https://thecurrentla.com/2026/column-where-is-lafayettes-core/
I thought this was an interesting read. Do you think LCG has done enough to invest in the campus corridor? I firmly believe UL is part of Lafayette’s core.
Geoff has been a great asset to Lafayette residents. Enjoy his writing. Measured and thoughtful.
This article pretty says much says what I’ve been saying for years. Lafayette has continuously outgrown itself and has been in the last 30 years. On one hand, it’s great because in a state where population is declining, Lafayette Parish is only one of two parishes in Louisiana with population growth which means it’s an attractive place to live. On the other hand, we don’t really know where we will see the city in 20 years, hence the article.
If we really want to base our “core” in this growing city, we need to first follow patterns of commerce within the last few decades. That area (to me) includes anywhere around the limits of Kaliste Saloom to Ambassador Caffrey to Congress all the way to Evangeline Thruway back to Kaliste Saloom. That includes downtown, the university, River Ranch, Broadmoor, the mall, Ambassador Town Center, the airport, and the Cajundome.
I love living in Lafayette. We’ve lived out of state and out of the country and kept coming back.
What you will see living outside in some communities is continuity. Planning. Development done to meet specifications and future needs.
The ongoing joke on social media is that in Lafayette when land is cleared, the building will either be a car wash, gas station, Mexican restaurant. It’s a hodge podge of stuff.
I will say, they’ve done some nice things. Moncus Park. Investment into downtown. But overall, let’s invest in us and stop giving out permits to build whatever they want wherever they want. I think Lafayette has enough storage facilities.
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I’d love to see more done to connect downtown to the Moncus Park area.
Expand downtown to the other side of Jefferson St and back towards campus.
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Lafayette mirrors our fanbase in a lot of ways. Not really one homogenous city but rather 4-5 different subsections. Almost like Burroughs on a smaller scale.
I’ve lived in Midcity for almost 15 years and I consider this the core. Established families who’ve been here for generations. We still go to the same gyms, burger spots and parks that our grandparents went to. The Saints Streets have changed but that neighborhood still has its soul. The old French developments off of Johnston have held up, for the most part. The university is still a communal epicenter for many. While the oil enter popped in the 80s, it still feels like old Lafayette.
I do not consider downtown part of the core, however. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we’ve invested in DT and spend time there on occasion, but outside of festival, it’s just not a desirable gathering spot like it once was. Businesses struggle to stay open, night life is totally different, and the infrastructure needs to be addressed so badly. It’s just not what it was 20 years ago.
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In order to expand downtown, they need to fix what’s there now. There’s just not enough commerce and traffic in certain parts of the day for people to really want to put resources into the area.
The more expansion we see to the south, the more I think improving downtown gets ignored.
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It’s true. I’ve lived all over this country too and there’s nothing like Acadiana. People say it’s “culture” and “the people.” I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it’s tangible.
There’s depth here. There’s soul here.
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Johnston St businesses shot themselves in the foot during Durel’s MP tenure when they lobbied against the Johnston St beautification project in the early 2010s (and before that).
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Agree but I wonder if it was worth the headache now. Something has to be done. The center turning lane remains an accident trap and the power line cluster fack is such an eyesore. It’s also ridiculous that a main thoroughfare in this city isn’t walkable or easy to access on bikes.
Speaking of, have you seen the boulevard proposal? Talk about nightmare for construction, businesses and traffic.
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If I had peace president powers, I would snap my fingers and start the Johnston St project today. Verot’s transformation was worth it. Imagine a transformed Johnston St; nearly all major arterial roads in Lafayette would be connected by sidewalk and be walkable/bikeable.
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For sure. When I explain Lafayette to people I usually go with this. This was true especially when I lived around Denver.
In some places, the natives know what they have and are protective of it. They don’t want to share it.
In Lafayette, we know what we have and want to share it with others. We want feed you, take care of you and show you a good time while you’re here so you want to come back.
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The infrastructure within the entire city is way behind. It’ll take a lifetime just to get that done. Look at hwy 90.
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Lived around Denver as well (Centennial) and spent a year in FoCo. Absolutely loved every second of it. But it lacked character and culture.
I think the Cajun/Creole culture is welcoming to everyone but protective in a way that it doesn’t allow outsiders to sabotage it. In other words, people that move to the Lafayette area tend to usually assimilate pretty easily to the culture. If they feel out off place, they don’t stay long.
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And that, my friend, is what happens when a city outgrows itself.
They were supposed to develop Bertrant to be more walkable to Moncus. It is much needed.
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Cool. Lived in Castle Rock from 2015-2017 and commuted to Stapleton for work. Long commute but I’d pass through Centennial almost daily.
Castle Rock was a great place to live. Nice, small old town in the center, built up with planned communities around it. Higher elevation surrounded by hills and pine trees that made it feel like you were so far from Denver. I’m sure you’ve driven by it.
They planned development intentionally. Buildings, even chain stores, had accents on them to match an aesthetic. I could run or ride a bike along continuous paved trails from my house to downtown which about 4 - 5 miles going under roads and the interstate.
As nice as it was, Lafayette was still home and we wanted to end up back here. I miss the mountains, the trail running and the beer scene, though.
Lafayette has outgrown itself, however the capital needed to bring the city up to date simply isn’t there.