A new year means new projects and goals for Downtown Lafayette.
Lafayette Downtown Development Authority CEO Anita Begnaud says the addition of a few apartment complexes is the beginning of accomplishing one big goal of making downtown area more of a neighborhood.
"We're really excited about this new decade and we hope it's a decade filled with development," she says.
In the case of the new Vermilion Lofts, there are four stories of development and possibly dozens of new residents that come with it.
"We have about 100 residents that live in the Downtown Development Association district boundaries and with the opening of two new apartment complexes we'll add more than 50 new residents to the downtown area which is a huge amount of growth." says Begnaud. "We anticipate even more apartment complexes coming, mixed use projects which means retail and commercial as well as residential coming in 2020 as well."
The DDA is hoping that all the new additions will bring more of a neighborhood feel to downtown, with people enjoying the area all hours, all week long.
"We really hope Downtown Lafayette maintains its charm as it grows and that we start to see Downtown Lafayette become more of a neighborhood feel," says Begnaud. "As more residents live in the district they care about what it looks like what it feels like what's in it and you have people on the streets not just from 8 to 5 Monday through Friday but throughout the day throughout the evening because its their own neighborhood and their own backyard."
Leasing has already begun for the Vermilion Lofts, which is expected to be complete in the first quarter of this year.