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Welcome to Rising Oaks

Too many communities for working families exist in places with inadequate public transportation, forcing people to rely on unreliable transit to get to jobs that are hours away from where they live—inevitably, this creates instability in employment, and therefore in housing. Food deserts and lack of access to healthcare increase risk of illness. Location, in short, is vital to creating a thriving community.

Rising Oaks concept art.

NOAHH has started developing a new, walkable community to be built in Terrytown on the West Bank, across the river in Jefferson Parish. Rising Oaks will include both single-family homes that will be available through our First-Time Homebuyer Program in a location that is convenient to healthcare, schools, childcare, jobs, retail, restaurants, and critical services. Because our homeownership program is designed to be affordable, residents will be better able to increase savings and discretionary income. With the affordability that comes with owning a Habitat home and the community’s convenient location, the families in Rising Oaks will be positioned for increased stability and better futures.

Rising Oaks concept art.

The location also provides a unique opportunity for innovative home designs and community amenities. Rising Oaks will have approximately 150 units—a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom detached single-family homes and a cluster of smaller cottages for seniors and veterans, plus mixed-use buildings. Homes will incorporate Midcentury Modern design features, known for large glass windows, open space, and integration with nature.

Rising Oaks concept art.

A central tenet of the planning process is that green space and thoughtfully designed community features should not be limited to luxury developments. Rising Oaks will be built on the site of a former golf course, approximately 40 acres bounded by commercial thoroughfares and canals. Affordable housing can and should be beautiful. Working with the green spaces already existing in the former golf course, we will ensure ample room for all residents to enjoy, and by using the retention ponds nearby, we will reduce flooding during storms. Other anticipated amenities include a walking trail with exercise stations and equipment for seniors, a dog park, a volleyball/social sports area, a pavilion, pocket parks, and a labyrinth.

Rising Oaks concept art.

New-construction commercial spaces will serve Rising Oaks residents and the broader Terrytown community. It will be anchored by a Community Center, childcare, and retail intentionally recruited to meet community needs, as well as the construction headquarters for NOAHH’s Jefferson Parish operation and a construction skills training center.

“I am excited to begin Jefferson Parish’s relationship with Habitat, and look forward to supporting their keystone investment in Rising Oaks. Habitat will provide an important and transformative investment for Terrytown and the Westbank.”

–Marion Edwards, Jefferson Parish Councilman, District 1

Impact of a Community

The Rising Oaks community will…

  • Create approximately 150 opportunities to purchase free-standing, single-family homes close to jobs, services, and opportunities, with 0% financing through Habitat.
  • Establish a base of operations for New Orleans Habitat on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, allowing further expansion of our service area.
  • Generate annual sales tax and property tax revenue to Jefferson Parish.
  • Contribute to Jefferson Parish GDP.
  • Enhance the built environment, reduce blight, and positively impact area property values.
  • Help transform this part of the New Orleans area into a thriving community.