Just Imagine SWLA - Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

Hurricane Laura made landfall in Cameron Parish, Louisiana on August 27, 2020 as a Category 4 hurricane. With sustained wind speeds of 150 miles per hour, it tied as the strongest hurricane on record to hit Louisiana. The storm caused over $19 billion in damage in the state of Louisiana according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Calcasieu and Cameron parishes experienced up to nine feet of storm surge and extreme winds, which caused catastrophic damage to utilities, residential and commercial buildings and roofs, mature trees, and critical facilities.

While the region was struggling to recover from Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta made landfall in Cameron Parish on October 9, just nine miles east of where Hurricane Laura hit only six weeks earlier. The region was already in a state of emergency, with the majority of people displaced and thousands of homes with tarped roofs. Tarps and debris

from Laura were blown away and even more homes were destroyed by rainfall and flooding.

In February 2021, Calcasieu and Cameron parishes were impacted by the uncharacteristic winter storms that affected numerous Southern states. SWLA experienced frozen power lines, burst water pipes, and iced roads. This caused leaks in the water distribution system, resulting in low or no water pressure for a week in the City of Lake Charles, which impacted critical facilities and residents. The problem was exacerbated due to the significant number of vacant homes and buildings.

On May 17, 2021, severe storms and tornadoes caused flash flooding with more than 12 inches of rainfall impacting Calcasieu Parish. Quickly rising waters enveloped cars and made roads and neighborhoods unsafe. Over half the roads in the parish were under some water. The storm marked the

Southwestern Louisiana was ravaged by four consecutive federally declared major disasters in 10 months in 2020 and 2021. The region emerged with a united resolve to rebuild a stronger, more resilient, and vibrant community.

third most rainfall in a single day in Lake Charles’s history and more rain fell than during either Hurricane Laura or Delta.

Together, these disasters devastated the region and traumatized the residents and business owners of Southwest Louisiana. They placed an urgent emphasis on the need to rebuild more resiliently to bolster the region against future storms.

Recognizing the pressing need to build a resilient future for his hometown region, Moss Bluff native and co-founder of Yahoo!, David Filo and his wife Angela, made a generous donation of $2.5 million to the Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana. The Foundation engaged stakeholders to determine the path forward — a master plan for Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. This led to a national request for proposal to vet world-class planning firms for this once in a generation opportunity. Urban Design

Associates and its Louisiana-based team was eventually selected from the five firms that submitted proposals.

The Just Imagine SWLA process launched publicly in October 2021, a little over one year after Hurricane Laura. Despite being in the middle of personal crises and stressful situations, over 2,500 people across Calcasieu and Cameron parishes gave generously and passionately of their time and ideas to drive a collective vision for the future of the region. What resulted was a strong consensus about the types of projects that will catalyze positive change in quality of life, housing, infrastructure, and the economy. Political leadership, the parishes and municipalities, large employers and other economic engines, non-profits, and residents are united and committed to implementing the recommendations laid out in this master plan.

Together the region imagined what is possible for Southwest Louisiana and committed to making those visions a reality.

ENGAGEMENT PROCESS

Process Overview

Resident, community, and local leadership input formed the foundation on which the 50-Year Resilience Master Plan recommendations stand. A 10-month community engagement process was laid out in three steps:

• Step 1 — Understanding

• Step 2 — Testing

• Step 3 — Feasibility & Deciding

Opportunities for Engagement

During each step of the process, there were in-person, online, text, and small group opportunities for engagement and participation. Each round of in-person meetings were held in three locations to make it easier for residents to participate — one meeting in Lake Charles, one meeting in West Calcasieu Parish, and one meeting in Cameron Parish. Detailed summaries of the input during each step were shared with the community to confirm priorities.

Project Timeline

2,500+

7,320+ people participated comments and ideas were received

Types of Engagement

Guiding Groups

In-Person Public Meetings

Online Idea Wall

Online Interactive Map

Surveys (Including Youth Surveys)

Hello Lamp Post

Ambassador Meetings

REGIONAL CONTEXT AND IMPACT

Geography and Regional Context

The geographical focus for Just Imagine SWLA is Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. The Lake Charles MSA is contiguous with the boundaries of Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, which is important demographically. The population of the two parishes was 222,402 in 2020 and estimated at 210,362 in 2021. The Lake Charles MSA had the largest percentage drop in population due to migration in the country during this time period.

Calcasieu and Cameron parishes were the most heavily impacted by the 2020 and 2021 disasters. However, the Just Imagine SWLA projects and recommendations are intended to be broadly applicable to all five parishes in Southwest Louisiana, including Allen, Beauregard, and Jefferson Davis parishes.

