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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta impacted the construction, the developers behind the old federal courthouse redevelopment in Downtown Lafayette knew the project would take a lot of work. J. Dyke Nelson, the architect behind the project, said he had to wear a hazmat suit the first time he came out and saw the property.
“It was not to protect me from any kind of asbestos or lead paint or anything else. It was to protect me from the pigeon poop,” he said.
After five years and numerous delays brought on by hurricanes and the pandemic, the apartment complex built into the old federal courthouse building was finally unveiled Thursday.
The project was led by developers E.J. Krampe III, Nelson and David Weinstein, who purchased the 80-year-old courthouse complex for $1.4 million from Lafayette Consolidated Government in 2018. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Krampe and others praised the communal effort to revitalize the property, which was one of the largest and most-noticeable blighted properties in Downtown Lafayette.
“It definitely took a village,” Krampe said. “We were not alone. It took a team to do this, both internal and external folks.”
The apartment complex, called the Lofts at the Municipal, is now leasing.
One Acadiana President and CEO Troy Wayman, Lafayette Economic Development Authority President and CEO Mandi Mitchell, and Downtown Development Authority CEO Anita Begnaud all spoke at the ceremony, saying it is a step toward turning Downtown Lafayette into a more vibrant hub for the Acadiana Region.
Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory also called the project a significant win for Downtown Lafayette and said the district needs more public-private partnerships to improve downtown as the capital of the Acadiana region.
Read more of William Potter’s article for the Daily Advertiser here.
The Ambassador program started as a practical step to maintain our downtown, but it has quickly become something more. It is a catalyst for civic pride and collective care.
If you can envision it, you can build it. If you can dream it, you can paint it. And when that dream is shared between artists, institutions, and the public, it becomes part of the city’s story.
Walkability is a term often coined like an achievement, something a city either has or does not. In reality, it is a process. And when done well, it requires patience, listening, and thoughtful design.
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Improvements are underway at downtown Lafayette's Parc International, which serves as a main venue for Festival International, the city's largest festival that draws thousands every April.
Downtown Lafayette looked — and smelled — a little fresher Saturday morning as volunteers gathered for 'Downtown in Bloom,' a local beautification event.
The Children's Museum of Acadiana in downtown Lafayette will get a major facelift from muralist Dirk Guidry.
Since the park opened in 2024, residents who use it have been out of luck for a bathroom if surrounding businesses are closed.
New Downtown Ambassador Program by Block By Block begins their work the week of Festival International, helping to keep Downtown Clean, Fun, and Vibrant.
Downtown is the place where Acadiana comes to celebrate culture AND do business! Here at Downtown Lafayette Unlimited our goal is to help orchestrate these celebrations. Not only are we celebrating our community this fall with events such as Downtown Alive! and ArtWalk but over the past month, we have celebrated new ownership of beloved historic buildings as well as 10-year business milestones and more!