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The Northshore's Come-Here Saints
by L.F. Spady
photography by Abby Miller
The northshore has been a quiet retreat for its hardcore swear-by-it locals for some time. Since Hurricane Katrina, for many a New Orleans-area resident it has been that and more—an area of recovery and new beginnings.
Among the group of “come here’s”—both before and after Katrina—are members of the New Orleans Saints.
One need look no further than the top of the team food chain to spy the Saints presence on the northshore. Despite the hectic schedule and complicated transition associated with taking over the head coaching job at the NFL level, Sean Payton, the man tapped to assume the coaching reigns of the Saints, quickly decided that Mandeville was the spot best suited to provide instant stability and continuity amidst the uncertainty of a new locale.
While having the head coach settle on the northshore is certainly a high-profile signal of the area’s attraction, perhaps a more typical example is the quiet, satisfied life in Abita Springs of Justin Macione and his wife Michelle. Justin, Saints media and public relations manager, has been with the organization for nine years, but has resided north of the lake just since January. He and Michelle, having married last July, found themselves among the many whose trek to the northshore coincided with the development of a family unit, and a need for an area conducive to family life.
Originally from outside of Boston, it’s no wonder that he sees similarities between the northshore and that part of the country. “Overall, I find the northshore great!” he exclaims. A lot of it is like New England, where everyone has space and [they] are not living right on top of each other.”
Like many northshore families, the trade from a Lakeview condo to a beautiful home nestled in a quiet Abita Springs subdivision is a compromise with his wife, who commutes to her business in Slidell while Justin traverses the Causeway to the Saints Metairie facility. The influx of Saints personnel, along with folks from a cross-section of other professions, doesn’t surprise Justin in the least. “When people come in [to a new place], whether it’s players or coaches or other staff members, they’re looking for a great living environment for their family. The northshore definitely provides a great living environment.”
Hospitable and charming is what offensive guard/tackle Jamar Nesbit was looking for when he found his way to Madisonville. When Nesbit arrived in New Orleans as a free agent in 2004, he and his wife, Tara, immediately began house shopping. 
The southshore neighborhoods they examined “didn’t have that feel—that sense of community that’s here on the northshore,” he says. He adds, “The city didn’t appear to have any real zoning restrictions. There’d be a really nice place, but then right next door there’d be a store or a run-down building. The northshore reminds me more of the planned neighborhoods in Charlotte and even Jacksonville.”
He found exactly what he was looking for in Arbor Walk after driving through one of the most charming river towns in the state. And, like for hundreds of others new to the area, the lure of the many recreational opportunities proved irresistible. “Because we’re right there on the water, I’ve really gotten into boating and fishing a lot. I also have some friends who are into restoring old vehicles, so doing that and going to the shows in the area has become a big hobby.”
Part of what makes Louisiana as a whole such an appealing refuge is the good people and considerate neighbors. That really hit home for Jamar in the aftermath of Katrina at the very beginning of last year’s season. “We faired very well during Katrina. We were very fortunate and blessed to be one of the lucky ones with no structural damage to our home, no real trees on the house. And our neighbors were really good in helping get trees that were down cleared up and everything together and back to normal while I was out of town in San Antonio. We were just really lucky that we were already on the northshore when that storm hit.”
Of course, being an offensive lineman in the NFL calls for demonstrating healthy amounts of insight and recognition of possible threats. Foresight is exactly what brought starting guard #61, Montrae Holland, to the northshore. “Actually, I thought about how everything was set up. I looked at the lake. Then I saw the river running through, and it all backed up into the gulf. So everything I looked at on the other side of the lake, I thought, if anything happens here, my house is gone!” So Montrae sought out solid protection in Mandeville two years ago.
One of the things many on the northshore will note—for good or bad, depending upon your preference—is that life here is to some degree slower and calmer than the revelry easily found in New Orleans. For Montrae, that’s not a problem. “I’m from Texas. I’m from the country. I love it here. It’s nice and quiet,” he says. “The privacy is good, and you get space to be yourself and not worry about disturbing the neighbors.” For Montrae, the contemplation of family life also plays a role in the ultimate enjoyment of the area. “I’m about to move into that area of my life [family building], and where I live really matters.”
Between Jamar Nesbit, Montrae Holland and starting left tackle Jammal Brown, the entire offensive line appears to be finding their way to the northshore. Of course, these guys would remind you that many coaches believe that the smartest unit with any team is the offensive line—so these Saints are just ahead of the curve! Both Montrae and Jamar see the Saints pilgrimage across the lake as an ongoing trend.
Jamar says, “I think Coach being here will definitely cause some other guys to look at the area and think about making the move here, especially other members of the coaching staff. However, I kind of don’t want them to do that. You know, being over on the northshore is like my own sanctuary away from work and all that. I kind of like leaving football on the southshore and enjoying this area myself.”
It may be too late for that. The word has been out for some time now, and the deluge of Saints personnel will probably not slow anytime soon. Be it the coaching staff, administration guys like Justin Macione, transplanted fans or ahead-of-the-curve players like Jamar and Montrae, the northshore will likely be saying “Welcome” to many more come-here Saints.
