Growth spurt spins
north...Shopping center plans could include major retail stores
Growth spurt spins
north...
Shopping center plans could include major retail stores
|
Plans are under way for a $35 million to
$40 million shopping complex on the north side of Lafayette at the
intersection of Louisiana Avenue and Interstate 10. Residents and
planners hope the project serves the dual purpose of stimulating
economic growth in North Lafayette and helping to relieve traffic
patterns around major shopping centers in South Lafayette.
Lewis Stirling of Stirling Properties said his company has 55 acres under option on the southwest quadrant of the intersection for the first phase of what would be a major shopping center. Stirling said the 375,000-square-foot project will probably open in fall 2007 or spring 2008. Sheree Comeaux, who lives in Breaux Bridge and works in downtown Lafayette, said she can't wait for the proposed shopping center to become a reality. "I'm pumped. I love Target, but I avoid it because of the traffic. For me, it being right there at Louisiana Avenue - I can't wait. I would definitely shop there often," Comeaux said. "Right now, you have to come to the south side of Lafayette because there isn't such a great selection of places to shop on the north side. It probably would help the traffic because a lot of people travel from Carencro and Breaux Bridge to the Target on Ambassador Caffery, and this way they wouldn't have to go as far." Rebecca Raines, planning development manager for Lafayette city-parish government, said she expects Stirling Properties to submit a proposal on or before the next proposal deadline, which is March 2. "It's my understanding they're going to submit at that time. Next week, I'm meeting with them about what all they need to submit or put together," Raines said. After submission, the proposal is sent to various city departments including traffic and transportation, public works, LUS, the fire department and planning and zoning, before the proposal is presented to the next Planning Commission meeting scheduled for April 10. Stirling said his company also has the option to buy and develop land directly in the southeast quadrant of Louisiana Avenue and Interstate 10. "We have both sides of Louisiana Avenue optioned," Stirling said. "The southwest quadrant is phase one. If phase one works well, we'll expand across to phase two. If we do that, we'll do a theater on the phase two tract." Mike Hollier, city-parish planning manager, said the Louisiana Avenue interchange was built as an economic development improvement. "It was built to do what it's doing right now - attract these kind of developments," Hollier said. "You can have a transportation improvement that's strictly for transportation improvement, or you can have a transportation improvement that's for economic development." Comeaux said it usually takes her anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to get from her home to major shopping centers in South Lafayette. She estimates it would take less than 10 minutes to get to the new Stirling proposed development. "That would just be awesome," Comeaux said. "For years, we've been hearing about how they were going to put something, put something, put something and nothing's ever happened. If it does, that will just be great." Originally published February 12, 2006 |