Arts Not Welcome In South Lafayette? [OPINION]

In a recent interview with our sister-station, KPEL, city-parish president Joey Durel said that the arrival of Costco to Lafayette, and in particular, the traffic nightmare that is the Ambassador/Kaliste Saloom intersections, is one of the ways he is "trying to find cheap solutions for the traffic problems in this community."

I'll be one of the first to admit to the severity of the traffic problem in that area; I live in the western fringes of Younsgville and often find myself having to sit for long periods in traffic at the corner of Ambassador and Kaliste Saloom.

But I think we have a bigger problem on our hands in southern Lafayette. I am seriously concerned that the southeastern portion of Lafayette, which this development is a part of, is being exploited for the sake of profit, not social and community evolution.

We could definitely use more areas of undisturbed nature, like parks, but what about the development of the arts? Instead of a massive superstore that will further commercialize southern Lafayette, how about venues on par with those in downtown and central Lafayette?  Imagine what performing arts centers, open air arenas, and maybe even a new multi-purpose arena like the Cajundome could do for all of Lafayette instead of another place to buy more stuff.

Should residents of southern Lafayette see their area miss opportunities for various performing arts venues and arenas because Mr. Durel and others only see dollar signs when they look at the "undeveloped" potential of our area?

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