1476 Magazine Street, one of the latest offerings on Small Change, is located in the heart of the New Orleans’ Garden District. How does this project measure up for mobility? Let’s take a look at the landscape of walking, biking, transit and other mobility services in the neighborhood.
Magazine Street is quintessentially New Orleans. Six miles long, it intersects six neighborhoods, from Downtown and the Warehouse District, through the Garden Districts to Irish Channel and Uptown. And it is walkable from one end to the other. Architectural building styles along Magazine Street are wonderfully diverse. There are a myriad of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops to stop at and explore and if you feel like a quiet break, and historic landmarks abound, such as St. Alphonsus Church and St. Mary’s Assumption Church.
Don’t stop. With more than 100 miles of bike trails, New Orleans is easily bikeable. In the latest poll by Bicycling.com, New Orleans ranked 19th out of the 50 Best Bicycle Cities. Bicycle rentals are available close to 1476 Magazine Street at A Musing Bikes, just a minute away, or via the city’s shared bike system, Blue Bikes. You can ride to Downtown New Orleans or Freret Street, much-visited destinations, in just 10 to 15-minutes. If you’re looking for a “greener” ride, then head out to the 350-acre urban oasis of Audubon Park, with its 1.8-mile paved bike loop, only 20 minutes from the project site.
If you’d rather ride than walk, public transit is easy to find and easy to use. The Magazine Bus Line, or bus No 11, runs the length of Magazine Street from Downtown to Audubon Park. The bus stop at Jackson Avenue is a short walk from the project site. Even better, hop on the historic St. Charles Streetcar which has been operating continuously for more than 150 years. Streetcars and buses in New Orleans are inexpensive, with fares set at $1.25, and you can pay with your spare change when you board. If you want to ride all day, buy a “Jazzy Pass.” Since all buses in New Orleans have bike racks you can take your bike for a bus ride as well.
There are many ways to navigate New Orleans. Cruise around. And check in at the planned artist/worker-owned and run bed and breakfast that you can invest in (if you’re over 18) at 1476 Magazine Street.
Image courtesy of Small Change