A subdistrict of the New Orleans East area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Downman Road and Interstate 10 to the east, Chef Menteur Highway to the south, Lake Pontchartrain and...
(west) - Plum Orchard (south)
- Read Boulevard West (south)
- Read Boulevard East (east)