City Expands Historic District

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Editor

The boundaries of the Opelousas historic district are being expanded to take advantage of potential rehabilitation tax credits that are available for businesses, members of the Opelousas Downtown Development District were told on Friday.

Kelly Calhoun, a New Orleans historic preservation consultant hired by the ODD to map residential and commercial buildings inside the infrastructure and development corridor included in the District, said her expanded map will assist with commercial efforts to obtain tax credits that could reach 35 percent of the rehabilitation costs.

The Zoom presentation was one of several key items on the ODD agenda that were discussed during the monthly meeting at the St. Landry Parish Economic And Development District Office.

ODD executive director Lena Charles provided an overview of the Phase 1 Donald Gardner Stadium project and answered questions by Opelousas alderwoman Delita Broussard about the location of the monthly District meetings.

Elizabeth Brooks, a Lafayette consultant who is assisting the District with obtaining the costs for signage and sponsorships associated with the Donald Gardner Stadium project, said during a separate Zoom meeting, that she is continuing to assist the ODD with the project.

Historic District Expansion

Calhoun said remapping of the historic district is focused on commerce.

During over a year working with the project, Calhoun said she has added 350 buildings to the city’s historic district.

“This will provide added incentives for businesses to apply for credits,” Calhoun noted.

Opelousas Main Street director Melanie LeBouef said there are 11 properties within the current district that are located on the National Register of Historic places.

LeBouef pointed out that there are already established historic district boundaries that enable property owners to take advantage of the state tax credit program.

Calhoun said her project also provides digital access to a digital historic district map.

That access allows individuals to view a digital photograph of each property, Calhoun noted.

Phase1 Project

Charles said a ground breaking ceremony for the already started Phase 1 project is scheduled at 10 am Wednesday at the stadium site.

“It’s been a long, long haul for the project and (the District) has been diligent. This will allow all of us a better quality of life,” Charles said of Phase 1, which is estimated to cost an estimated $8 million.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Rideau said the project provides Opelousas and St. Landry Parish athletes the same quality of facilities that exist in neighboring parishes.

Rideau said at this point the project appears to be on target for completion before the start of the next high school athletic season.

Donald Gardner Stadium Richard said, should be ready for the annual St. Landry Parish public school jamboree normally scheduled the last weekend in August.

ODD Public Access

During the public participation segment of the meeting, Broussard asked Charles why ODD meetings are held during morning hours and not at a more convenient time when more citizens might attend.

Broussard also questioned why the District meetings are not being held at City Hall, which Broussard said would provide citizens better access to ODD meetings.

“We (the ODD) are a separate entity than the city. That is why we are here in this building and not at City Hall. Citizens can take advantage of our newsletter that we publish and they are always invited to come to our meetings,” said Charles.

Broussard said some residents remain unaware of the scope of the Donald Gardner project.

Charles said there are architectural drawings available that detail visual aspects of the project.

“People can always come here and we will meet with them and sit down and go over things,” Charles said.