Equitable Economic Action Plan for the I-49 Corridor in Lafayette, Louisiana

In Lafayette, LA, JLP+D led a multidisciplinary team to create an Equitable Economic Action Plan focused on integrating community priorities with market opportunities through comprehensive economic analysis, real estate development recommendations, policies and partnerships, and strategic implementation and marketing toolkits. This forward-thinking plan will guide investments in housing, small business growth, workforce development, and public amenities in historically underserved neighborhoods divided by highway infrastructure.

The Equitable Economic Action Plan builds on the Evangeline Corridor Initiative, formed in 2015, which convenes local public and private stakeholders working to reduce the negative impacts of the planned conversion of the Evangeline Thruway into an elevated highway.

Leveraging infrastructure investment for equitable outcomes, the Plan focused on eight key sites (82 acres) along the 5.5 mile corridor and recommended specific opportunities for the productive development of these underutilized and vacant sites, with the expectation of generating 1.5 million square feet of development and 945 housing units and attracting $371 million in real estate investment. JLP+D incorporated recommendations to improve the public realm, including an addition of 19 acres of open space and better connections and safety across and along the corridor. The proposed projects have the potential to create over 2,000 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs and drive a fivefold increase in projected property tax revenue. Among the interventions recommended by the plan, $7 million in critical infrastructure have been funded.

As the prime consultant, JLP+D collaborated closely with a diverse team of local and national experts spanning equitable policy initiatives, architecture and urban design, community engagement, and infrastructure development, including Partnership for Southern Equity, AQ Studios, Franklin Associates, Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, and HDR.

The Economic Action Plan leaves the community with a set of tools to implement the vision, including equity-driven policy interventions, partnership matrices, infrastructure investment opportunities, funding considerations, phasing considerations, marketing toolkits, and strategic first-move projects. Together, these initiatives will foster sustainable economic growth, improve the quality of life for residents, and chart a path for shared prosperity.