Opelousas Downtown Development District

The DDD map identifies the district boundaries as well as the parcels that have been identified as the spending districts:

The City of Opelousas, LA in partnership with St. Landry Economic Development and The Acadiana Planning Commission is pleased to issue this Request for Proposals (‘RFP’) for the redevelopment of the New Life Center and associated parcel of land (‘NLC Redevelopment Site,’ ‘Site,’ or ‘Project’) located in Downtown Opelousas, Louisiana under the jurisdiction, custody, and control of the City of Opelousas.

The New Life Center Redevelopment Site is in the heart of Downtown Opelousas and offers tremendous potential for a mixed-use redevelopment and advances the goals of the Opelousas Downtown Development Districts Master Plan.

• New Life Center RFP
• Appendix A Downtown Opelousas Master Plan
• Appendix B Opelousas New Life Center Reuse Visioning
• Appendix C Invest-Opelousas OZ Prospectus
• Appendix D New Life Center Phase I ESA
• Appendix E New Life Center Phase II ESA
• Appendix F LFLP Opelousas Community Action Plan

The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), an economic development district in St. Landry Parish, is preparing a Downtown Master Plan to guide the future development and design of Opelousas’s downtown. Creation of the plan will be based on the shared vision of Opelousas’s residents and stakeholders.

The Time is Now

Opelousas is at a pivotal point in history. The I-49 project is creating new opportunities and a wide variety of stakeholders and investors are taking an active interest in the further development of Opelousas. This master plan project will set a collaborative vision for what the community will become over the next 20 to 30 years and will address issues like infrastructure, greenspace, walkability, beautification and also identify catalyst projects that can be used to propel growth. We encourage community members at all levels to take part in creating the future of Opelousas.

The nine-month planning process offered a variety of opportunities to become involved and give input in this important project. This ordinance is going to be a catalyst to revitalizing our downtown area.

Download the Approved Ordinance Regulating Non-Residential Vacant Structures in the City of Opelousas

View the Final Master Plan

Meeting Dates

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Opelousas Downtown Development District

Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm
5367 I 49 S. Service Road
Opelousas, LA 70570

May 15, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
St. Landry Parish Courthouse
118 S. Court Street
Opelousas, LA 70570

February 27, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
St. Landry Parish Courthouse
118 S. Court Street
Opelousas, LA 70570

November 07, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
St. Landry Parish Courthouse
118 S. Court Street
Opelousas, LA 70570

March 3, 2020
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Opelousas Civic Center
1638 Cresswell Lane
Opelousas, LA 70570

Download 2025 Meeting Schedule
2024 Sexual Harassment Report

DDD stands for a Downtown Development District. It is a board authority that is created through the state legislature.

The DDD for Opelousas will be made up of seven appointed members. These members will be non-paid board appointees. They are appointed as follows:

• One -- State Senator, District 24
• One -- State Representative, District 40
• One -- St. Landry Parish President
• One -- City of Opelousas Mayor
• One -- Opelousas Council
• One -- Vision St. Landry
• One -- St. Landry Economic Development

The future success of Downtown Opelousas is important to not just Opelousas, it is important for the future of St. Landry Parish. By getting appointments from a large diverse group, the downtown effort will get more support from state, regional and parish resources.

Some members must be, depending on the appointment, but all must St. Landry Parish residents.

In some cases, yes, for example, one must have a background in engineering, community planning, or a related field.

The DDD is required to invest in projects and improvements that will make a more secure, more appealing and an overall better business and living climate within its boundaries.

The DDA is identified as a very specific area to which funds can be invested through the DDA. Please see the highlighted boundaries on the DDA map, Exhibit A. This boundary is highlighted in yellow. Special Taxing Districts are highlighted separately but are included in the overall DDA Boundary.

The DDD is funded by one percent being added to the sales tax within the identified DDA Special Taxing Districts within the boundary.

Only the businesses in the special taxing districts will collect the one penny on sales and remit it through the normal sales tax collection process

No, all existing city and parish sales taxes are collected and distributed in the same manner.

No, these funds are collected by the parish designated tax collection authority and deposited into a separate account for dedicated local use.

No, the one extra penny will be collected by the parish tax collection authority and deposited into a separate account for dedicated local use.

Eight percent of the funds are allowable to be spent for administrative operation of the DDA board and economic development. The DDA must spread all other money in their area, ninety-two percent.

Some examples are roadway improvements, which in many cases may have matching grant funds available through state and federal DOTD. Infrastructure improvements, such as replacing water and wastewater lines under Landry Street as part of a needed resurfacing project. More and better quality lighting that will provide enhanced security. Streetscape projects; accessible sidewalks and improved parking are just some of the things that will be improved on the downtown corridors.

St. Landry Economic Development will be charged with establishing, maintaining and operating the structure of the DDD board. This includes bearing all administrative costs, such as office and overhead expenses, bookkeeping and accounting, audits, legal, staff support, etc. Once established, the DDD can begin to take over some of these functions but is not required to do that.

There is no time limit on the DDD being in place. Many of the projects they will be investing in will be long-term initiatives, so it will be important to build a quality leadership driven board over time.

Yes, the DDD will be a quasi-public body so its board meetings will be open to the public input.

Yes, getting business input and participation from in the district will be important priorities for the DDD to be effective. At least one of the board appointees must be a business owner in the district.

Yes, getting input and participation from organizations such as Main Street and Opelousas Tourism will be another important priority. At least one of the board appointees must be a representative of at least one of these existing downtown groups.

There are only six existed businesses that are included in Special Taxing Districts.