Big time win-win for all parties and our region. Good job to all who made it happen!
Progress is a process. Glad to see the process is progressing in a desired and beneficial fashion.
Why sell/trade the land the university already owns on the main campus? (Although Our Lady of Wisdom structure is there.)
Also, UL bought the land and not the hospital buildings which sit on the land.
This will be a long process although strategically excellent.
IMO, the land was sold to OLOL to separate the two entities. This keeps a state school separtate from any religious connection, which bothers some people.
I think I disagree with you about UL not buying the buildings and I reference a paragraph from the releas; "The acreage UL Lafayette will acquire from the Diocese contains medical office buildings and other facilities that were part of the hospital complex and owned by Lourdes. The University plans to relocate its College of Nursing & Health Sciences to the site. With renovations, the tract and its buildings will become the nucleus of a health sciences campus."
I do totally agree that this is stategically excellent. Continuing to improve an already great nursing program in a city that seems to be increasing its medical facilities is a huge win for the university, city and region.
Now, can we do something with Blackham?
Per the master plan, that area is being saved for ‘future academic expansion.’ So with all the money and effort focused now on the St Landry properties, I think it will be a while before they get to the Blackham area.
Btw, the plan calls for the extension of St Landry street to connect from Coliseum to Cajun Dome Blvd, which would be awesome.
This is correct. I spoke with someone who was in the meetings. UL is getting the office buildings, at least some of the medical equipment inside, the old orphanage, and at least one of the parking garages. And they are getting them for an absolute steal.
I don’t know of any concrete plans to start a medical school here, but if the day ever comes where we decide to start one, we’ll have an almost ready-made location waiting for us at Lourdes.
This is a good day for the university.
Great video. Since this is an athletics forum I even saw a FB player playing ping pong.
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