Commercial Construction Work in The Greater New Orleans Area Rose 40%

Commercial construction work in the Greater New Orleans area rose 40% compared to previous months in March, 2015, and it also increased 39% year-over-year from March, 2014.  Construction contracts awarded in New Orleans totaled to $152.5 million in March.  Office, retail, hotel and other projects accounted for most of the commercial construction projects, and they increased sharply by 66% to $101.7 million in contracts.
In conjunction with the slow and steady growth of residential real estate both nationally and in the Greater New Orleans area, single-family home contracts and multi-family contracts increased by 6% in the same time period to $50.8 million. Across the Mississippi River from New Orleans West Bank cities such as Marrero, Harvey, Gretna, Terrytown, Algiers, Westwego, Arabi, and Belle Chasse have started to see more of the slow steady growth that has been experienced and then accelerated in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and St. Tammany Parish.  St. Tammany Parish has seemed to lead the charge in new home and existing home sales behind New Orleans, but the West Bank has been slower to recover.

One new home subdivision, located on the West Bank next to Jefferson Parish is the Parks of Plaquemines.  This new home community features traditional and garden home lots and during the first 4 months of 2015 sold 4 lots and two new homes to buyers from other towns on the West Bank such as Marrero, Harvey and Gretna.  Sales at the Parks of Plaquemines have been slower because there are many lots for sale, and builders are building new CUSTOM homes so they are more tailored to “building on my lot homes” vs. “spec homes,” which would be new homes available and ready to sell.

If you are interested in residential real estate in the Greater New Orleans area and would like to build a new home for you or your family approximately 10 miles from New Orleans, visit the Parks of Plaquemines in Belle Chasse, Louisiana next to Jefferson Parish.  For More Information Call 504-364-2350 or E-mail Info@TheParksLifestyle.com.

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Gretna, LA Participated in the Great American Cleanup

Gretna, Louisiana is a community on the West Bank that is one of the partners in the Keeping America Beautiful Program.  According to its website, Keeping America Beautiful is the nation’s leading nonprofit that brings people together to build and sustain vibrant communities. With our powerful network of community-based affiliates, we work with millions of volunteers who take action in their communities to transform public spaces into beautiful places.

One of the programs associated with Keeping America Beautiful is the Great American Cleanup

which is done annually by volunteers from the participating local communities.  As part of this program, city projects which focus on beautification, landscaping, litter pick-up, and environment enhancement or protection are completed.  Gretna, LA participated in the Great American Cleanup this year sponsored by Entergy which partnered with the Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, calling it the “Spring Sweep.”

Not only did the city of Gretna benefit from the beautification project, but the cleanup and landscaping of the City of Gretna welcome sign also enhanced the entrance to the Westbank Expressway directly on the city’s line with Harvey, Louisiana.  A backhoe was brought in to clear the land for planting.  New landscaping was installed and mulched, and the welcome sign itself was given a fresh new coat of paint.

“We looked for projects that the public will notice and enjoy.  This year we chose to partner with the City of Gretna to cleanup and landscape the city sign location on the West Bank Expressway at the Harvey line,” Entergy’s Mary Fay Legnon said.

The city of Gretna hopes to continue the city’s beautification projects each year with Entergy as one of its main sponsors.  “Thank you to Entergy, an incredible community partner,” Mayor Belinda said. “We are so grateful that Entergy chose Gretna as the location for this year’s service project. Their community team is an asset to our city. The sign on the Expressway and the garden that surrounds it looks great.”

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Building a New, Custom Home in New Orleans

Some home buyers in the Greater New Orleans area have a natural interest in architecture and design and might have bought a new home for sale when they purchased their first new home.  However, most buyers have gone through a couple of cycles of buying and selling and existing home for sale before they make their first new home purchase.  While even a smaller percentage of home buyers in New Orleans and the West Bank are willing to go through the time and patience that is required to draw up plans and interview builders to build a new, custom home.  Building a new, custom home in New Orleans can be a daunting, challenging, and invigorating experience.  With a broad budget, it can be a lot of fun as well!
Building a new, custom home allows you as the home buyer to be able to pick out exactly what you want to put in your new home.  From the type of exterior you want (brick, stone, stucco, concrete siding, Western cedar, etc.) to the types of flooring you want to install, to the color of paint you put on the walls of each and every room in your house; you and your design choices deliver the final dream home in which you and your family will live.
At The Parks of Plaquemines on the West Bank, just 10 miles from New Orleans you can get creative choosing exterior amenities for your new home.  We have Traditional Lots with lots of room to make the exterior finishes of your home – covered porches, brick patios, outdoor fireplace and / or fire pit, outdoor kitchen set up, breezeways, detached garages, courtyards, fountains, etc. – spectacular and perfect for those home buyers that like to spend a lot of time outside.  In addition to adding amazing custom exterior features to your new, custom home, you can also use the subdivision amenities offered at The Parks of Plaquemines such as our walking and hiking trails, community swimming pool, tennis court, and tot lot.  For outdoor lovers, you get that fresh open air feeling, just a short drive from working and playing in New Orleans.
Adding interior design features to your new, custom home can be a thrill when you get to select and match all of the lights that will be installed in your new home.  From chandeliers, to can lighting, to under-counter lighting, and separate reading lights in the master bedroom, you can really create the exact ambiance your family will experience while living in your new home.  Many builders offer interiors selections for even inventory homes such as flooring choices, cabinet styles and colors, countertop material and design, and paint colors, however when you are building a completely custom, new home, you can also choose the type, material and color of the crown molding you would like to see in many different rooms, vaulted, treyed, and stepped ceiling designs, adding chair rails, wainscoting, picture molds, and bead board as architectural trim either painted or stained real wood throughout the many rooms of your new home.  While you are designing and making these selections, don’t forget that wood beams against a pure white ceiling create and rustic look and amazing contrast to really make a room “pop!”
When building a new, custom home, you can “go crazy” in rooms such as the kitchen, the master bath, and the family room where you can really dress up a fireplace and the fireplace surround with an in-wall cubby for a large-screen television, built-in’s for bookshelves and cabinetry, and the actual fireplace mantle and surrounding material can really be ornate.  The kitchen can be accessorized with matching styles of different floor tile, countertop material, and backsplashes against the walls underneath the cabinetry which can highlighted by using under-counter lighting.  This is also great for grabbing a midnight snack and not waking anyone else up!  Try convenience by installing a faucet over your 6 cooktop, Viking range which can be used to fill your pots while they are sitting on your stove.
If you have a sizable budget, a lot of dreams, a great imagination, and an internal drive to design and build your dream home, you can definitely build a new, custom home in New Orleans that will not only be a comfortable place to live, but it will be a show piece to be able to share with your friends and neighbors.  If you are looking for the perfect spot to build your new home, visit The Parks of Plaquemines today.  Call 504-364-2350 or E-mail Info@TheParksLifestyle.com.

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