Boutique Hotel Expands Washington Revitalization
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting
The anticipated opening of a new boutique hotel in downtown Washington signals the economic revitalization for a town that is continuing to seek additional industry and tourism development revenues, according to Mayor Dwight Landreneau.
Town and St. Landry Parish officials stressed their financial expansion efforts Wednesday morning during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-renovated Klaus Hotel project which began earlier this year.
The former family-operated general merchandise store which flourished over parts of two centuries beginning in the 1870’s is being repurposed into a nine-bedroom boutique hotel by former state representative and historical architect Stephen Ortego.
Landreneau said the announcement of the Klaus Hotel, which officially opens in the next few weeks, represents a second consecutive economic boost for a town that has begun emerging from decades-long economic difficulties.
In July Landreneau and town officials announced that a Southland Industrial Coating plant plans to locate a 100,000 square foot plant off Interstate 49.
Officials with the Louisiana Economic Development Center have predicted the plant is expected to create about 100 jobs at the facility which specializes in metalizing, sandblasting, painting and fireproofing metal.
“This is just the beginning in Washington. There are so many exciting things going on here,” said Landreneau, who pointed to the brightly-colored hotel before parish chamber of commerce representatives applied the scissors to the symbolic ribbon.
Landreau gave credit to Ortego and his architectural planning team for refurbishing a building that many might have considered uninhabitable a few years ago.
“(Ortego) took one of the ugliest buildings in Washington and turned it into a masterpiece. This undertaking shows a lot of courage and complements the history of the town,” Landreneau added.
Reconverting the former store into a hotel was undertaken with support from town officials and the town residents, Ortego said.
“When we started working on the project, people would stop and then give their thumbs up. As an architect, you often have a vision that others might not see,” Ortego said.
Ortego said Washington, which has depended upon the tourism industry to help provide municipal revenues, has purposely made an effort not to destroy any of its historical structures.
“If you take down buildings, you tear down the wealth of your community. You can save these buildings. There is an inherent value for these buildings,” Ortego added.
Two Klaus’ descendants were present during the ribbon cutting event.
Renee Chastant and Gail Johnson said that Carrye Klaus Armentor was their grandmother. Carrye Armentor was the only Klaus sister who married, both of the grandchildren indicated.
Ortego said the Klaus family of Washington consisted of eight girls and one boy.
