By MELISSA PEACOCK

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish is a “diamond in the rough,” Julia Remondet, director of Economic Development, said.

These days, the value of that diamond is going up as more families, retail business and industries are discovering the parish’s potential. The housing industry, for example, is now one of the biggest industries in the parish.

About 250 homes were built in the parish in 2001. Parish President Nickie Monica said those kinds of numbers are expected in the parish again this year.

“The housing industry is a $27 million per year industry,” Monica said. “We grew about 7.6 percent (in population between 1990-2000). The housing industry is doing well. We now have a number of quality homes in a great location.”

Subdivisions parishwide, including Riverwood, River Oaks and Live Oaks Landing, are expanding to accommodate a growing number of residents.

What is bringing so many new residents into the parish? Monica credits significant improvements in quality of life.

“We continue to do things like the new library, the community center and the senior center,” Monica said. “These are the kinds of things that attract people to our area.”

In July, the Parish Council Finance Committee approved a measure to build a new Senior Citizen Center on parish land. Officials said the new center will target seniors of all ages and will provide more space for special programs and exercise. Construction should begin on the senior center sometime next year.

A civic center and a War Veterans Home will also be built in the parish. The civic center will sit next to the St. John Parish library on U.S. Highway 51. Parish-owned land in Reserve was donated to the state for the Veterans Home.

The home is expected to generate more than $17 million in construction costs and between $7-$8 million per year in salaries and supplies once it is operational.

What impact will growth in residency in the parish have? Remondet said physical growth could mean retail growth.

“The fact that we have new and expanding subdivisions is being noticed by retail industry,” Remondet said. “I find that we have had a very active year compare to a lot of areas. The fact that we have prospective businesses looking at us proves that.”

A number of retail stores are looking at moving into St. John Parish. Remondet said she has been asked not to reveal the names of interested businesses because of area competition. Officials will say big changes are in the works for some local shopping centers.

“I have been informed that they (Riverland shopping center in LaPlace) are going to renovate,” Monica said. “They are going to reconstruct some buildings, just update the facilities. Hopefully several new tenants, by spring, are going to be located at the facility.”

Wal-Mart representatives have met with local officials to discuss the possible expansion of the LaPlace store into a Wal-Mart Super Center. There has been no official word from Wal-Mart on when or if that expansion will take place.

In the meantime, Remondet said she will continue to work on a “cluster-based” economic plan for local industry. That plan includes working with local industries that may want to expand their local operations, as well as working with industries that are interested in moving into areas where their raw resources are available.