By AnaClare Barras

Several upcoming projects are underway in downtown Lake Charles as the city continues to rebuild two years after the double punches of Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

“We are thrilled to see so much movement and vibrancy back in Downtown Lake Charles,” said Katie Harrington, public information officer for the city of Lake Charles.

Among the projects is the desire for a hotel to be built on the Civic Center grounds.

The Lake Charles City Council voted unanimously last month in favor of an ordinance allowing the city to request proposals for such a hotel. An exact location of a potential hotel on the grounds has yet to be determined. Depending on the response to the RFP, it is possible the city administration could bring a successful proposal to the council for consideration and final action within the next six to eight months, Harrington said.

The city administration has also been successful in creating three new economic development districts in the area. They are known as the Lakefront EDD, I-10 EDD and Enterprise Boulevard EDD. Each EDD offers the possibility of incentives for development within these districts. In 2021, the state approved State Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for these same areas. This means that roughly half of the state’s sales tax collected on any incremental sales in these districts will be available to the city for re-investment in public infrastructure projects within these districts.

Success stories for these districts include Port Wonder, Crying Eagle’s Lakefront Restaurant Project and Lake Area Adventures (Lakefront EDD) and Acadian Ambulance (Enterprise Boulevard EDD) and Mama Reta’s (I-10 EDD).

A private developer is looking to restore the historic property located at 710 Ryan St., formerly known as Zephyr’s. More details will be released by the developer soon, but they are looking to rehab this building for retail and office space, Harrington said.

The interest in Lake Charles and this property are a direct result of the Lake Charles Investor’s Day the city and other local agencies hosted in June 2021, she said.

Other upcoming projects underway include the construction at the Port Wonder site — residents can expect to see vertical progress by the start of next year — and the rehabilitation of the lakefront parking garage. Crying Eagle and Lake Area Adventures are both set to break ground on their lakefront projects early next year.

“We have seen investments by companies like Johnson Law Firm, Terranova Klein Williams CPA Firm, American Press, Buffi’s, Panorama Music House and HRI Development,” Harrington said. “Restoration continues on Historic City Hall, which can be expected to be fully restored by the start of 2023.”

Harrington said the city has taken all of the necessary steps to rebuild more resiliently for future storms as the projects begin coming to fruition.

The city has also worked to assess its ordinances and building codes to ensure that development adheres to current, more modern standards that are able to better withstand future storms. Earlier this month, the city council also adopted an updated drainage ordinance that is helping address drainage concerns with future development. This is the first major overhaul of this ordinance in decades, Harrington said.