West Feliciana in a struggle to balance growth, preservation

In a state that has more than its share of charming historic places, West Feliciana Parish is a standout. With rolling hills, breathtaking antebellum plantation homes and the historic town of St. Francisville—which in many ways feels more like New England than nearby New Roads—it is a popular weekend getaway, tourist destination and retirement community. But as in so many charming places, West Feliciana Parish’s greatest strengths are also its greatest weaknesses. The farmland is sprawling, crowds and congestion are sparse, and the town—unspoiled by big-box stores and cheesy strip centers—looks much like it did a century ago. Which means there’s not much commerce or industry, not many opportunities for young people to make a living, and not much of a tax base. It’s a problem and it’s getting worse. Local government has responded by jacking up property and sales taxes. But how much can you tax a small population, especially when one-third of it comprises the non-income-producing inmates of Angola State Penitentiary? The parish recognizes it needs to grow, if only to find new sources of revenue. Just about everyone agrees on that. The problem is, no one can agree on how best to accomplish that growth without changing the precious character of the parish. Get the full story on how West Feliciana is trying to balance growth and preservation in the new Business Report cover story by Editor Stephanie Riegel here.