Originally published on September 12, 2024; republished on September 16, 2024, and December 2, 2024
By KAREN LAGRANGE COX
The City of Brousssard is gearing up to embark on the final phase of its Envision Downtown Broussard, the City of Broussard’s Main Street Corridor Master Plan, initially conceptualized in 2019.
The Master Plan, consisting of three phases along the Main Street Corridor, aims to revitalize and grow the primary corridor along Main Street through infrastructure improvements and beautification.
Phase II of the Envision Broussard Master Plan
Historic Downtown – Main Street from Clara Street to St. Des Porres Street
Phase II marks the beginning of the final phase of the Master Plan. This involves infrastructure and beautification along Main Street from Clara Street to St. Des Porres Street. According to Mayor Ray Bourque, work will be done in sections so as not to affect all areas at once and to not interfere with businesses and homeowners. This project is estimated to start around January 2025, and once started, it is estimated to take eighteen months to two years to complete.
The City Council recently approved Ordinance #24-801 which authorizes a bond sale and issuance for up to $7.5 million for Phase II in the historic downtown area and additional work in the Phase III area (St. Des Porres Street to Albertson Parkway). Ordinance #24-810 for Phase II was passed by the City Council on September 10, 2024, approving a budget amendment for $4.5 million, part of the $7.5 million bond sale/issuance.
CenterPoint Energy will abandon its gas main along Main Street and relocate its service lines to side streets at its expense. This will help declutter the servitudes.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure of Phase II plans include:
The downtown area’s old cast iron water main will be abandoned. Water lines connected to the old main will be unconnected and reconnected to the water main one block away along Madison Street.
At least or above 95% of the drainage will changed out in this project; nothing will be salvaged.
Catch basins, drainage structures that collect and direct surface water away from an area, are currently in poor condition and will be redone.
Establish additional off-street and parallel parking.
Work to convert gravel parking to cement/asphalt for dust-free parking, making it 1) prevent gravel from going into the drainage, 2) easier for walking on, and 3) easier maneuvering for people using wheelchairs or pushing strollers.
Sidewalks along Main Street in the downtown area will be replaced due to deterioration and to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Continue ten-foot multi-use pathways on the south side of Main Street from Clara Street to St. Des Porres near the railroad tracks.
- The pathway will continue with spaced-out, taller lamp posts.
- On the north side of 200 West Main Street (Sacred Heart Catholic Church), plans call for 6-foot sidewalks to St. Des Porres near the railroad tracks with taller, spaced-out lamp posts.
- For safety purposes, there will be a crossing in front of 200 West Main Street at Sacred Heart Catholic Church from the church to the south side, allowing parishioners to cross over the street before and after church services.
- The crossing will have vibrant, flashing lights.
- The 4′ sidewalks from 107 North Morgan Avenue (BJ’s Poorboys and Plate Lunches) to Railroad Street are planned to be replaced on both sides.
The water plant building behind the city hall will be demolished. That space will be reconfigured to add cement for parking and events such as Noel’ Broussard. A sidewalk will be added to connect to Main Street.
Beautification
Time will be spent planning for a tasteful beautification of the Main Street Corridor, as stated by Bourque.
The beautification of Phase II includes:
A Main Street Overlay Ordinance has established a signage program for the Main Street Corridor.
The old iron horse rings in front of City Hall and around the House of Brousssard will be dug out, cleaned up by the Public Works Department, and placed on bronze plaques with the ring’s story.
Crossroads Gateway at Main and Morgan Street
- The bumpy asphalt will be smoothed out, milled, and overlayed at the intersection of Main and Morgan Streets and replaced in all four directions for about one-half to one block.
- The Crossroads Gateway will have an elevated speed table stained with the sugar mill gear design.
- Trees, low-maintenance shrubs, and wrought iron fencing.
- The traffic light poles will be painted black to coordinate with the decorative lights.
Phase III of the Envision Broussard Master Plan
Downtown East – Main Street from St. Des Porres Street to Albertson Parkway
Phase III, which runs from St. Des Porres Street to Albertson Parkway, consists of drainage updates.
The project is being developed and expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2025.
Additional Phase III A and B
Phases III A and B include 6′ sidewalks on the north side with lamp posts and from the railroad tracks to South Girouard Road along Main Street. On the south side of the street, plans are to add 10′ multi-use pathways with lamp posts.
According to Bourque, the city plans to work with the railroad company to get a permit to connect to the multi-use pathways and sidewalks in a later project.
Gateways in Phase III A and B Plans
- The Point at 2nd Street – at the corner of Main and Second Streets, 3-4 foot tall fiberglass or steel gears painted red, yellow, and blue are to be embedded in the ground, tying into sidewalks along the north side of Main Street.
- Arceneaux Park at Downtown East – new signage is planned for the entrance of Arceneaux Park.
- East Gateway at Celebrity Drive – a monument is planned for this east entrance into Broussard on Main Street; however, it has not yet been designed.
Phase I of the Envision Broussard Master Plan
Main Street from South Bernard Road to Clara Street
Phase I included the Gateway Sign into the west entrance of Broussard and drainage updates. On the south side of Main Street are 10-foot wide multi-use pathways with lamp post lighting along the pathways. There is a multi-use pathway along the east side of South Bernard from Main Street to Albertson Parkway.