Economic Development Context

Southwest Louisiana is home to large liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical industries. These employers attract skilled process engineers and drive the regional economy, especially during the construction of new plants and facilities. However, a troubling trend has emerged that affects both the large industries as well as smaller contributors to the regional economy. Concerns about the resilience of the region’s infrastructure, the aesthetics of the major commercial corridors, and the quality of life options for families and individuals have made it difficult to attract and retain employees and residents. Until this process, residents have felt resigned to accept the current conditions or

may not have had an opportunity to broadly impact the decisions about investments that could improve quality of life. What the region looks like impacts who chooses to invest; the types of jobs available impacts how stable the region is during downturns; the options for entertainment, dining, shopping, and recreation impact whether families choose to move or stay; and the availability of housing determines who can afford to live in SWLA.

Capitalizing on Regional Projects — Bayou Greenbelt

Bayou Greenbelt is a community-led project supported by the Community Foundation SWLA and the National Park Service. The future greenway and blueway will include a 23-mile water loop around Lake Charles that will expand public recreational access and enhance hidden natural features that are not currently accessible. The project will build trails on public land adjacent to waterways for walking, running, biking, and paddling. Bayou Greenbelt will have a measurable impact on the quality of life in Calcasieu Parish and the region.

Five of the 10 catalytic projects connect to the Bayou Greenbelt, capitalizing on economic development and quality of life enhancements:

1. Waterfront Development

2. Mid-City Neighborhood Transformation

3. Nellie Lutcher District

4. McNeese University Area Resilience District

5. Chennault/SOWELA Area Resilience District

VISION AND GOALS

The priorities emerged from the Strengths, Weaknesses, and Visions exercise in Step 1: Understanding. This included input gathered across both Calcasieu and Cameron parishes from in-person, online, and text engagement.

The Just Imagine: 50-Year Resilience Master Plan intentionally aligned the plan topics with five of the six Recovery Support Functions (RSFs) in the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Hurricanes Laura and Delta Long-Term Community Recovery Plan. The five plan topics in the 50-Year Resilience Master Plan are:

1. Community Planning

2. Housing

3. Economic Development

4. Infrastructure

5. Natural and Cultural Resources

Within each topic area, the Advisory Committee and Guiding Groups developed and affirmed a set of goals to direct the selection of catalytic projects and the plan recommendations in the following chapters of this master plan.

The community reviewed and confirmed these vision statements and specific goals throughout the process, affirming their relevance as the overarching framework of the master plan. The goals serve as the benchmarks for assuring projects and policies achieve the community’s visions.

JUST IMAGINE

Collaborative community planning that focuses on implementing a better quality of life.

Resilient housing in attractive neighborhoods that people can afford and access.

A diverse and strong economy that adapts to stresses and provides all residents and businesses with the opportunity to thrive.

Reliable and resilient infrastructure that improves the quality of life and makes the region safer.

A region that fully celebrates and protects its unique natural and cultural resources.

COMMUNITY PLANNING GOALS

1. Work together to implement a common vision

2. Invest to ensure Calcasieu and Cameron parishes are clean, safe, and beautiful

3. Create a more walkable and bikeable region

4. Make the region attractive to families and youth

5. Make it easy and clear for developers to implement the community’s vision

HOUSING GOALS

1. Educate people about the best practices for resilient housing, including retrofitting existing buildings

2. Increase the construction and supply of housing

3. Stabilize and enhance existing neighborhoods

4. Build new resilient housing and neighborhoods

5. Build economically integrated and mixedincome housing to ensure that everyone can afford a quality place to live

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS

1. Maintain the strong economic sectors in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes

2. Diversify the economy and make it more resilient by expanding to new sectors

3. Build a resilient workforce development pipeline

4. Enhance destinations and connections to the amenities that will encourage people to visit Calcasieu and Cameron parishes and support local businesses

INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS

1. Upgrade the capacity of, protect, and harden existing infrastructure

2. Develop new infrastructure to be resilient and minimize future risk

3. Provide safe and reliable connections to critical facilities and community resources

4. Implement regional standards for infrastructure

5. Scale streets to work for people

NATURAL & CULTURAL RESOURCES GOALS

1. Make the region’s natural beauty and outdoor activities more accessible and family-friendly

2. Reduce coastal risk

3. Enhance and create dedicated spaces for gathering and cultural events

4. Expand SWLA’s network of parks, green spaces, and trails

5. Preserve natural areas and protect air and water quality

10 CATALYTIC PROJECTS

The 10 catalytic projects were selected through a deliberate and comprehensive process to ensure they were impactful and implementable. This entailed:

• Performing a qualitative analysis of the themes in the Step 1 Understanding engagement data by project topic area and geography

• Tracking suggestions for projects in community input and Guiding Group meetings

• Developing a common definition for ‘catalytic’ and a set of metrics and criteria

• Vetting potential catalytic projects with the advisory committee

• Confirming the selected projects with the community through multiple feedback loops

The catalytic projects are intended to be highly visible projects that can be funded and implemented in the first 1–10 years to jump-start economic growth and improve infrastructure and quality of life. There are two categories of projects:

• Projects 1–6 are location-specific. They will be implemented in key locations based on geographical and ecological assets like the waterways, opportunities for economic growth, and locations of anchor institutions. These projects can serve as examples for similar projects at a smaller scale throughout SWLA.

