Early 2012 start planned for Zachary TND first phase

Construction of Americana, a 420-acre TND off E. Mt. Pleasant-Zachary Road, could start in early 2012. Charles Landry, the attorney representing Americana, says financing isn’t an issue for the first phase of the development, which will include a little more than 100 homes, a 10-screen movie theater and a 26,000-square-foot YMCA branch. The issues involve getting about 413 acres of the development annexed into Zachary and city officials’ approval of the zoning changes. Lafayette developer Robert Daigle took over development of Americana after New Towne Development Group, the corporate entity that oversaw the proposed TND, defaulted on its mortgage; and a suit was filed to put it into involuntary bankruptcy. For a 2009 Business Report cover story about the wrangling over Americana, click here. Plans are for a 15-year build-out, eventually completing a community with between 1,500 to 1,800 homes and 500,000 square feet of commercial space. Landry says some senior living groups are also interested in doing something in Americana. “The timing is perfect to go forward on this,” he says. If all goes well, the movie theater and YMCA should open in late 2012 or early 2013. —Timothy Boone