Apartment multiplexes coming to Boutte

An apartment multiplex project has been approved for Boutte, possibly bringing the first apartment construction to the area in 25 years.

Brennen and Melissa Friloux of Luling got rezoning approval for a 120-foot by 240-foot lot at 14183 U.S. Highway 90 across from the RaceTrac and next to Hahnville High School. The property for the project was rezoned from commercial to residential.

Brennan Friloux, a builder and Realtor, said the three apartment units,  an estimated $500,000 to $750,000 project, would upgrade a “blighted area” with residential properties ranging in the 40- to 50-year range. While the zoning has been commercial there, Friloux said the apartments were a more logical direction with at least 40 commercial properties on the market in the area.

“I’m tearing old buildings down and building nice apartments, which the parish needs,” he said.

Friloux estimated the parish hasn’t gotten a new apartment complex on the West Bank in possibly 25 years.

“A lack of housing growth has hampered commercial growth,” he said.

Friloux owns rental houses in the parish, as well as a duplex in Ama (converted from Jimmy’s Seafood Restaurant), which is rented at this time.

Public Works Director Clayton “Snookie” Faucheux said the parish is working on improving the area’s sewer capacity.

Faucheux said the system can not currently handle all proposed apartment units coming online, but efforts are underway to address it. He advised the parish lacks the money at this time to address this, as well as households with “sanitary overflow” issues.

[pullquote]“I’m definitely in favor of this one.” – Council Chairwoman Julia Fisher[/pullquote]

“It’s a function of time and money,” Faucheux told the council when it recently approved the rezoning request.

But Faucheux did clarify to Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto that phasing in the units, as proposed by Friloux, should coincide with planned efforts to upgrade the system.

Councilman Paul Hogan, who alone opposed the rezoning request, said it does not meet code requirements.

Council Chairwoman Julia Fisher said she considered this an improvement and voted in support of the rezoning.

“I’m definitely in favor of this one,” Fisher told Hogan.

Joe Christian, who said he owns property adjoining Friloux’s property, opposed the zoning change. Christian expressed concerns the change could hamper future use of his property.

Build it and they will come to Boutte

• Estimated $500,000 to $750,000 development.
• Three units planned.
• Aimed at promoting housings and economic growth.
• Builder says lack of housing growth has hampered commercial growth in the area.