Catholic High School officials are indefinitely shelving plans to redevelop the Westmoreland Village Shopping Center on Government Street in Mid City, citing financing and leasing issues that make it tricky to move forward with the redevelopment plans now.
School President Gene Tullier says there are some financial hurdles that must be overcome in financing the redevelopment since Hearthstone Properties, the tax-exempt corporation supporting the school, used New Markets Tax Credits to purchase the shopping center for $4.85 million just before Christmas 2010. After looking at the intricacies in the financing restrictions, the board felt that it was best to hold off on the redevelopment for now, Tullier adds.
A second factor is that some of the current tenants in the shopping center that Tullier and the board expected to leave have stayed, creating unforeseen complications in the plans for a full-scale revamp of the center.
“It’s the right decision for us at this point,” Tullier says. “We’re not able to move forward just yet.”
Tullier says the board could likely revisit the plans in two years, adding it’s possible the project could also move forward at any time in the next two years, should circumstances change.
All five groups of developers who submitted proposals to the Catholic High board in August and September have been told of the board’s decision, Tullier says. He adds that he pledged to call each group when the board decides to move forward with redeveloping half of the 9.2-acre tract.
The board has not whittled down the list of development teams, all of whom have at least one team member from Baton Rouge, and while Tullier says some have a better vision than other, all will still be on the table for consideration when the board decides to move forward. The proposals submitted by each group contained mixed-use components and Tullier has told Daily Report he was happy with all of the proposals.
The part of the property under consideration for redevelopment includes roughly four acres north of Cole Drive. The tract south of Cole will be kept for the school’s future needs.
According to the request for proposals, the redevelopment plans were to include a multipurpose design, possibly with residential, office and retail spaces; a food amenity, such as a café, catering service 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.
The school has said it will not consider a big-box retail store, a business whose primary revenue comes from alcohol or tobacco, or a fast food restaurant with a drive-thru service as its only or primary way to order.
—Ryan Broussard
