'Time for us to move forward': What's in store for downtown Opelousas development?

Areas of central Opelousas may soon look different as members of the city’s Downtown Development District consider long-range infrastructure improvements and create economic changes.

The development district, a seven-member appointed board created several years ago by state lawmakers to collect sales tax funding in restricted commercial areas of Opelousas, is overseeing several continuing projects whose visibility will become evident in the next few months, chairperson Lena Charles said last week.

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Charles listed several of those initiatives orchestrated by district planning as she addressed a monthly meeting for the Opelousas Board of Aldermen.

“We have been working behind the scenes on several things that will make a difference in the downtown area in order to get something done,” said Charles.

According to Charles, the district has been examining ways of solving vacant building issues and blighted properties, which have interfered with the city’s ability to develop a viable commercial district near the St. Landry Parish Courthouse.

The district is also seeking grant funding to assist city officials with downtown cleanup and litter abatement, along with several street projects aimed at helping to highlight the downtown areas.

Charles said Opelousas business development is expected to soon receive an infusion on the eastern side of the city alongside the Interstate 49 service road.

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One key economic concern involves a vacant Opelousas downtown hotel listed previously by Charles as essential for citywide economic growth. It was not addressed during her presentation during the Board of Aldermen meeting.

Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor told the board recently that city officials have been examining economic proposals for the three-story building, but none of the business models that have been reviewed by him have been accepted.

Charles said the projects undergoing finalization by the development district reflect ideas underlined in the district’s Master Plan, a 135-page document and roadmap for economic growth and development that was created following two years of public input.

In 2021, when the master plan was adopted by the Board of Aldermen, Charles said information collected for the plan would be used to create a new vision for future city development and design.

“What we are doing with the plans that we have now for Opelousas coincide with the ideas that are in the Master Plan,” Charles said. “You are going to see significant businesses that are becoming interested and will help put Opelousas on the map.”

What’s happening economically?

Charles said the extensive land-clearing operation that has continued during the past few months at the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and I-49 inside the city is intended primarily for a Billy’s Boudin store and perhaps another fast food restaurant that has not yet committed to locating on the property.

Although the Billy’s Boudin project on the east side of 190 is progressing as intended, Charles said the development of a Chick-fil-A restaurant, on the other side of the highway, has been deterred by logistical issues.

Major locations for Billy’s Boudin stores are in St. Landry and Lafayette parishes.

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“We have been working with the (Department of Transportation) in order to determine how vehicles will be able to get in and out of traffic at the corner where the restaurant is being proposed,” Charles said.

Charles said a turning lane off 190 onto the proposed Chick-fil-A property is being proposed in order to facilitate proper customer traffic flow, but that proposal is still being discussed.

Whataburger, another national fast food chain, has been in tentative negotiations with city officials and the DDD about locating a restaurant in Opelousas, but nothing substantive has developed during talks with executives of the company, Charles added.

“Our discussions (for Whataburger) is still an on the table sort of thing,” said Charles.

The corporate headquarters for Whataburger are in San Antonio. Corporate offices for Chick-fil-A are located in Atlanta.

Cleaning up city trash

Charles pointed out the district is formulating a city cleanup plan funded by a Louisiana Beautiful Grant.

“The grant that we are obtaining is only for a small amount, but I think what we will do with it will be a catalyst to start the progress for making the city more beautiful and work in collaboration with other grants,” said Charles.

Alsandor has complained to the board over the past few years about material that is left curbside and items that have been placed in city sewer system and causing issues.

Courthouse beautification

Charles said additional grant funding is being sought by the district to fund a project that will create a courthouse sign.

“The courthouse is the centerpiece of the downtown area at the intersection of Market and Court streets. We want to showcase the courthouse as part of the Master Plan and provide guides and maps that will be used for the downtown area,” said Charles.

Vacant buildings

“Our city needs help with dealing with all the vacant buildings and the blighted property,” Charles said. “What we are looking at is working with the city to create ordinances that will deal with the problem.”

Charles indicated that the vacant buildings owned primarily by a couple of absentee owners, need to be examined for their structural stability.

“This is something that we need to take a look at. This is the time for us to move forward. We need to change the way that we do things,” Charles said.

Alsandor has on several occasions during the four years of his first mayoral term, indicated that city officials have been discussing with family members of the downtown property owners about what can be done with the vacant downtown buildings.

This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: Downtown Opelousas improvements, development district plans outlined