Walkable. Green. Affordable.
These are not exactly the first words most people associate with new housing developments in Jefferson Parish.
But at Rising Oaks, a new neighborhood currently taking shape in Terrytown on the West Bank, those words are at the heart of everything we’re building.
Rising Oaks is a project from New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, and it’s unlike anything we’ve done before. We’re turning a long-closed golf course into a vibrant, connected community of approximately 150 units of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes priced between $175,000 and $275,000. The first eight homes are now under construction.
Rising Oaks is for first-time homebuyers, teachers and nurses who work just down the street. The development is also for West Bank families who want to come back to a neighborhood filled with parks, playgrounds and safe, walkable streets. Other anticipated amenities include a walking trail, labyrinth, a few pavilions and a Fit Lot workout area.
Long term, Habitat plans to add mixed-use buildings and intentionally curated retail options for Rising Oaks residents.
But Rising Oaks is about more than just affordability or green space. It’s about rethinking what resilience looks like for housing — especially in Southeast Louisiana, where climate risks and economic pressures weigh heavily on families.
These homes are built to last. Every one of them meets Fortified Gold Standards, which makes them more resistant to hurricanes and can even lower insurance premiums. They’re built on pilings, have impact-resistant windows, energy-efficient systems and high-performance insulation. In other words, they’re designed to protect homeowners — physically and financially — for the long haul.
We’ve learned a lot since Hurricane Katrina. Back then, the immediate need was clear: get people back into homes, fast. And we did that. But nearly 20 years later, we’ve come to understand that recovery isn’t just about speed. Lasting recovery is about building smarter from the start.
Resilient communities need housing that’s not only safe and affordable but supports the local workforce. After Katrina, we saw how critical it was for health care workers, service industry employees and culture bearers to have stable homes so they could get back to their jobs and help the city recover. Rising Oaks reflects those lessons; it is workforce housing that also looks ahead — to future storms, future costs and future growth.
Why Jefferson Parish?
Honestly, because they got it. From day one, parish planners saw how Habitat’s vision for Rising Oaks aligned with their own long-term goals. Their Envision Jefferson 2040 plan calls for more homeownership opportunities in underserved communities and better access to jobs, schools and essential services. The Rising Oaks project checks all those boxes.
At Habitat, we believe beautiful, sustainable neighborhoods shouldn’t be a luxury, they should be accessible. With Rising Oaks, we’re proving it’s possible. You can have walkable, green and affordable all in one place. You just need the right partners, a bold plan and a community willing to think differently.
Marguerite Oestreicher is the executive director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. For more information, visit habitat-nola.org.
