A charter school operating in the Westmoreland Village Shopping Center, owned by Catholic High School, is expanding and will take over the rest of the shopping center space.
“We entered into a new lease with Louisiana Key Academy for the entire facility,” says Catholic High President Gene Tullier. “All the other tenants have moved out.”
Family Dollar left the Government Street shopping center in December, moving into a nearby building vacated by Rite Aid. Other discount retailers left Westmoreland Village in the months following, Tullier says.
Louisiana Key Academy is a charter school serving students with dyslexia. Dr. Laura Cassidy, wife of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, chairs the board that oversees the school.
Catholic High acquired the shopping center property in 2010 from the Cangelosi family for $4.85 million. The school formed a limited liability company—Westmoreland Properties— to acquire and redevelop the property. The company issued a request for qualifications in 2015 for a partner developer to explore options for the redevelopment.
Months later, however, Catholic High shelved its plans to redevelop Westmoreland Village, citing financing and leasing issues that made it tricky to move forward.
According to the 2015 RFP, redevelopment plans were to include a multipurpose design, possibly with residential, office and retail space; a food amenity, such as a café or restaurant; improved aesthetics through design, structures, courtyard and landscaping; and a “youthful appeal” that will make it attractive for students from CHS and other nearby schools.
