Is Lower Third safe?
Alexandria, Louisiana · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Lower Third as “No-go after dark”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Lower Third
“Skip unless you have a specific community or personal reason to visit. The Lower Third experiences high rates of property and violent crime alongside elevated vacancy and poverty. Visitors will find minimal tourist amenities and notable safety concerns, particularly outside of daylight hours.”
About the area
The Lower Third is a historic, predominantly residential neighborhood located immediately south of downtown Alexandria along the Red River levee. It consists largely of older single-family cottages, neighborhood churches, and vacant lots stemming from decades of municipal disinvestment. The area offers very few commercial attractions for visitors and faces substantial socio-economic hurdles.
- Historic
- Residential
- Disinvested
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Lower Third
Walk score: 45/100 · Bike score: 40/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes, multi-use paths, or public bike-share stations, requiring cyclists to share roads that occasionally suffer from pavement wear.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Close proximity to downtown Alexandria and the Red River
- Historic neighborhood character anchored by long-standing community churches
- Ongoing municipal efforts focused on blight removal and lot cleanup
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates are significantly higher than national averages
- Neighborhood poverty rate exceeds 40% with high housing vacancy and abandoned structures
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure including broken sidewalks and limited street lighting
Homelessness: Homelessness is moderately visible, with unhoused individuals occasionally congregating along transit corridors or near vacant properties en route to support services in adjacent downtown Alexandria.
What Lower Third is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally quiet with residential commuters, though situational awareness is necessary.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons bring moderate foot traffic along main corridors, but visitors should stick to primary roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity thins quickly at dusk, and walking through poorly lit residential streets is not recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry significant safety hazards due to isolated corridors, limited lighting, and elevated crime risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Alexandria Transit Authority (ATRUN) operates bus lines through the area, notably connecting along the Lee Street and Lower Third corridors to the downtown terminal; there is no rail or BRT system.
Free on-street parking is widely available across neighborhood streets, and there are no metered zones or parking garages.
Things to do in Lower Third
- View historic community architecture including the historic True Vine Missionary Baptist Church
- Access the nearby Red River Levee walking path near the edge of downtown
- Explore historic African American cultural heritage sites along the lower Lee Street corridor
Local favorites
- Atkins Meat Market · Meat Shop & Deli · 4.6★ (140)Longtime local butcher and market known for traditional boudin, smoked meats, and specialty cuts.
- Tamp & Grind Coffee · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (320)Independent artisanal cafe serving espresso drinks, local teas, and pastries on the nearby downtown fringe.
- Diamond Grill · Fine Dining Restaurant · 4.5★ (460)Upscale Louisiana dining set in a restored 1930s historic downtown jewelry store just north of the neighborhood.
Neighborhoods near Lower Third
Common questions about Lower Third
Is Lower Third safe to walk at night?
We don't recommend walking around casually after dark here; take a ride instead.
Is Lower Third a good place to live?
On safety, Lower Third scores 38/100 — among the lowest we score, so look closely at specific blocks before deciding to move.
How walkable is Lower Third?
Walk score 45/100 and bike score 40/100. Most trips need a car.
Which areas near Lower Third are safer?
Willow Glen (Alexandria) (71), Garden District (Alexandria) (68), Woodside (Alexandria) (68) score higher nearby.
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