LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / October 14, 2000

KILLONA – A spark could be enough to ignite an economic uplift to the tiny town of Killona, a primarily African-American community adjoining the massive Waterford 3 nuclear power plant.

A 69-acre strip of property immediately adjoining the town to the west, along Louisiana Highway 3141 (Mary Plantation Road), will be developed by Ray Coleman Jr., who bought the area in 1996.Among the developments planned are two convenience stores, a community center and land donated for an expanded Canaan Baptist Church and cemetery.

Rezoning the strip from R-1A(M) to C-3, done at the Oct. 9 meeting of theSt. Charles Parish Council, will allow Coleman to develop the property toprovide immediate benefits to the town.

The Rev. Henry Wolfe, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church on Killona Drive, said,”I think it’s going to help the area economically.” Wolfe added of Coleman,”He keeps the community informed and communicates with our councilman regularly.”Coleman is developing the 2,800-acre tract across Mary Plantation Road, from River Road to Louisiana Highway 3127, as a warehousing center. He alsoplans a possible community center for the residents and will keep the recreational facilities at their present site, including a playground, basketball court and ball field.

“Coleman’s really an aggressive developer; he’s hunting for things to bring to the area,” Planning and Zoning Director Bob Lambert commented.

“He will make the land more marketable to bring new businesses to that area,” added Economic Development Director Corey Faucheux, who continued, “It should have a tremendous economic impact to the town.”Wolfe said when he heard of the planned development two years ago he contacted Coleman about assisting his church. When Wolfe became pastor ofCanaan Baptist in 1991, there were only nine in the congregation. Now, thereare 318 members, and the church is still growing.

As the church is figuratively bursting at the seams, Wolfe said, he is hoping to receive a donation of several acres on which to locate a new church, classroom building and a cemetery with mausoleum.

As for the convenience stores, one is to be located near River Road and Mary Plantation Road, and the second at the intersection with Louisiana Highway 3127, Wolfe added.

“They’re excited about the economic boom,” Councilman Desmond Hilaire said, just prior to the Parish Council giving the rezoning request its unanimous approval.

Killona grew out of Killona, Mary and Trinity plantations and, after the Civil War, a strip of former slave cabins were labeled “Freetown.” The towngained a post office in 1887, but it closed in the mid-1980s.

The recent town boundary program established permanent boundaries for Killona to help ensure its future. New stores and churches, Wolfe said, will doeven more toward that end.

“There’s some opportunity there for someone, certainly,” Lambert concluded.

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