• Projects 7–10 apply across both parishes. They will be implemented in multiple locations in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, as well as in the other parishes of Southwest Louisiana.

PROJECT 1 COASTAL FLOOD RISK REDUCTION

Sealevel rise and increased intensity of tropical storms are the largest threats to the long-term viability and protection of assets in Calcasieu and Cameron parish. This project focuses on protecting the coast in Cameron, while ensuring that investments in both parishes are shielded against future devastation. It layers structural and non-structural interventions to reduce loss of life and property from surge events, lower flood insurance, and build on the ongoing work of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).

PROJECT 2 WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

The region’s waterfronts are an untapped asset for quality of life and economic development. Exciting new projects like the Port Wonder Children’s Museum and Nature Center, a new Crying Eagle Brewery restaurant, and Lake Area Adventures will activate the lakefront. Making an investment in a continuous public edge from the Lake Charles Civic Center, across the new I-10 bridge, to Westlake would connect over four miles of pedestrian promenades with vibrant restaurants, recreation, and entertainment.

PROJECT 3

MID-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSFORMATION

Neighborhood transformation requires creating quality housing that offers choices for everyone. A mixed-income housing approach is being explored for the Lake Street Area between I-210 and W. Sallier Street. Older public housing would be redeveloped into high-quality housing to serve a mix of low-income, workforce, and market-rate individuals and families. All families would enjoy high-quality homes and beautiful amenities. A mixed-income housing approach could help the Mid-City neighborhood compete for HUD’s $40 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, leveraging over $200 million of additional investment.

PROJECT 4 NELLIE LUTCHER DISTRICT

Enterprise Boulevard can become a new cultural destination district and gateway for economic development along the I-10 corridor. New and existing dining, entertainment, and cultural uses will attract people who are traveling along I-10 as well as residents looking for a creative and vibrant district. Streetscape improvements to Enterprise Boulevard and Broad Street would connect from Downtown to the Nellie Lutcher District to North Lake Charles.

PROJECT 5 MCNEESE AREA RESILIENCE DISTRICT

McNeese State University is a valuable anchor for SWLA. The Contraband Bayou project that is under construction will enhance resilience and provide access to the water, as the first phase of the Bayou Greenbelt. The LNG Center of Excellence, retail center renovations, new student housing, and a road diet for Common Street would have economic development benefits while enlivening the edges of campus. A Resilience District would tie multiple projects together and target available funding.

PROJECT 6 CHENNAULT/SOWELA AREA RESILIENCE DISTRICT

Chennault and SOWELA are planning to invest in bringing more jobs and businesses to the area, enhancing parking lots, and building new educational buildings. Sewer, water, and road upgrades are needed to support new development. A resilience district for Chennault and SOWELA would encompass multiple projects and help make infrastructure upgrades eligible for funding. In the future, the Chennault/SOWELA Resilience District could be a destination with restaurants, housing, and other amenities to serve students and employees at Chennault and SOWELA.

WHAT IS A ‘CATALYTIC PROJECT’?

A highly visible project that can be funded and implemented in the first 1-10 years to jump-start economic growth and improve infrastructure and quality of life.

1. Coastal Flood Risk Reduction

2. Waterfront Development

3. Mid-City Neighborhood Transformation

4. Nellie Lutcher District

5. McNeese Area Resilience District

6. Chennault/SOWELA Area Resilience District

7. Strong Downtowns

8. Community Resilience Hubs

9. Resilient Housing for SWLA

10. Strategies to Address Vacant and Underutilized Property

CATALYTIC PROJECT CRITERIA

Benefits

• Provides measurable benefit to greatest needs:

– Affordable housing

– Quality of life

– Drainage

• Regional impact that provides benefits to both parishes and beyond

• Attracts future investment by public and private sectors

• Generates positive economic growth for the future

• Improves quality of life

– Health

– Culture

– Access to nature and water

– Hazard risk reduction

• Co-benefits social and environmental resiliency

Implementation

• Ability to move forward within a 10-year horizon

• Available funding sources

• Proven concept or solution

• Constructible within public property, rights-of-way (ROW), or on partner-owned property

Resiliency

• Addresses future conditions (sea level rise, higher intensive storms, heat hazards)

• Include blue and green infrastructure

• Able to withstand frequent stresses and major disaster events

• Reduces risk beyond the immediate location

Community and Stakeholder Buy-In

• Prioritized as important by residents, stakeholders, and partners

PROJECT 7 STRONG DOWNTOWNS

Walkable, active downtowns are vibrant locations for nurturing new and existing small businesses, jobs, and services. They also foster cultural identity and offer spaces for community gatherings and festivals. This project offers a toolkit for strengthening the downtowns in SWLA with walkable streets, stormwater management, drainage, active infill uses, and public spaces for gathering and celebration.

