UL Lafayette: CDW: I-49 Connector: Neighborhoods

				I-49 Connector: Housing and Understanding Neighborhoods


				BACK \| NEXT TOPICS introduction public process case studies alignments garden urbanism alt. street links public realm neighborhoods lighting sound study public art conclusion recognition SUB-TOPICS introduction current trends relocation moving homes prototypes transitional micro-sizing implementation	Introduction

					The neighborhoods and residences that I-49 Connector bisects were shaped by the railroad as it ran through Lafayette in the late 1800's, and the automobile as the Evangeline Thruway cut through the area in the 1960's. Fragmentation of the residential neighborhoods occurred as a result of the thruway, railroad, industry, and the aging of residential stock. As one economic, social, and cultural group replaced another through cycles of exodus and migration, displacement has long been a factor in the area. This has been further intensified as each progress in transportation resulted in individual family removal and relocation. The I-49 Connector cuts through four distinct neighborhoods composed of a mixture of income levels from low to upper middle class, along with a cultural mix predominately of African-American, Creole, and Acadian heritage. Each of the four residential areas in the study has a different mix, requiring solutions that address the specific needs of its residents. Several previous studies by the Lafayette City Council and Parish government have identified the I-49 Connector area as the location of housing problems including substandard housing, among others. The 1990 U.S. census statistics for the metropolitan areas identified housing problems including age and size of housing, as well as low proportion of home ownership. It was essential to document the existing housing stock to assess conditions and develop strategies addressing the housing needs of the area while minimizing the impact of the facility. If properly considered, the I-49 Connector should lead to redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhoods. A survey form was developed to assess the current housing stock in order to identify its strengths and weaknesses and to determine projected needs within the proposed I-49 Connector. This form surveys the existing residential stock located in the I-49 Connector from Willow Street to Pinhook Road to provide information regarding the current context of each structure and its existing conditions. It provides a general description of the property, neighborhood, residential conditions, residential typologies, and observations regarding the potential to relocate the structure. The survey also provides criteria for replacement housing. These guidelines require that replacement housing have equal and comparable uses. This includes types of rooms and the activities that occur within and about the house. Through varying the combination of patterns, unique houses are formed meeting the particular needs of owners or occupants. The survey revealed that residences in the area represent architectural types ranging from cottage to ranch and styles from folk Victorian to Craftsmen bungalows. These structures are examples of regional, vernacular adaptations of national styles that form an architectural and cultural heritage. The field survey and charrettes serve two roles: they provide the Community Design Workshop with a direct understanding of the area and provide residents with a forum to express their concerns and ideas regarding the interstate corridor. Primary concerns were their need to relocate and find affordable housing without incurring debt, as well as the timetable for implementation. Ideas gathered through the fieldwork focused on economic development and cultural identity. Proposals included cultural centers, job training and opportunities, and a railroad history museum. The data from the initial housing survey provided the basis for studies then generated a model of each neighborhood, allowing a complete mapping of the project area that defined the existing conditions and provided basic strategies for development. To redevelop housing, the studies were essential to illustrate the location of vacant properties and the locations for infill houses. For a neighborhood to be a viable community, it must be complete. Each vacant lot is an opportunity for decay. The first component of the housing proposal was to fill the vacant lots with single-family residences and, where appropriate, small multi-family housing.
					Proposed aerial I-49 Corridor, Evangeline at Taft/Fourteenth Streets

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Document last revised Thursday, April 22, 2004 10:39 AM