The Price of Lafayette History? $200,000, According to the City-Parish Council!
At the City-Parish Council meeting this evening, the Council reversed a unanimous decision by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Council approved a proposal by Crapstone Development to build the 400 bedroom student apartment complex in the historic Freetown neighborhood. The 'sweetener' to the deal? The company will put up $200,000 to be spent at the discretion of a committee made up of two Freetown 'resident property owners' and one person designated by the developer. The money will be spent on neighborhood improvements, "consistent with the cultural and historical nature and significance" of the area. If there are 400 bedrooms in the development and they each rent for an average of $500 per month, then $200,000 is exactly equivalent one months rental revenue for the developers. Assuming that Freetown has roughly 800 residents, this means that their history and peace has been sold out for an approximate price of $250 per head. What a deal for the neighborhood (NOT).
Many people spoke at the meeting. Most people in favor of the developer were white, male real estate agents and property speculators. The fact that more people (from more diverse backgrounds) spoke against the proposal and gained very loud applause, did not impress many of the Councilmen.
After hours of comments, Bruce Conque delivered a rambling summing up, describing his childhood on Vermilion Street, but bizarrely concluding by supporting the developers. Then Chris Williams proposed a motion in favor of the developers proposal, with the amendment that the developers should adhere to the revisions that were recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission Staff and containing the $200,000 bribe to the neighborhood.
When it came to the vote, councilors Badeaux, Benjamin and Stevenson voted against the motion. All the other councilors voted in favor, making the appeal successful by a 6 to 3 vote. Thus was Lafayette's history squandered. Of course, there are a few less public details to the story. These will be outlined here. None of these presented facts have been verified, but are believed to be fully accurate, according to the whispering in the hallways. Readers should feel free to verify the facts for themselves, or post comments with corrections.
It appears that in the very recent past there was a meeting between the developers and Bruce Conque. It is unclear who else was present, but it seems likely that Glenn Armentor, a lawyer who initially was against the proposed development, was also there. It seems that it was at this meeting that some minor architectural changes were made to the development and it was at this meeting that the $200,000 bribe was arranged. Thus, Armentor's role in this travesty is equivocal. What is amazing is that when concerned residents contacted Conque, his response was to have a council employee return their calls with the message that Mr. Conque would make his decision after hearing both sides at the council meeting. It may be infered from this that out of town developers are more worthy of Mr. Conque's attention than Lafayette residents. So much for representative democracy.
Chris Williams also admitted that he met privately with the developers. In addition, Mr. Williams claimed to have e-mailed various 'people in the area'. No doubt one of these people was Coach@state.la.us. However, there are also a number of instances in which Williams failed to return phone messages from concerned residents. One of the Crapstone supporters claimed that he had met 'with residents'. Nobody seems to know who these mystery 'residents' are. In all likelihood, the only person the developers really met with was the equivocal Mr. Armentor. However, he is not a resident of Freetown, living instead on West Bayou Parkway, although his law office is located in the neighborhood. Thus, through various closed door meetings and private lobbying sessions (what about Sunshine laws?), Crapstone managed to sway at least two councilmen. Residents of the area (other than the mystery ones) were not invited to these meetings. They did not even get their messages returned! There may have been other meetings, but no details, or even rumors, are known on these currently. Probably the only concrete evidence will come from closely looking at campaign contributions for the councilors who agreed to sell the history of the City of Lafayette for so little.
Three councilors, Stevenson, Benjamin and Badeaux can hold their heads high. They did the right thing. The other six, should hang their heads in shame. One even admitted to not having read all the materials submitted to them, until during the meeting itself! Clearly, the Planning and Zoning Commission listens to the residents of Lafayette, whilst the larger City-Parish Coucil does not. This is a depressing conclusion.
