Northshore Living

by Mimi Goodyear Dossett

The northshore of Lake Pontchartrain has long been an oasis for those in the New Orleans region looking for the shade and fresh air of the whispering pines and the beautiful spring-fed lakes, creeks and rivers found in St. Tammany, Washington and Tangipahoa parishes. Modern conveniences and lifestyle changes have made this area not only a getaway, but an important and viable player in the business region as well. The northshore is an ideal location to raise a family and enjoy the highest quality residential life. We are known for great schools, very low crime and superb medical care.

Our temperate climate and varied outdoor and sporting activities make life enjoyable most of the year. Golf, kayaking, fishing, pickleball and tennis, biking, horseback riding, jogging and walking are year-round events, and you are almost always within a short drive of every kind of weekend festival, celebrating the rich cultural music, food and heritage of the area. We also love that we are very close to opportunities for fishing in the Gulf, hunting and shooting of all kinds and beautiful white beaches along the coast.

This year, as special rules and circumstances seem to be easing up, something in us seems forever changed. As businesses, social events and organizations are coming back strong, people here and all over the country are totally rethinking their work dynamic and lifestyle. The northshore is a valued consideration for those relocating not only from the greater New Orleans area, but also from other parts of the country, and the local real estate market is responding with unbelievable vibration and activity. The region is desirable not only because of the climate and quality of life, but because of our excellent cost-to-value ratio and the large variety of housing options, from water views on many of our lakes and rivers to country acreage in the piney woods and hills.

One example of the northshore’s gracious living is Money Hill, our century-old family business located right in the heart of the northshore. It has become a thriving residential community, with a championship golf course and country club. A primary hallmark is our steadfast protection of the natural beauty and open spaces that make the northshore so peaceful and unique. At Money Hill, we are proud to offer many of the elements a growing number of people from this region and beyond are looking for to improve their quality of life and surroundings.

Customization seems to be the new home and lifestyle theme as people adjust to working from home, home schooling, the idea of multiple generations living under the same roof and the prospect that a virus or world event can send us all back home at any time indefinitely and unexpectedly. Some trends, like working remotely and telemedicine have been accelerated, but others, such as migration to urban areas and retirement homes and villages may need to be rethought.

In response to these trends, at Money Hill we have options ranging from beautifully planned “lock it and leave it” golf cottages to rolling 5-acre estate lots and any size or choice of custom home in between. Regardless of the home size or price range, life at Money Hill offers the opportunity to enjoy the relaxed sophistication of private club life and the glorious beauty and open space of the northshore surrounded by thousands of acres of nature preserves.

As we all come to accept that the world continues to surprise us with unexpected changes and events, both locally and on a global scale, it is important to love where you live—a place where you can be adaptable and enjoy your surroundings. In my book, as a lifelong resident who has also travelled far and wide, there is no better place to do just that than the northshore among the warm friends and fun-loving people who make the region special.

Mimi Goodyear Dossett is a lifelong resident of the northshore who currently serves as a commissioner for the economic development district St. Tammany Corporation, the mission of which is to attract meaningful business and enhance quality of life in the region.