Is There A Downtown Catalyst Project?
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
The significance of creating an Opelousas downtown catalyst endeavor has been discussed for several years, but there are currently no scheduled projects that could be considered as underway.
In discussions that have involved city officials and economic development boards, potential catalyst sites such as the former New Life Center, the Abdalla’s Mall, the Bordelon Motors property and the former Federal building have been mentioned as potential buildings that if successfully reconstituted, would help attract other developments located downtown.
The four-story New Life Center owned by the city is mentioned often as a major catalyst target.
“All of those buildings would be considered important (to downtown revitalization) if they are done correctly,” said Bill Rodier, executive director for the St. Landry Parish Economic District during an Opelousas Downtown Development District meeting last month.
However,Rodier feels the city needs to develop a plan of action for at least one of these buildings soon in order to accelerate repurposing the downtown area.
“It seems like we have just been chopping wood and chipping away (with the downtown) all these years,” Rodier mentioned.
Despite the creation two years ago of a commission responsible that determines a future for the New Life Center, there has been little movement towards putting that building back into commerce or residential suitability.
Designated as a Brownfield site, the New Life Center could possibly obtain EPA grant funding through the One Acadiana Brownfield program to assist with rehabilitation and cleanup.
The downtown Abdalla complex has attracted interest from some developers, but so far there has been no movement towards purchasing the buildings, according to Bill Rodier..
Rodier told ODD members at the same meeting that the last time he toured the New Life Center, he noticed roof leakage on the top floor of the building.
The building also featured abundant mold throughout and that it was urgent that a plan for rehabbing the New Life Center be established.
Stephen Daste, who has reported to the ODD in connection with the New Life Center, has said plans for the building include commercial occupancy on the downtown floor, with residents located on the top stories.
Rodier said the Federal Building property has “been stuck in neutral,” while there has been no movement for the Abdalla’s building, which Rodier noted that due to a number of factors, would be a complicated reinvestment venture.
Property owned by the Boagni family on the east side of the city, said Rodier, offers the best chance for potential investment and development, but there are also issues associated with developing that area.
Rodier however pointed out that much of the Boagni acreage lies inside an unincorporated area outside the city.
There are also drainage problems for the Boagni tracts as well as traffic congestion, which builds up heading south off Interstate 49, according to Rodier.