The really disturbing part about all this comes from the fact that residents of Freetown, and surrounding areas have just voted on a neighborhood plan, as part of the Lafayette into the New century (LINC) proposal. Exit polls suggest that this plan will be approved with 10 to 1 residents voting in favor of the plan. The key to the neighborhood plan was to be a park, located where Crapstone will now build student slums. Every single council region has at least one neighborhood plan in the works (some regions have several). The Freetown area, Region 7, was the first to be considered and voted on by residents. Yet it appears that six of our elected city officials care not a fig, for the opinions of the residents. Please remember this when it comes time to vote [them out of office].
Many people spoke at the meeting. Most people in favor of the developer were white, male real estate agents and property speculators. The fact that more people (from more diverse backgrounds) spoke against the proposal and gained very loud applause, did not impress many of the Councilmen.
After hours of comments, Bruce Conque delivered a rambling summing up, describing his childhood on Vermilion Street, but bizarrely concluding by supporting the developers. Then Chris Williams proposed a motion in favor of the developers proposal, with the amendment that the developers should adhere to the revisions that were recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission Staff and containing the $200,000 bribe to the neighborhood.
When it came to the vote, councilors Badeaux, Benjamin and Stevenson voted against the motion. All the other councilors voted in favor, making the appeal successful by a 6 to 3 vote. Thus was Lafayette's history squandered. Of course, there are a few less public details to the story. These will be outlined here. None of these presented facts have been verified, but are believed to be fully accurate, according to the whispering in the hallways. Readers should feel free to verify the facts for themselves, or post comments with corrections.
It appears that in the very recent past there was a meeting between the developers and Bruce Conque. It is unclear who else was present, but it seems likely that Glenn Armentor, a lawyer who initially was against the proposed development, was also there. It seems that it was at this meeting that some minor architectural changes were made to the development and it was at this meeting that the $200,000 bribe was arranged. Thus, Armentor's role in this travesty is equivocal. What is amazing is that when concerned residents contacted Conque, his response was to have a council employee return their calls with the message that Mr. Conque would make his decision after hearing both sides at the council meeting. It may be infered from this that out of town developers are more worthy of Mr. Conque's attention than Lafayette residents. So much for representative democracy.
Chris Williams also admitted that he met privately with the developers. In addition, Mr. Williams claimed to have e-mailed various 'people in the area'. No doubt one of these people was Coach@state.la.us. However, there are also a number of instances in which Williams failed to return phone messages from concerned residents. One of the Crapstone supporters claimed that he had met 'with residents'. Nobody seems to know who these mystery 'residents' are. In all likelihood, the only person the developers really met with was the equivocal Mr. Armentor. However, he is not a resident of Freetown, living instead on West Bayou Parkway, although his law office is located in the neighborhood. Thus, through various closed door meetings and private lobbying sessions (what about Sunshine laws?), Crapstone managed to sway at least two councilmen. Residents of the area (other than the mystery ones) were not invited to these meetings. They did not even get their messages returned! There may have been other meetings, but no details, or even rumors, are known on these currently. Probably the only concrete evidence will come from closely looking at campaign contributions for the councilors who agreed to sell the history of the City of Lafayette for so little.
Three councilors, Stevenson, Benjamin and Badeaux can hold their heads high. They did the right thing. The other six, should hang their heads in shame. One even admitted to not having read all the materials submitted to them, until during the meeting itself! Clearly, the Planning and Zoning Commission listens to the residents of Lafayette, whilst the larger City-Parish Coucil does not. This is a depressing conclusion.
The really disturbing part about all this comes from the fact that residents of Freetown, and surrounding areas have just voted on a neighborhood plan, as part of the Lafayette into the New century (LINC) proposal. Exit polls suggest that this plan will be approved with 10 to 1 residents voting in favor of the plan. The key to the neighborhood plan was to be a park, located where Crapstone will now build student slums. Every single council region has at least one neighborhood plan in the works (some regions have several). The Freetown area, Region 7, was the first to be considered and voted on by residents. Yet it appears that six of our elected city officials care not a fig, for the opinions of the residents. Please remember this when it comes time to vote [them out of office].
posted by Save Freetown at 10:17 PM
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