Grant Could Assist Downtown Property Inspections

 Grant Could Assist Downtown Property Inspections

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

Site assessment inspection funding for downtown Opelousas businesses could potentially be obtained through $1.2 million that is available through federal and state grant money, members of the Opelousas Downtown Development District were told on Friday.

Acadiana Planning Commission regional planner Kade Jones told district members that money channeled through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Quality is possibly available for the city, which he said should qualify for the grant reward.

ODD commissioners gave Jones approval for the APC to apply for the grant, whose current application deadline is Nov. 14.

Jones told the three ODD representatives present at the meeting that the grant would be used to fund inspections for what he called Brownfield properties which could potentially contain hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants.

The lead coalition partner for the grant would be the APC, whose responsibility would be to oversee the assessment projects and manage grant revenues, said Jones.

“This grant would help with the redevelopment of properties in Opelousas at no cost. What we need is for the (ODD) to make a commitment for (the APC) to apply for the grant,” Jones added.

Jones said the inspections performed with the approval of the property owners, would possibly help identify issues that are present in some of the downtown buildings.

In 2022 the city passed an ordinance which allows municipal inspections to begin for buildings located in the central Opelousas business district.

ODD executive director Lena Charles said on Friday that there has been seemingly little reaction to the ordinance among properties owned in the downtown area.

“I think this is a huge lift for what we can do downtown. For the owners right now it seems like wait and see. Everyone is waiting to see what the other owner is going to do,” Charles said.

Jones said the site assessments might guide decisions made by banks and lending institutions in connection with any Brownfield properties.

“The process is aimed at having the owners get an idea of the condition of their buildings or properties.

“If a cleanup is required then different funding would have to be used, other than the assessment grants,” Jones pointed out.

Parish president Jessie Bellard, who attended the Friday meeting, said the parish is attempting to secure more federal and state downtown area funding through lobbying efforts.

“It’s going to take a lot more to get things done, not just the ODD or the mayor,” Bellard said.

Jones said Opelousas should be a prioritized area to receive the grant.

“The grant is going to be given according to an as needed basis. Opelousas should be a great site for that,” Jones noted.

Charles said the grant would be a welcomed resource that up to this point the city has never had.