Curbed Cup Elite Eight: (1) Algiers Point vs. (9) Bayou St. John

The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 neighborhoods vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. We’ll reveal each of the neighborhoods this week, and polls will be open for 24 hours so you can cast your vote as to which ones should advance. Let the eliminations commence!

Algiers Point

This New Orleans neighborhood on the West Bank has reigned as Curbed Cup champion for two years in a row. So what’s changed in Algiers Point since we last visited neighborhood in 2016?

Earlier this year Gulfwater Properties, LLC, (re)announced its plans to create beach-like resort near the Algiers Point Ferry Terminal, something the developer has discussed since May of 2016. In April, the Mayor’s office announced the largest development happening at the Point, which is the historic Algiers Courthouse’s $1.2 million renovation. On the food side, the neighborhood welcomed a new pizzeria on Delaronde Street. As New Orleans’s new bike-share continues to grow, Algiers Point will hold one Blue Bikes station by next year.

Other community highlights include Wednesday at the Point, its its six-week fall concert series held near the Mississippi River; Its annual holiday season bonfire; Its community park intended for young children; A free, community-sponsored food pantry; The Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery; and New Orleans’s Algiers Folk Art Zone & Blues Museum. Check out this commentary on the best parts of the city from the perspective of an Algiers Point resident.

Bayou St. John

The neighborhood named after the Bayou is vying for a chance to be New Orleans’s neighborhood of the year.

While primarily residential, Bayou St. John has a variety of locally-owned shops, grocery stores, coffeehouses, and restaurants that line Esplanade Avenue.

Bayou St. John ranks among the 10 most bikeable neighborhoods in New Orleans. And, the neighborhood will hold four Blue Bikes stations by next year.

This quiet neighborhood is known best for its springtime events. In April, its sister neighborhood the Fairgrounds holds the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as Jazz Fest. In May, the MotherShip Foundation holds Bayou Boogaloo, one of the largest parties on and along the Bayou in New Orleans.

But who could miss Bayou St. John’s most iconic landmark that sets it apart from any other neighborhood in New Orleans? We’re talking about the super-cool Magnolia Bridge that crosses over the Bayou on Moss Street. In fact, the bridge will get a $1.3 million renovation starting next year, which will bring new life to the aged monument.

Now comes the fun part: Which New Orleans neighborhood do you think should advance to the next round?