Special to the American Press

Project Build a Future, the longtime local nonprofit which has built and repaired affordable homes for people to own, is now going to build a neighborhood.

The new initiative is Kingman Crossing, a resilient neighborhood of quality, full-sized homes that are available at more attainable terms and price points.

Kingman Crossing homes will be built off Fitzenreiter Road on vacant property across from Combre-Fondel Elementary School.

The first houses will be built along Pear Street, and then a shorter street with a cul-de-sac will be added to form the interior of the neighborhood. There are four floor plans for the houses.

The neighborhood-building plan was announced by PBAF Board President Brad Evans and Kingman Crossing project manager Henry Mancuso.

Kingman Crossing is being called a “resilient” neighborhood because the homes will be built to a fortified standard, with greater sustainability, featuring:

• Construction techniques that secure the home against greater wind and water damage.
• A stronger roof.
• The foundation, framing, doors and windows being built to create a continuous load path.

Public, private and corporate funding is making Kingman Crossing possible. That includes the City of Lake Charles committing monies through a cooperative endeavor agreement toward the initiative for infrastructure.

“We are working to find people to purchase the homes as soon as they are built,” said Charla Blake, PBAF executive director. “We may have some pre-sold — which is typically what we do with our agency’s clients — by the time they go to construction.”

Blake added, “By building four or so at a time, we could potentially have all homes built and purchased by the end of 2026, if not before.”

Here is a potential timeline for the buildout:

• Infrastructure plans (for water, sewer, utilities) presented to the city by Oct. 1 for review and approval.
• Architectural plans presented to Project Build a Future by Oct. 1 for review and approval.
• Contractor bids could go out as early as Nov. 1 to build the first two to four houses.
• Infrastructure could be finished within 90 to 120 days, so the full infrastructure could be complete by March or April 2025.
• Houses could start after the first phase of infrastructure development as early as January or February 2025.
• Houses typically have a 120- to 180-day timeline, so the first phase of houses could be completed by April or May 2025.

Project Build a Future is a nonprofit organization committed to revitalizing its target area — the sections north of Broad Street in Lake Charles — through quality, affordable home-ownership initiatives. Its programs include home-buyer counseling and education classes, lease-to-purchase arrangements and new construction of high-quality homes. Its website is projectbuildafuture.org, the office is at 2306 Third St. and the phone number is 337-439-7191.