Central City holds one of the most detailed shotgun records in New Orleans, and the neighborhood behind those numbers has long been a center of Black commerce, music and civil-rights organizing along the Dryades Street corridor, now Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. The nomination documents scale, subtype and styling; the survey date and boundary still need care.
Written by Ryan Roberts
Ryan Roberts is a New Orleans real estate agent focused on shotgun homes and historic residential property.
What does the official record say about shotgun houses in Central City?
The corridor that became Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard was for generations a hub of Black-owned business and, in the 1960s, of civil-rights boycotts and organizing. Second-line and Mardi Gras Indian traditions remain part of the neighborhood's life. That history is context for a house here; the classification of any individual property still rests on its form, records and condition.
The Central City Historic District nomination describes an approximately one-square-mile district developed from the 1830s through the early twentieth century. Its contributing buildings date broadly from about 1830 to 1930.
The survey recorded well over 2,800 shotgun houses. Frame shotguns accounted for 70% of district buildings, making them the predominant type in the official record.
Which shotgun types and styles are documented in Central City?
The Central City record documents several related shotgun forms:
- —The survey reported that about 99% of its frame-shotgun group was double and fewer than 1% single.
- —Fewer than 10% of district shotguns were classified as camelbacks.
- —Two-story double-shotgun forms were listed separately at about 8% of district buildings.
- —The nomination documents Italianate, Queen Anne, Eastlake, Colonial Revival and Bungalow treatments across the stock.
- —Use the double-barrel explanation and camelback variant to keep subtype terms consistent.
Where is the documented Central City shotgun stock?
The National Register district covers more than 4,000 structures within a specifically mapped boundary. The nomination's 70% and 2,800-plus figures belong to that surveyed area and cannot be projected automatically to every address commonly described as Central City.
For a current property, check the National Register map, City neighborhood boundary and parcel record separately. Boundary precision matters for both statistics and designation research.
What historic-district rules apply in Central City?
Central City is a National Register historic district, but it is not listed among the City's current local HDLC districts. National Register recognition does not by itself create the same local design-review jurisdiction as an HDLC district.
Other zoning, permit or incentive rules may still apply. The address permit search shows how to research an address, and the buying guide places that record check within broader due diligence.
What do shotgun houses cost in Central City?
The large historic shotgun share does not make all Central City properties comparable. A current analysis should separate one-story doubles, two-story forms, camelbacks and converted properties, then account for condition, living area, lot and permitted use.
The site's priced citywide listing set had a $267,000 median asking price across 52 priced active listings. It provides market scale, not a Central City valuation conclusion.
| Common benchmark | August 14, 2026 result | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Citywide priced shotgun-style sample | 52 active listings | Citywide inventory context |
| Median asking price | $267,000 | Citywide orientation figure |
| Middle 50% | $199,750–$380,500 | Breadth of the active sample |
| Full observed range | $45,000–$725,000 | Spread across the whole sample |
This is the same citywide benchmark shown across every neighborhood guide, because no defensible Central City-only shotgun median exists yet. It sets scale. A property value still comes from verified recent comparables chosen for the specific house, and asking prices are not closed sale prices.
How should a Central City shotgun be evaluated?
Start with the building, then connect it to records and market evidence. Confirm whether the form is a single, double, camelback, sidehall or altered example; establish current use; inspect condition and additions; and reconcile the visible house with permits, parcel information and any historic designation.
The dated stock survey explains what a historic count can and cannot tell you about value. The neighborhood guides cover adjacent areas, including Tremé, Irish Channel, Broadmoor. The narrow front-to-rear form is described in full elsewhere on the site.
The buyer's side of this continues the property checks, with what is listed today as the market comparison. Owners weighing a sale can read how a shotgun is positioned for market.
- —Confirm the exact neighborhood and historic-district boundary.
- —Classify the underlying shotgun form and current number of units separately.
- —Check living area, lot, additions, condition and renovation quality.
- —Review permits and municipal-address history for material alterations.
- —Use current asking inventory for competition and completed sales for market evidence.
Frequently asked questions about shotgun houses in Central City
How many shotgun houses did the Central City survey record?
The nomination reports well over 2,800 shotgun houses and says frame shotguns accounted for 70% of district buildings.
Are Central City's documented shotguns mostly doubles?
Yes. The survey reported that about 99% of the frame-shotgun group was double and fewer than 1% single.
How much does a Central City shotgun cost?
No reliable public Central City-only shotgun median exists. Use the dated citywide sample as context and verify a same-type local comparable set.
Is Central City a local HDLC district?
It is a National Register district but is not listed among the City's current local HDLC districts. Confirm the individual address and project requirements.
How do I verify a specific Central City shotgun house?
Confirm the address in the City Property Viewer and historic-district map, identify the architectural form, review permits and compare the property with a verified set of current and completed market evidence.
Key takeaways
- 01Preservation records document the shotgun as a defining part of Central City's built environment.
- 02Confirm whether a claim refers to the place name, the historic district, or the ZIP code — each covers different ground.
- 03The dated citywide asking-price sample sets scale; a property value comes from verified local comparables.
- 04Form, current use, condition, size, lot and documented alterations decide the comparison set.
- 05Verify the individual address before relying on a district rule or survey statistic.
References
- 01Central City Historic District nomination
National Park Service
- 02Historic Landmarks and Districts
City of New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission
- 03Property Viewer and zoning data
City of New Orleans City Planning Commission
- 04New Orleans neighborhood statistical areas map
City of New Orleans City Planning Commission
- 05New Orleans shotgun housing market research
Shotgun Homes New Orleans
My methodology
Open each item to see the scope, definitions and limits behind the article.
Research date+
Official district documents, City map resources and the site's market methodology were reviewed on September 1, 2026. The common price sample is dated August 14, 2026.
Geographic method+
Historic-district, City neighborhood and ordinary place names are treated as separate geographies. District statistics are not projected beyond the source boundary.
Market method+
The common benchmark uses 52 priced homes surfaced in a public citywide Shotgun Style search. Neighborhood-specific medians are withheld when architecture, boundary or sample size cannot be verified consistently.
Property limits+
This guide does not determine the designation, legal use, condition, permit status or value of an individual property. Verify the address through official records and qualified professionals.