LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / March 4, 2000

HAHNVILLE – A small but determined band is laboring to keep St. CharlesParish, especially its historic and cultural centers, from looking like, well, Metairie.

St. Charles Parish Councilwoman Dee Abadie has a horror of that possibility,so when a group of concerned citizens approached her during the last council elections to form a beautification task force she stepped up to the plate.

“We’re on the cusp of unprecedented growth,” Abadie said. “If we don’twatch out, we’ll lose the parish’s charm.”Abadie recalled that former councilwoman Vicki Tramonte tried to establish a zoning classification to assist new businesses to conform to standards aimed at preserving the character of River Road.

But the effort was unsuccessful, and the group of concerned citizens who worked with Tramonte set their sights on Abadie. These include DonnaNasser, Wayne Gaupp, Glenda Clement, Jennifer Gassen and Marilyn Richoux.

This time there’s more organization behind the move, a measure of community support and funds in the council budget for the Beautification Task Force, recognized officially by the Parish Council at its Feb. 21 meeting.Abadie said the task force is looking to preserve and enhance specific small locations across the parish, seeds toward positive change for the better.

After several meetings and discussions the first site was decided upon, Abadie said. It is the stretch of Destrehan’s River Road from Interstate 310to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.The picturesque church, which has its origins in colonial German Coast times, is an attraction for out-of-town visitors.

Along the way is Harry Hurst Middle School, where the task force is considering a project coordinated with the St. Charles School Board andDestrehan High School alumni, to restore the old brick wall and gate which once adorned the former high school site.

Abadie mentioned a possible buy-a-brick project, coordinated with Larry Sesser, executive director of physical plant services. Also mentioned wasapproaching Entergy to place all the power lines underground and adding old- style street lamps.

Architect John Campo was approached about producing a rendering of what the result would be. Donna Nasser added, “I’ve always loved this parish, andit’s shocking to see how bare everything is now.”Should that project get off, Abadie said others are also being considered, such as a revitalization of Luling along River Road and Paul Maillard to the railroad tracks, using Kenner’s Rivertown development as a model.

There, small museums, arts and crafts shops, a river overlook and cafes liberally cover a once-rundown area.

Other ideas include River Road and Apple Street in Norco and the area around the courthouse and Eual Landry Middle School in Hahnville. However, as Abadiestressed, each council district has areas of possible development along these lines.

“We should be celebrating this parish,” Nasser said. “We’ve got some goodideas, and everyone is so enthusiastic.”

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