In the 19th century and early 20th century, the area was mostly undeveloped swamp. The New Basin Canal was cut through the area in the early 19th century.

Though the Navarre/Old Lakeview section, encompassing the area between and around City Park Avenue and Florida Avenue began developing slowly early in the 20th century, large scale residential development of most of the area began after World War II, with the predominant housing style being bungalows.

Hurricane Katrina hit southeast Louisiana at the end of August 2005. As the waters of Lake Pontchartrain rose with the storm, a section of levee floodwall along the 17th Street Canal near its mouth with the lake collapsed catastrophically. This was one of the most significant levee failures which occurred in the wake of Katrina's landfall and put the majority of the city underwater.

Floodwaters from the floodwall breach inundated large parts of the neighborhood in a matter of minutes. Near the breach itself, the force of the rushing water uprooted trees and even separated some houses from their foundations. Some areas received as much as fourteen feet of floodwater.

By spring of 2007, Lakeview was showing signs of life again. As in much of the city, FEMA trailers dotted the area, providing temporary housing while homes were being repaired and rebuilt. The first handful of businesses reopened, including some retail stores and restaurants.