The former federal courthouse that consumes the block at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets in downtown Lafayette may be razed soon. The Advocate reported today on a plan to demolish the structure to make way for new mixed use development that will include commercial and residential spaces. Local government has owned the building since 2001, when it paid $800,000 for what was to be government offices, the paper reported.
City-parish government and the Lafayette Economic Development Authority are working on an agreement in which LEDA would take ownership of the property, demolish the old courthouse and then redevelop the 1.8-acre site.
“It would put a showcase corner of downtown back into commerce,” City-Parish Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley said.
The plan has been in the works for a few years, but is just now coming to a head.
Stanley said he hopes to present a proposed agreement to the City-Parish Council as early as next month.
Read the rest of The Advocate story here.