Remaking The Downtown
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Two days of interactive events aimed at addressing downtown building vacancies in Opelousas concluded on Tuesday evening with a second citizen participation event held at the Civic Center.
Since Monday state economic development officials and members of Opelousas Main Street directed a twilight walking tour of the downtown area, several entries inside downtown buildings currently listed for sale as well as the two-hour meeting at the Civic Center, where individuals listed their preferred pathways of improvements for the downtown area.
Wanda Juneau, who has operated a downtown restaurant for 36 years, said she welcomes strategies to revive a downtown area whose lack of commercial activity has been a topic discussed over several decades.
“Any effort at this point is beneficial, whether it’s good, indifferent or otherwise,” Juneau said on Tuesday.
Members of Louisiana Main Street, the Center For Planning Excellence, the State Department of Planning and Development and representatives of the State Office Of Planning And Budget, assisted with the downtown evaluation process by using a portion of a $1.92 million state grant, said Joe Borgstron, who operates a private consulting firm associated with downtown economic development.
“Basically we want to know what you want to see downtown,” said Borgstrong.
Gretchen Erlingsen, an Opelousas Main Street member, said feedback provided by individuals who toured the downtown and indicated their preferences on Tuesday for redesigning the area, will be shared with potential commercial investors and downtown business owners who want to sell their properties.
Opelousas Main Street Director Melanie LeBouef pointed out that the visions expressed from the downtown area examination will be integrated into priorities contained in the 2021 downtown master plan funded by the Opelousas Downtown Development District.
The state, said LeBouef, is interested in helping Opelousas Main Street with obtaining more feedback about vacant buildings and having economic development experts help with planning.
LeBouef said that on Tuesday, Opelousas main street planners and the state officials toured inside the former KSLO radio station, the Leon Roos antique warehouse on Main Street, The Palace Cafe and the Daly Motors building on Union Street on Tuesday.
The interior examinations of those buildings, Erlingnsen said, will enable owners to build property portfolios that will highlight commercial potential and perhaps obtain tax credits to help for any rehab work.
Walking Tour Results
On Monday night the walking tour launched from the Courthouse included The Palace Cafe, three empty buildings donated to Opelousas Main Street, KSLO, Bordelon Motors, the Roos building and the large, former Brown’s Furniture annex that faces both Union and Main.
Tour participants presented their ideas for ways to place each property back into commerce, by attaching sticky notes to doors and windows.
At the Palace there were suggestions for converting the building into a bakery, soda fountain, breakfast destination and a place where customers would dine and dance.
The three donated buildings across from the St. Landry Parish Courthouse included a coffee shop, clothing boutiques, events center, a sports bar and a building where artists could work and display their creations.
KSLO could be redesigned as a bed and breakfast, office building, recording studio or added space for the court system.
Ideas for the Roos building centered around opening up space for a produce market, gifts and antiques and Italian cuisine.
Bordelon Motors, said some on the tour, could be used as a vehicle sales lot, a brewery or a space for the Opelousas Community Center inside of South City Park.
Those engaged at the Civic Center on Tuesday indicated they were interested in more public space for cultural events, business diversification, outdoor dining, bike lanes and building revitalization.
“We need to fix the streets (downtown),” one person wrote.
There is also a need, some emphasized, for more family-centered activities downtown and more attention paid to the area by the mayor and city council.