PROJECT 8 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUBS

The safety of residents during and after disaster events continues to be a critical need for SWLA. Resilience hubs are community-serving facilities that support residents, coordinate communication, distribute resources, and enhance quality of life. In emergencies, Community Resilience Hubs would provide places for food and water distribution, shelter, charging, cooling, and disaster response coordination. During non-disaster times, these facilities can serve as community buildings for gatherings and recreation. Parishes can start by identifying existing facilities, publicly owned land outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area, and each community’s specific needs to develop a customized strategy.

PROJECT 9 RESILIENT HOUSING FOR SWLA

Increasing resilient, affordable housing is a critical issue for this region. Residents are facing the high cost of flood insurance, rising sale prices and rents, and insufficient practices in rebuilding post-disaster. The Resilient Housing Toolkit is a short, easy-to-navigate document that combines valuable resources from FEMA and others to outline the steps needed to build and rebuild resilient housing in the region.

PROJECT 10 STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS VACANT AND UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTY

The strategies in this section aim to move vacant and underutilized properties into productive uses, such as housing, community-serving retail, job opportunities, and green space. An entity should be identified, empowered, or created to address adjudicated properties; track and categorize risk levels for adjudicated properties; and consider strategic locations and approaches for redevelopment. The entity should also explore creative solutions to challenging properties with legal and financial encumbrances.

PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS

Each of the 10 catalytic projects addresses the five plan topic areas. In addition to the specific recommendations, the Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Master Plan also includes policy recommendations and actions in each of the five topics. These plan recommendations will be critical to helping the region reach its resiliency goals.

The plan recommendations are based on:

• Analysis of the existing conditions, including physical infrastructure and development patterns, market and economic factors, and the state of infrastructure;

• Guiding Group meetings and input; and

• Public input throughout the process.

The plan recommendations include projects that are less visible, more limited in influence, or longer term than the 10 catalytic projects. However, they are still critically important to the advancement of the region. The plan recommendations will be implemented by partnership of public, private, and non-profit partners. The lists to the right demonstrate the types of recommendations found in the Plan Recommendations chapter.

Community Planning

– Zoning and Regulatory Updates

– Walkability and Bikeability Recommendations

Housing

– Zoning and Regulatory Updates

– Strategies for Affordable Housing

– Recommendations for Training and Advancement of Resilient Building Practices

Economic Development

– Downtown Lake Charles Recommendations

– I-10 Corridor Recommendations

– Economic Diversification Recommendations

Infrastructure

– Recommendations to Improve Access & Connectivity

– Recommendations to Improve Standards of Existing Roads

– Resilient Utility Recommendations

– Higher Standards for Flood and Wind Risk

Natural and Cultural Resources

– Food and Culinary Culture Recommendations

– Cultural Venue and Event Recommendations

– Family-Friendly Entertainment Recommendations

– Recommendations for the Protection and Enhancement of Natural Resources

Economic Development recommendations focus on strengthening and diversifying the economy.

Community Planning recommendations include the expansion of the walking and bicycling network and infrastructure in SWLA.

Infrastructure recommendations include implementing higher standards for flood and wind risk.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Just Imagine SWLA Master Plan placed the highest priority on the 10 catalytic projects and plan recommendations being implementable with available resources and political support. The projects will be implemented through:

• Public-private partnerships

• Publicly funded and led projects within rightsof-way and on publicly owned land

• Incentives and improved economic environment for private investment

• Ordinance and policy updates

• Public support for taxes and millages

• Rezoning and entitlement of strategic parcels

• Leveraging of the region’s disaster recovery funds and federal appropriations

Implementation Partners

A Project Lead has agreed to lead each of the catalytic projects. For each project, the lead partner will ensure that measurable progress is made and that action steps are moving forward. Supporting partners will play key roles in aspects of the projects. Project Champions have been identified — they will advocate for and educate who about the project.

Funding and Finance

The catalytic projects and plan recommendations will be funded through combinations of public, private, and philanthropic funding sources.

Example Funding Stack for a Public Project

Philanthropic Funding for Gaps not covered by other sources

Leveraged Private Investment

Local match and/or tax/millage

State & Federal grants & bonds

Total Project Cost

Example Funding Stack for a Private Project

Philanthropic Grants

Public Incentives

Owner/Developer Equity

Subordinated Debt

Total Project Cost

Conventional Bank Debt