FreeTown and the Apartments North of UL

[NewsCopy]

A 142-unit apartment complex that would cater to University of Louisiana students is drawing the ire of some in Lafayette's historic Freetown neighborhood. Capstone Development Corp. has requested preliminary plat approval to build Capstone Quarters, a 142-unit apartment complex on Stewart Street, off Taft and Vermilion streets. The property, zoned light industrial, is about 11 blocks from the UL campus. The Planning Commission delayed a decision on the request last week and will take up the matter again at 5 p.m. Monday. A decision was delayed so the commission can consult a Freetown neighborhood plan developed by the Lafayette In a Century committee, said Rebekka Raines of the Planning, Zoning and Codes department. Istvan Berkeley, a UL professor who lives near the proposed apartments on East Vermilion Street, said the quiet, historic neighborhood where children ride their bikes in the street will be flooded with college students racing through the neighborhood, drinking and playing loud music if the apartments are built. Berkeley's home, built in 1938, is one of the newest in the historic neighborhood, where "free men of color" settled, he said. Lafayette attorney Glenn Armentor said he, too, is concerned that bringing 350 to 500 college students to the outskirts of Freetown will change the character and culture of the neighborhood, which has sustained for more than 100 years. An effort is under way to have Freetown designated as a national historic neighborhood, Armentor said. "The Freetown community was the precursor to there being no Klan and no Knights of the White Camellia in Lafayette," said Armentor, who collected an oral history of the neighborhood. "Blacks got along with whites after the free men of color in Freetown stood up to the Klan, and there were battles, and people died." The rest of the story Claire Taylor ctaylor@theadvertiser.com

[cajunstudent]

Have any of the students here lived in Legacy Park? What are your thoughts on the place? How much does it cost?

I lived in Stokes Hall for two years and I imagine that LP is ten times better.

i live in legacy and it is not that great for waht u pay!!!! i can't wait till this new complex goes up b/c i will be there fast!!!

[NewsCopy]

Developer expected to appeal to City-Parish Council. After Freetown residents argued that a proposed student apartment complex in their neighborhood would be overrun with "party crazy" University of Louisiana students, the Lafayette Planning Commission on Monday denied a developer's request to build the complex. "This development does not complement the historical significance and value of that neighborhood," said Commissioner Fred Prejean before making a motion to deny the plat. "The fact that ULL may lose out on some housing is no sweat off my brow." The proposed 142-unit apartment complex would be built by Capstone Development Corp., which has built similar student housing in other college towns. The developers are expected to appeal to the City-Parish Council, but Freetown residents said they'll continue to fight the proposal. The rest of the story Kayla Gagnet kgagnet@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

In the years before the Civil War, it was possible for the enslaved African-Americans of the South to purchase their own freedom, in many different ways, including through extra forms of work done on what was normally their own time. Additionally, as various planters became fond of their workers, some of the older African-Americans were set free in return for good service rendered over several decades. Ultimately, before the Civil War in the 1840's and 1850's, in the Town of Vermilionville (a town which was later to become the City of Lafayette) these "free men of color" settled in a newly engineered subdivision known as the "Mouton Addition". The Mouton Addition was populated by a heterogeneous mixture of lower and middle class Caucasians and free men of color. Nonetheless, because of the presence there of the freed African-Americans, the Mouton Addition became known, in the years immediately preceding the Civil War as "Freetown". The land used for the "Mouton Addition" had been part of the plantation of Governor Alexandre Mouton, and many of the "free men of color" had worked on that plantation, called “Ile Copal”. Alexander Mouton was the son of Jean Mouton, founder of Vermilionville. The plantation faced the Vermilion River and was on the site of the present LeRosen School on Pinhook Road. The rest of the story

[studentfan]

Eventhough I am still at a young age, I have become numb to this happening. Louisiana is run by morons in power stopping things that make sense. If things happened like they were supposed to, Louisiana would run a lot smoother.

[NewsCopy]

Residents in parts of downtown Lafayette have the next two weeks to decide whether to allow the city-parish to proceed with tentative plans to vastly change their neighborhood. The area in consideration extends from Pinhook Road to Johnston Street, bordered to the south by University Avenue and to the north by the railroad tracks. It includes the Freetown neighborhood, which was originally settled by free blacks and whites in the Civil War era and still consists of homes that date back 100 years or more. Under the proposed Lafayette In a Century plan, the area would see significant changes, including the construction of a large park, a community center, single-family housing units, a jazz heritage amphitheater, a commercial plaza and other community amenities. "The neighborhood park would be the major icon, the centerpiece of the whole plan," Lafayette Consolidated Government Planning Manager Mike Hollier told a group of the area's residents Thursday night. "We're also looking at making improvements to Jefferson Street, McKinley Street and General Mouton Road. This plan is comprehensive in scope. But this is your plan, not mine." The rest of the story Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvertiser.com

[ATXCajun]

Is a meal plan included with rent at LP?

What about utilities? Is an off-campus place still cheaper after utilities?

Thanks for your responses. I am genuinely curious. Stokes had just been renovated before I moved in and it still sucked. I can only imagine what it was like before.

As a Voorhies inmate for 2 years, I was jealous of Stokes. Of course, it is all relative. I thought Voorhies was better than living at home. FREEDOM!

[CDeb]

As a Voorhies inmate for 2 years, I was jealous of Stokes. Of course, it is all relative. I thought Voorhies was better than living at home. FREEDOM!

I was definitely better off than you, for sure.

[NewsCopy]

After emotional appeals from residents of the historic Freetown neighborhood, the City-Parish Council voted Tuesday 6-3 to allow an apartment complex for UL students. Capstone Development Corp., an Alabama-based company, wants to build a 142-unit apartment complex on Stewart Street that would cater to UL students. The company also has asked to build an additional complex adjacent to the property, bringing the total to 600 units. The Planning Commission previously voted to deny the apartment complex, agreeing with Freetown residents that the complex does not fit with the neighborhood. The council reversed that decision Tuesday after nearly two hours of public input, including emotional pleas from residents. Council members voting in favor of the Capstone complex cited that the developer met all the planning and zoning requirements. Some members also said the development could spark a revival of the once-thriving neighborhood. Freetown homeowner and business owner Catherine Schoeffler said the neighborhood is a versatile, mixed-use area that wants growth but with integrity. "It's smart growth, old style," Schoeffler said. "It's what River Ranch wants to be." The rest of the story Claire Taylor ctaylor@theadvertiser.com

[Cajun Power]

The student apartment boom is coming. There is already Campus Edge (which is nowhere near the edge of campus, but still student apartments) and then that Capstone project in Freetown that caused a big stir. I would expect more projects like that in the near future.

I also don't think it's a bad idea for UL to have more on-campus apartments, but they'd need to be on campus. Living under the University's rules for 700 a month while being several miles from campus is not my ideal set-up.