LAPLACE — In partnership with the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation and using grant funding from the National Park Service, St. John entered into a contract with R. Christopher Goodwin and Associates, Inc. to survey 735 historic structures in LaPlace, Reserve and Garyville.

As a part of the survey, the firm completed the Louisiana Historic Resource Inventory Forms on all structures 50 years or older.

The type of information collected during the process included the approximate age of construction, architectural style or form, descriptive narratives and photographs of each structure.

Building on the previous survey completed for the River Road Historic District (Edgard, Lucy and Wallace), the new data assists the administration of recently-adopted Historic District standards, development of future Historic District guidelines and completion of citizen applications for historic rehabilitation tax credits.

“Historic Districts protect community assets and strengthen neighborhoods while fostering a strong cultural identity throughout the parish,” Parish President Natalie Robottom said.

“I would like to thank the Planning and Zoning staff and both the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and Historic District Commission for their hard work toward protecting historic structures in our community for future generations.”

The project also helped to solidify several years of work by Parish officials and community partners in developing a comprehensive Historic Preservation Program.

“We are thrilled at this project’s timely completion and the security it will provide to the Parish’s Preservation Program moving forward,” said Alexandra Gelpi Carter, AICP, Planning and Zoning Director.

“It is another important step towards realizing our Main Street and Quality of Life goals throughout the Parish.”

Councilwoman Julia Remondet, advocate for historic districts and board member of the Godchaux-Reserve House Historical Society, also added, “This survey is what we need to help identify our heritage of the area. Every historical site has an important story to tell us about our past in the community.”

For more information on this project or the Parish’s historic districts, please contact the Planning and Zoning Department at 985-651-5565.

— Submitted by St. John Communications.